sail7seas Posted December 4, 2014 #1 Share Posted December 4, 2014 (edited) We loved a great many Canada/NE cruises and one in particular. On that cruise, we took a fabulous tour in Halifax and learned why it is the good people of Halifax presents the City of Boston with a gorgeous Christmas Tree each year. There was a horrid munitions boat explosion in 1917 which injured and killed so many people and did terrible damage. History tells us Boston sent immediate aid including medical personnel and emergency supplies. ALL these years later, our Northern friends continue to send us a beautiful tree each year. That tree is set in place in Boston Common and there will be a festive tree lighting and celebration tonight. Thank you for our Nova Scotia/Canadian friends. :) Our City loves those trees. If you ever have the chance to visit Halifax, be sure to go. It's a wonderful city.... with GREAT lobsters. ;) Edited December 4, 2014 by sail7seas Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oahucruiser Posted December 4, 2014 #2 Share Posted December 4, 2014 We love Halifax every time we go there and appreciate your story about the tree. Very interesting history! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buckirj1 Posted December 4, 2014 #3 Share Posted December 4, 2014 Thank you for sharing the story, which I hadn't heard before now. Halifax is my favorite port city. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare rafinmd Posted December 4, 2014 #4 Share Posted December 4, 2014 That was a real tragedy. Kudos to both Boston and Halifax. Roy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Folk Singer Posted December 5, 2014 #5 Share Posted December 5, 2014 We loved a great many Canada/NE cruises and one in particular. On that cruise, we took a fabulous tour in Halifax and learned why it is the good people of Halifax presents the City of Boston with a gorgeous Christmas Tree each year. There was a horrid munitions boat explosion in 1917 which injured and killed so many people and did terrible damage. History tells us Boston sent immediate aid including medical personnel and emergency supplies. ALL these years later, our Northern friends continue to send us a beautiful tree each year. That tree is set in place in Boston Common and there will be a festive tree lighting and celebration tonight. Thank you for our Nova Scotia/Canadian friends. :) Our City loves those trees. If you ever have the chance to visit Halifax, be sure to go. It's a wonderful city.... with GREAT lobsters. ;) Thank you so much. And We love Boston as well.:):) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Folk Singer Posted December 5, 2014 #6 Share Posted December 5, 2014 We love Halifax every time we go there and appreciate your story about the tree. Very interesting history! Thank you as well. :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bloofer Posted December 5, 2014 #7 Share Posted December 5, 2014 We love Halifax every time we go there and appreciate your story about the tree. Very interesting history! Halifax also has a wonderful Maritime Museum which contains many items from the "Titanic". In fact, many of the victims of that disaster are buried in a cemetery in Halifax. The city is well worth a visit! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sail7seas Posted December 5, 2014 Author #8 Share Posted December 5, 2014 The Maritime Museum has a fabulous collection of ship's bells. :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PathfinderEss Posted December 5, 2014 #9 Share Posted December 5, 2014 (edited) Very interesting story, not about what happened but how nice of Helifax to send Boston a tree every year. Edited December 5, 2014 by PathfinderEss Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sapper1 Posted December 5, 2014 #10 Share Posted December 5, 2014 Each year there is usually a local news feature showing the carefully chosen tree being cut and loaded onto a truck to begin its journey to Boston. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CRUZBUDS Posted December 5, 2014 #11 Share Posted December 5, 2014 Wonderful story --- I've said it before and I'll say it again -- Canada is my second favorite country! We missed Halifax last month on the Legend of the Seas -- 75 mph winds -- we were disappointed, we've heard so many nice things about it. :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sail7seas Posted December 5, 2014 Author #12 Share Posted December 5, 2014 Each year there is usually a local news feature showing the carefully chosen tree being cut and loaded onto a truck to begin its journey to Boston. :) ... And Boston news stations always have features of the tree arriving in Boston and being set in place in Boston Common. The tree lighting festivities last night were covered live on WCVB TV and it looks gorgeous. They constructed a stage beside the tree and there was entertainment including three piece male group from Nova Scotia. Lots of folks gathered with the children making it very festive. It is an integral part of annual Christmas celebrations in Boston. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hpf Posted December 6, 2014 #13 Share Posted December 6, 2014 It was a great explosion, my father who was in High School at the time in Truro, NS felt the explosion there and he said when he got home from school his mother showed him the broken dishes that shook off the shelf. Truro is 60 miles from Halifax. Yes, a huge Thank you to Boston for all they did at that time; it was greatly appreciated. Helen Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. Boston Posted December 6, 2014 #14 Share Posted December 6, 2014 I bought a book on the explosion when we were in Halifax and the devastation was unbelievable, everything was flattened in a very large part of the city. I couldn't help thinking that the decade between 1910 and 1920 must have been a very sad time for the folks up there. You would never know it now as the city is so vibrant and beautiful. Loved the bagpipers playing the Veendam in and out of port! Thank you for the beautiful tree! [emoji319] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sapper1 Posted December 6, 2014 #15 Share Posted December 6, 2014 I was listening to CBC Halifax this morning over the Internet while sitting here in Fort Lauderdale pre cruise and it was announced that at 9:06 this morning, bells would ring out all over the city to commemorate the anniversary of the tragedy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Folk Singer Posted December 6, 2014 #16 Share Posted December 6, 2014 I bought a book on the explosion when we were in Halifax and the devastation was unbelievable, everything was flattened in a very large part of the city. I couldn't help thinking that the decade between 1910 and 1920 must have been a very sad time for the folks up there. You would never know it now as the city is so vibrant and beautiful. Loved the bagpipers playing the Veendam in and out of port! Thank you for the beautiful tree! [emoji319] Thank you and you are welcome. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jhannah Posted December 6, 2014 #17 Share Posted December 6, 2014 Halifax is truly a wonderful port of call. Peggy's Cove, the Citadel, Maritime Museum, farmer's market, and so much more. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cruisersMandW Posted December 6, 2014 #18 Share Posted December 6, 2014 We visited Halifax in October on the Eurodam and enjoyed a wonderful historical tour. I also read the book about the explosion. It's called "Barometer Rising". For anyone planning to visit the area it's great background. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
