Euro Travel & More

If you are in Halifax with children – you have to go for a cruise in good ole Theodore – for it must be fun for the kids.  We didn’t go – because the weather wasn’t so nice.  But the next time we are in Halifax in the summer – we have to remember to give Theodore the tugboat a try.

It was quite a windy day – even in June – it was quite cold and the water was choppy.

Theodore looking really good here.

There is also a gift store just on all of Theodore the tugboat – but they were expensive – but nevertheless a novelty everyone must bring home from Halifax.

We have been up in Halifax so many times but yet we haven’t seen everything and ate everywhere and each trip we seems to find something more amazing and more fascinating and we buy more new stuff every trip.   This trip was pretty fruitful because I found a place where I can buy shea butter and Japanese bento and Japanese incense stick – pretty awesome.  We also headed out to several Farmer’s market near the hotel and we found some interesting things to bring home.

An ice cream stand that is still opened in the fall is nice because some days it can still be quite hot.  We didn’t get any ice cream – but we definitely would love to the next time.

A music shop that we found.

A gift store that sells rubber duckies.

An ikebana store that sells lots of Japanese things – and we bought some very good incense here – and wished I had bought more – but most importantly, I bought all my beauty products that I cannot find where I lived.  I had a good trip despite the fact that the kid got sick at the end of the trip – what a bummer right?  but the next time – I’m going to buy more shea butter conditioner and lip balm.  I loved the shea butter range of products.

We stayed at the Westin Hotel in Halifax during our last trip up to the city and since Westin was rated as a 4 star hotel we were actually looking forward to checking out the hotel.  Located at the South end of Halifax – near the waterfront – it’s not as convenient as the Barrington Delta or the Sheraton Four Points but it was still a pretty decent place to stay at.

The Westin had a huge lobby and it’s especially great for businessmen since they need to receive their guests here – over here is where you can find the bell hop/concierge desk – but as you can see here – no bell hop or concierge is in sight.  But that doesn’t mean that they are not around.  The bell hops are friendly but since the hotel was running on full house – they were in and out of the hotel.  I would have thought that there would be a permanent concierge for such a big hotel but we didn’t see any during our 2 days stay there.

The front desk area is large and usually there are a few front desk clerk available – either on the phone or checking in their guests.  Our check in was prompt and we were treated with respect but unfortunately, they did not hear that we need a room with a cot in it since we had a 7 yrs old with us.

The lobby is inviting as you can see here. There were several restaurants in the basement and a lounge area with free wifi – unfortunately, the hotel was so packed we didn’t get a chance to check it out.

Our first room was too small for a cot – so we asked for a change of room – the second day – which they did.  Unfortunately, they gave us a handicap room – with no tub – so my poor kid did not bathe the night before we went home.   Everything was just weird for us in the handicap room.  The bathroom was small and had no counter top space and the heater didn’t really work right at all.

They brought the cot up after we spoke to the housekeeping maid on the floor – unfortunately, they didn’t have the right sheets for the cot – and we had to ask again for them.

We didn’t even get to go to the pool because the kid got sick from sleeping on the floor the first night and the second night the heater wouldn’t come on.  But service was good – they did try to help but if given a choice we won’t stay at the Westin because it is a old hotel – grand but dusty to max.

I haven’t been into a train station for a long time – so when we were in Halifax and staying at the Westin Hotel which is just next to the VIA Rail – I thought we should at least stop in and check it out.  You can’t missed the train station as it is at the end of Barrington Street – to be exact it is in Hollis Street.

It would be nice to take a train ride up to Montreal or even to Niagara Falls.

The inside of the train station.

In all our trip up the city – we’ve never gone closed to the public garden – we’ve heard a lot about it – but we’ve never been there.  This trip up to the city – the kid wanted to go to a playground – so we went for a walk after parking the car.

The Halifax Public Garden’s gate reminds me of the Botanical Garden back home.  A lot of restoration work was put into this garden after it was hit by Hurricane Juan.

Inside the Public Garden – a gazebo – lots of gardeners worked in this garden voluntarily.  We didn’t stay for long as the bugs were in full force that afternoon.  But i do plan to visit another time soon.

