Greetings from Halifax, Nova Scotia! August 31, 2002
American flags fly alongside Canadian flags at the homes of some Canadians. I've seen it numerous times on this journey. A Canadian told me that it's to show solidarity with the States since September 11th.
A tragedy of proportions comparible to last September 11th occurred in Halifax, Nova Scotia back in December 1917, and at that time Americans rose to the occasion to show solidarity with their Canadian friends. It wasn't terrorism at that time, but an accident. A French munitions ship collided with another ship, resulting in the largest man made explosion prior to the nuclear age. The ship didn't explode at first, but caught on fire in Halifax harbor. The spectacle drew a large crowd of spectators to the waterfront while the crew managed to get on lifeboats and row to shore. Then, the unoccupied ship began drifting toward downtown Halifax. The blast was so powerful and the subsequent fires were so widespread that it leveled virtually the entire north end of Halifax, killing over 1900 people and injuring over 9000. That's the largest single day casualty list to occur in the Western Hemisphere between the American Civil War and September 11th last year. Pieces of the ship were found several kilometers away -- a distance that perhaps has grown as the story's been told. Adding to the misery of the city, a blizzard the following day dumped nearly a half meter of snow upon it.
Contributions to the relief effort came from around the world, but locals especially remember the generosity coming from the state of Massachusetts, which donated substantial resources and sent a large army of volunteers and doctors. So grateful were the people of Halifax that to this day the city still sends a Christmas tree to the city of Boston each year to show its appreciation for helping their community in their greatest hour of need. (** The previous has been largely paraphrased from Lonely Planet's guide to Canada).
By comparison, Halifax is booming these days, loaded to the gills with tourists and University students ready to return to their studies. I too am ready to return to work Wednesday.
Here are some photos from Canada's maritime provinces:
St. John's, Newfoundland from Signal Hill
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Rainbow colored housing in St. John's, Newfoundland
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Workers at fish processing plant, Labrador
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House from the book "Anne of Green Gables", Prince Edward Island
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Mushrooms, Newfoundland and New Brunswick
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Hopewell Rocks at low tide, Bay of Fundy, New Brunswick
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U.S. Coast Guard Tall ship in Halifax Harbor
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Sampling beer at Gahan's brew pub, Charlottetown, Price Edward Island
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Happy September!
Deano