solocanadian Posted December 6, 2014 #19 Share Posted December 6, 2014 Thanks for reminding us Judy. A poster mentioned the book, Barometer Rising. We studied that in English Literature when I was in high school. My year was the last to read it. The School board in Scarborough, Ontario banned the book because there was an illegitimate child in the story. What a load of crap. Just look what is on TV today both in Canada and USA. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cruising-along Posted December 6, 2014 #20 Share Posted December 6, 2014 Halifax also has a wonderful Maritime Museum which contains many items from the "Titanic". In fact, many of the victims of that disaster are buried in a cemetery in Halifax. The city is well worth a visit! We didn't make it to the museum (next time!) but we did get to the cemetery and Peggy's Cove. Really enjoyed our day in Halifax, wonderful city. Cannot wait to get back. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sail7seas Posted December 6, 2014 Author #21 Share Posted December 6, 2014 (edited) Halifax is truly a wonderful port of call. Peggy's Cove, the Citadel, Maritime Museum, farmer's market, and so much more. I wouldn't usually choose to visit a cemetery on vacation but found the one where Titanic Victims are buried very interesting. Aside from the fact the graves are placed in the shape of a ship's bow, I realized how diverse the City of Halifax. I looked around some and noticed the Italian Section, the Chinese Section, the Greek Section...... etc It became very apparent from the age of some of the gravestones the city was long populated by people from all over. It was wonderful to see. I also love walking the great boardwalk straight down from the ship all the way. It's a lovely walk and nice to find a place to stop in for lobster lunch. :) DH and I had an incredibly fun experience meeting the hockey player, Brad Marchand, while walking on the boardwalk. It was just after his (our)team, Boston Bruins, had won the Stanley Cup. Though he is from Canada, he was a very happy champion. :) Delightfully, gracious man. A very funny story how we happened to meet him. The plaids for sale in the Terminal and around other shops in the city are beautiful and the people so welcoming, helpful and nice. Edited December 6, 2014 by sail7seas Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Folk Singer Posted December 7, 2014 #22 Share Posted December 7, 2014 HALIFAX: 14. Tip for Halifax NS. Bus Fare is $2.50 for Adults and Seniors is $1.75 but ask for a Transfer and you can get on and off the Buses and the Ferry back and forth for about 2 hours on the same transfer. It is exact change; as the Metro Transit do not give out change on the bus. There is a Board Walk at the Port that is full of Shops,Bars,Restaurants,Casino,Museums,Brewery Tour etc. Around the corner from the ship is the Westin Nova Scotia and Via Rail Station is an Atlantic Superstore where you can get just about anything you may need.) Liquor Commission right next door for buying "Sheridan's". At the Port will be a lot of Craft Stores and Boutique Shops right at the Pier, as soon as you get off the Ship. 13. Alexander Keith's Brewery Tours in Halifax NS. $15.00 per person,over 19 get to taste several samples of the Beer on the tour. 10 minutes walk to Brewery Market from the Ship. http://www.expedia.ca/pub/agent.dll/...tid=28#details You can also just book when you get there as well for the Tour. Off Licence for buying extra Keith's to take with you. 15.Nova Scotian Crystal 15 minutes walk down by the Ferry Terminal. This is the only Crystal Glass Blowing place in North America. http://www.novascotiancrystal.com 16. Halifax Citadel- It would be a 1/2 hour walk to the Top or $10.00 approx. for a taxi from the Ship. http://www.pc.gc.ca/lhn-nhs/ns/halifax/visit.aspx If you get there before 12.00 noon . Each day we have the firing of the Noon Day Gun right at 12.00. There is a little Ceremony as well for this. Great for Photos. Check out the video on youtube. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sapper1 Posted December 7, 2014 #23 Share Posted December 7, 2014 From the CBC news. http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/halifax-explosion-commemorating-97-years-since-tragedy-1.2862972 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Winters in NZ Posted December 7, 2014 #24 Share Posted December 7, 2014 Maritimers have always displayed a generous spirit, whether from the USA or Canada. A bond has always existed between these east-coast folks. On September 11, 2001, 50 flights originating in Europe were forced to land in Halifax. Many others of course landed at other Canadian airports, seeking refuge for a couple of days. That's just a small glimpse of the enduring, two-way relationship, which exists between this pair of two magnificent neighbours. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EbayCruiser Posted December 7, 2014 #25 Share Posted December 7, 2014 We loved a great many Canada/NE cruises and one in particular. On that cruise, we took a fabulous tour in Halifax and learned why it is the good people of Halifax presents the City of Boston with a gorgeous Christmas Tree each year. There was a horrid munitions boat explosion in 1917 which injured and killed so many people and did terrible damage. History tells us Boston sent immediate aid including medical personnel and emergency supplies. ALL these years later, our Northern friends continue to send us a beautiful tree each year. That tree is set in place in Boston Common and there will be a festive tree lighting and celebration tonight. Thank you for our Nova Scotia/Canadian friends. :) Our City loves those trees. If you ever have the chance to visit Halifax, be sure to go. It's a wonderful city.... with GREAT lobsters. ;) We heard that on our tour when we visited Halifax. It is a great port and we had a wonderful time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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