Today the Zuiderdam visits Sydney Canada in the Nova Scotia province. Neither of us have been here so we are looking forward to our day. It’s supposed to be 84 degrees warm this afternoon so it’s a shorts day.
Sydney Morning
We got up at about 5:30 am and headed to the Crows Nest to get coffee when it opened at 6 am. We can already see the shoreline. Breakfast started at 6:30 am. It was good and very uncrowded this early. The quiche was a daily special.
Back in our cabin to get ready for the day we found this notice.
Great! That’s the last excursion I needed. They also changed the starting time of another excursion by 15 minutes.
Once ready we are off to the dining room to find Dedi who can help us with assigned seating. We’re tired of waiting for a table every night. He was able to get us early fixed dining at a table for six. Hopefully, our tablemates will be welcoming when we join them tonight.
We got off the ship right when they announced it was clear and found our tour right past the security gate.
Sydney Excursion
I had booked the Highland Village, Baddeck, Bell Museum Van Tour with Blackwood Tours in advance. This is a six hour tour and we are on a minibus three other couples and it seats 12. Bad sign, it’s the driver/guide’s first day and they didn’t send anyone along to make sure we had a quality tour. Beau did a good job for his first day but I’m sure an experienced guide would have made it better. We had long periods of silence.
Tour Description: As we travel along the Bras d’Or Lakes, we visit the Nova Scotia Highland Village of Iona, which depicts the early life and culture of the Scottish settlers who came here from the Barra region of Scotland. From Iona, we travel along the Bras d’Or lakes and then take a short ferry ride at Little Narrow’s ferry as we proceed into the scenic village of Baddeck. In Baddeck, you will tour the museum of the inventor of the telephone, Alexander Graham Bell, and view the first telephone he created along with many other items. Baddeck also features a lovely waterfront to take a walk and numerous gift shops to visit. Usually, we have lunch in Baddeck (if needed) at a restaurant specializing in seafood and other traditional favorites.
Highland Village
We loaded up and headed for the Highland Village. The entrance fee was included in the tour price.
We had an hour there and it’s an enactment of a village dating from 1800s-1920s. Not my thing but I really enjoyed the scenery surrounding the village.
This is a home I think.
We were able to tour many of the buildings who had staff re-enacting the time period.
Steve also enjoyed the scenic walk.
This is the massive lake we’re overlooking.
Back on the road we took a ferry across the river and continued on to Banneck. Click the image below for a brochure with more detail on the Highland Village.
Banneck Visit
We walked the extremely short boardwalk where I found Alexander Graham Bell and his wife sitting around.
Then we were dropped at a seaside restaurant, the Freight Shed, for lunch. Steve had a big breakfast again so just I ordered. Although they had lobster rolls, I was ready for something else and ordered a burger. It was one of the best burgers I’ve had in a while. And came with a tasty side salad. Unfortunately, I was so busy eating I forgot to take pictures.
We met Beau and he took us on up to the Alexander Graham Bell Museum.
It was rather boring except for the aviation area and the beautiful grounds.
The flower beds outside the museum were all abloom.
There were benches outside with an awesome view of the lake.
This museum needs to be brought into the 22nd century. We had an hour here. Then it was time to head back to the ship. I was able to get a nice photo of the Seal Island Bridge.
We spent a lot of time driving for little reward. I wouldn’t recommend this tour unless you’re a big Bell fan. To top it all off the air conditioning didn’t work well and I was hot and sweaty all this time. As we were walking up the gangway to the ship, Steve lost his hat which really capped off the day negatively for him.
Next time here (if there is one) I’d just tour the town on our own. Here are two pictures from others in our roll call. First the Sydney Fiddle.
I did see it but wasn’t able to get such a nice photo. Then this is one of the sculptures along the harbor. It is the Merchant Mariners Memorial.
It’s a bonus to have the ship in the background.
Sydney Evening
After cleaning up, we got ready for the evening and headed for late afternoon cocktails to improve the day. The Crow’s Nest was busy and we didn’t have a server come our way so Steve went to get drinks at the bar. Then seats opened up at the front row so we moved. We were able to watch sailaway from Sydney. What a beautiful day!
We headed to the dining room for dinner and had help finding our new table which was right by where we sat last night.
Our tablemates are D and B from Oregon, L1 and L2 from Tellico, TN. They were all welcoming and a lot of fun.
Steve and I chose the same appetizers. Coconut crusted shrimp first.
This was followed by the Island salad.
Both were very good. Then for entrees Steve had the cordon blue which four of us ordered. I had the chicken shermoula.
We both really enjoyed them. For dessert Steve had creme brulee and I had opera cake.
So good!
We headed to the show room after dinner and enjoyed another round of adult beverages.
The comedian was Kelly McFarlane.
She was funny but needs to add some more material; it was all about her husband. Then back to our cabin to read and go to bed. We have to set clocks forward 30 minutes.
I think it’s the first time I’ve ever done that!
Here is today’s Daily Program. Click the image for the full PDF.
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