The movie "The Odyssey" has rekindled sentiments of returning home. For years I traveled back to the scenic place of my birth, Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia. This past August, I changed tack and visited the mainland of Nova Scotia, where I hadn’t been in decades.
Going home to Nova Scotia
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At the nearby Luckett Vineyards for lunch, the spacious restaurant with its floor-to-ceiling windows overlooked grapevines as far as the eye could see. A red English call box stood in the middle of the vineyard. From there, you can call anywhere in the world for free. I restrained myself from calling pals about this perfect spot, especially when I had just devoured the best lobster roll in memory. (Carol Ann Davidson/TNS)
Halifax Public Gardens is considered one of the finest surviving examples of a Victorian garden in North America. After an engaging but busy week, sitting on a bench and watching the wild ducks parade into the ponds, gazing at the vast collections of flowers and trees, and marveling at the thought and care of each element of this magical garden imbued me with a deep sense of awe and serenity. (Carol Ann Davidson/TNS)
I wanted to view the work of the famous Canadian folk artist Maud Lewis. She painted whimsical pictures of everything she loved on every inch of the interior of her tiny one-room house, which is now the centerpiece of this charming permanent exhibit. In 2016, the film "Maudie," starring Sally Hawkins and Ethan Hawke, was made about her life. (Carol Ann Davidson/TNS)
Annapolis Valley, the agricultural heart of Nova Scotia, was next on our agenda. It lies along the Bay of Fundy, which sees the highest tides in the world. We stopped briefly at Halls Harbor to view this unique phenomenon and then when the fog rolled in we rolled out and over to the nearby Luckett Vineyards for lunch. (Carol Ann Davidson/TNS)
Seafood was on my mind, and the vast choice of restaurants offering it fresh from the ocean were filled with lobsters, oysters, clams and mussels, any way you like them. At the Half Shell Oyster Bar, I feasted on Bad Boy oysters infused with the distinctive salty taste of the ocean. Heaven. (Carol Ann Davidson/TNS)
My senses hadn’t forgotten: The briny smell of the Atlantic Ocean, the taste of the best lobsters in the world, the burst of flavor from the wild blueberry capital of the world in Oxford, the highest tides in the world and, perhaps, some of the friendliest people on earth. That’s Nova Scotia. (Carol Ann Davidson/TNS)
But before I take my leave, I have a few Halifax restaurant suggestions which I highly recommend: Bar Kismet, Edna, Bicycle Thief, Cafe Lunette. Each provides a unique gastronomic experience. (Carol Ann Davidson/TNS)
I was dazzled by the quaintness of Lunenburg. The boldly painted houses — apple green, pumpkin orange and cheery cherry, to name a few — evoke pure joy. (Carol Ann Davidson/TNS)
Let’s just say that I availed myself of enough nourishment to hike up one of Halifax’s many hills to visit the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia. I wanted to view the work of the famous Canadian folk artist Maud Lewis. (Carol Ann Davidson/TNS)
Having just flown in from Toronto for a week’s visit, I was, in short order, seated next to seven sightseers, basking in the warmth of the weather and the charm of Violet Mae, an old wooden boat with a polished facade and a modern take on plying the waters. (Carol Ann Davidson/TNS)
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