Thanksgiving was a few days ago – we had so much squash and turkey – I think I need a colon cleansing I told my girlfriends who fed me during Thanksgiving dinner.  We went to a U-pick for pumpkins and went for a wagon ride as well.  Thanksgiving dinner was wonderful – we ate so much sweets – and cakes  -  the body needs to get healthy again – for sure.

Gourds for decoration only  – this year the in-laws didn’t grow any – we had to buy some from this U-pick place.

We went for an old-fashion wagon ride – for fun with the kids.

Lovely pumpkins – some carving will be done tonite – no more eating though – hahah!

We headed back home before sunset!  it was a beautiful day.

As promised – i’ve shown you the outside of the CourtYard Marriot on the previous post and now for the inside of the hotel.  The bedroom given to us was a very nice room – spacious with 2 queen bed.  The receptionist at check in was very nice and polite – but the bell hop was helping someone else during check in – so we carried our own luggage – to our room.  But it was a lazy Sunday – so having only one bell hop is understandable and we didn’t have very much – just 2 luggages and lots of shopping bag with acne body wash that we had bought for a friend’s kid.

The view was very pretty – as you can see here.  And our fear that the road may get too noisy from the reviews that we read – were unfounded – we didn’t hear a thing outside of our room.

I thought we had read that our tv was going to be an LCD tv – therefore we had brought along our xbox 360 to be hooked up to it for our stay.  But alas – it was a normal tv and what made it even more frustrating was the tv didn’t allowed us to play our xbox 360 onto it.  But – the saving grace was the receptionist had offered to give us the one in the conference room if it wasn’t in used.  Now that was very nice of her – but it came with a huge rack and totally took up part of the room.  By then we were too tired to try and return it and just left it in the room because it was already late – 9pm.

This was the breakfast room – it’s located right in the lobby – a really small area – no restaurant or a drinking hole but the wait staff and the kitchen staff were great – they made a waffle for my kid even though they didn’t have it in the menu.  Very sweet indeed!

This is the hotel’s pool – it’s tiny!

Boy! i sure missed those pools in Asia! hotel pools in Asia are Olympic sizes.

Sometime before Christmas last year – Bay Ferries announced that they were cancelling their services between Bar Harbor, Portland and Yarmouth due to weak economy and no funding from the Canadian government.  They did this without any prior warning it seems just as easy as using an acne scar removal .  There was a big boo ha about this issue – because a lot of jobs will be lost and tourism which is already daunted because of the weak dollar – will close its gateway for the people from United States to not only Nova Scotia but Canada.   So if you are planning to take the CAT to Nova Scotia – better make other plans.  I know of many Americans who have holiday houses here in Canada -and I wonder how this is affecting them.  I’m pretty sure some people ain’t too happy.

Dragonfly Inn reminds me of Gilmore Girls, so being a huge fan of that show, we just had to check out this inn.  More like a bed and breakfast and like almost all B & B .. they did not disappoint at all. If you are passing thru’ Nova Scotia on the way up to Halifax, you might just want to spend a nite at this cozy and lovely inn.  We brought our  xbox 360 since they have high speed internet and dvd machines in the rooms. You can also try the Coach house if you have kids .. as they have microwave ovens and a fridge for you.  I absolutely love the cozy rooms .. although i could use a bigger bathtub ..and a jacuzzi in the room would be even better.  The rates are very reasonable.. at $149 Canadian..  for the suite rooms and breakfast included as well.  Check out time is 3pm .. which is very rare in the hotel industry.. and check in is as early as 11am.  You would love that the inn is located at the heart of the Evangeline Trail and only a short walk to Fort Anne and the Historic Gardens.  There are cafes and markets as well as specialty stores in the valley, and we will go back there when we get the chance.

Compared to what i was used to.. when i was traveling for business, these days traveling on business even for a small business opportunity, you really only need a computer and your USB key.  No need to lug your projectors, or many files or even presentation materials.  Unfortunately, since 9/11, when you do travel, you know the hassle you have to go thru’ especially in an American Airport.  So even for Canadians who usually only need their ID when traveling to United States, is now asked to produce a valid passport.  So for those traveling on business, make sure your documentations are proper, you have a destination as well as a letter for the company that you are meeting with etc, etc, etc.  Yes, they do ask of this.. when you go thru’ custom, so do get yourself prepared.