The first cruise ship of the year - Maasdam - arrived in Sydney harbour last Saturday. It was a gala occasion, heralding another busy season for cruise ship visits and shore excursions. Cape Breton is one of the most popular stops on the Atlantic provinces cruise schedule. The captains and crews like us because we are so friendly, accommodating and professional, with an utstanding cruise ship pavilion to boot. And the passengers like us because of 
the great number of varying tours offered and because of the easy access to Sydney's shopping and dining areas. You can walk to the Casino! I mentioned in a previous column of my involvement with cruise ship tourism as a guide. I step on the bus and talk. I have a great time telling visitors of the history, heritage, culture, industry weather, life and times of living in Canada, Nova Scotia and Cape Breton. The scenery and attractions take care of themselves, but the guide's job is to fill those gaps in between, so you've got to know your stuff. All you've got is your voice, a microphone, some maps and photos books, and a vast storehouse of knowledge, information, trivia and tidbits. It helps if you like to talk and you like to look things up. I'm especially prone to the latter. So what nuggets have I uncovered for this year's cruise ship season?
the great number of varying tours offered and because of the easy access to Sydney's shopping and dining areas. You can walk to the Casino! I mentioned in a previous column of my involvement with cruise ship tourism as a guide. I step on the bus and talk. I have a great time telling visitors of the history, heritage, culture, industry weather, life and times of living in Canada, Nova Scotia and Cape Breton. The scenery and attractions take care of themselves, but the guide's job is to fill those gaps in between, so you've got to know your stuff. All you've got is your voice, a microphone, some maps and photos books, and a vast storehouse of knowledge, information, trivia and tidbits. It helps if you like to talk and you like to look things up. I'm especially prone to the latter. So what nuggets have I uncovered for this year's cruise ship season?Sit back, relax, enjoy the ride, and let me tell you: In Nova Scotia there are some 23,000 kilometers of roads, 3,800 bridges and seven provincial ferries ( two of which operate in on Cape Breton). The National Flag of Canada (the Maple Leaf) may be flown day or night. The word “kilt” is Scandinavian in origin and means “the fold of a gathered skirt.” The largest family fortune in Canada is that of the Irving family of Saint John, New Brunswick worth some $6 billion. White Birch is called “the lady of the forest” and is Nova Scotia's most common hardwood.
But the Red Spruce is our provincial tree and is our fastest growing and most valuable softwood species. The Seal Island bridge is the third largest in the province. It opened to traffic in 1961. The deck was rebuilt in 2003 at a cost of $15 million. It is 200 feet above sea level with a clearance of 120 feet.The Big Fiddle on the Sydney waterfront is 17 meters tall and the bow has 144 steel “horsehair” strings. From 1866 to 1997 Cape Breton mines reported 1,321 fatalities. Cape Breton Island does not have fisher, porcupine, skunk, Arctic shrew, long-tailed shrew or white-footed mouse. It takes ten years to change all the water in the Bras d'Or lakes. The moose population in Cape Breton can be traced to 18 Alberta moose released in the winter of 1947-48 in Cape Breton Highlands Park. Canada has sent eight astronauts into space including two females (Roberta Bondar and Julie Payette). Canada has the world's highest tides (in the Bay of Fundy), the world's longest coastline, and the world's longest federal highway (the Trans-Canada).
Source : http://glacebaygleaner.com/public/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1095&Itemid=130
But the Red Spruce is our provincial tree and is our fastest growing and most valuable softwood species. The Seal Island bridge is the third largest in the province. It opened to traffic in 1961. The deck was rebuilt in 2003 at a cost of $15 million. It is 200 feet above sea level with a clearance of 120 feet.The Big Fiddle on the Sydney waterfront is 17 meters tall and the bow has 144 steel “horsehair” strings. From 1866 to 1997 Cape Breton mines reported 1,321 fatalities. Cape Breton Island does not have fisher, porcupine, skunk, Arctic shrew, long-tailed shrew or white-footed mouse. It takes ten years to change all the water in the Bras d'Or lakes. The moose population in Cape Breton can be traced to 18 Alberta moose released in the winter of 1947-48 in Cape Breton Highlands Park. Canada has sent eight astronauts into space including two females (Roberta Bondar and Julie Payette). Canada has the world's highest tides (in the Bay of Fundy), the world's longest coastline, and the world's longest federal highway (the Trans-Canada).
Source : http://glacebaygleaner.com/public/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1095&Itemid=130
1 comment:
Isn't it great on how cruises are fun and on how one can enjoy it and reach places at the same time. what I enjoy about it is that it brings a lot of new jobs to the ports where it visits and brings lots of jobs for crews and staffs. I just hope that cruises wont be attacked by pirates.
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