We arrived in Halifax, NS on Thursday July 5 to the sound of rain beating down on our homes. We set up in the Woodhaven Campground in Hammonds Plains, a suburb of Halifax, and spent the next day inside: relaxing, reading, playing games and just generally enjoying each others' company. We try to take every alternate day "off" for regrouping and planning and general maintenance on body and spirit.
On Saturday we spent the day at the
Halifax Highland Games and Clan Gathering. It is held annually on the garrison grounds of the Citadel, the fortress of Halifax built to protect it from attack. It is now an historical site and the only soldiers in it are the reenactors of the 97th Highland Regiment, seen here between Jon and me. They provide information and a glimpse of Citadel military life from an era long passed and presented an outstanding drill routine at the Games.
The games included lots of pipe and band music, 
athletic demonstrations of brawn and power such as the caber toss,
and the local Scottish country dancing group, 
the Thistle Dancers, gave a great performance demo onstage. It was a long, fun day! BUT the next day, Sunday, was even better!
Halifax Highland Games and Clan Gathering. It is held annually on the garrison grounds of the Citadel, the fortress of Halifax built to protect it from attack. It is now an historical site and the only soldiers in it are the reenactors of the 97th Highland Regiment, seen here between Jon and me. They provide information and a glimpse of Citadel military life from an era long passed and presented an outstanding drill routine at the Games.
The games included lots of pipe and band music, 
athletic demonstrations of brawn and power such as the caber toss,
and the local Scottish country dancing group, 
the Thistle Dancers, gave a great performance demo onstage. It was a long, fun day! BUT the next day, Sunday, was even better!It began with the "Kirkin' of the Tartans," a Christian worship service often held in conjunction with Highland games. This one was at St. Matthew's United Church (of Canada), a church with its beginnings in 1749 from Scottish immigrants. The worship service, which included wonderful harp music and song by Ardyth and Jennifer, concluded with the clan members present placing their tartans at the altar and the pastor praying a blessing over them and the clans they represent. 
The church provided a light lunch of sandwiches, coffee, tea and cookies for us after the service.
The church provided a light lunch of sandwiches, coffee, tea and cookies for us after the service. We then walked to the base of the Citadel for Pipefest 2007, a parade of pipe bands from the Citadel through the streets of downtown Halifax. Very moving!
They came from near
and far (Scotland!)
and in all sizes! These two wee ones are from Osaka, Japan!
This is the Pipe Band of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (the "Mounties".)
They came from near
and far (Scotland!)
and in all sizes! These two wee ones are from Osaka, Japan!
This is the Pipe Band of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (the "Mounties".)This wonderful day culminated in the Royal Nova Scotia Military Tattoo 2007, and we cannot give it enough praise: Marvelous! Stupendous! Fantastic! Glorious! Words are all simply inadequate to describe it! (For a little taste, click the link above and watch the "YouTube" sample.) The show began with the Pipefest parade marching into and through the arena at 2:30 and did not end until 6 o'clock. There was music, dance, comedy, song, and pathos with the military salute to those killed in Afghanistan in the past week. We all left the Halifax Metro Centre rather speechless, at a loss to explain what we had just witnessed and knowing that no words could convey it to our listeners. We did all agree that it is a must-see in a lifetime!
We really do...wish you were here!
We really do...wish you were here!
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