The beginning of France

    Life in France has been fantastic so far 2 months in! It is everything and more that I hoped it would be. The baguettes are as tasty as I had hoped and the cheese is plentiful. Two months into the journey, I feel so satisfied with our choice to see just one country over the year rather than trying to travel to as many countries as possible this year. After my last visit to Paris, I felt I had a small feel for what France was but I couldn't of been more wrong! I've learned that half hour down the road in France, it's a completely different world. There will be different accents, different foods and the entire style of the village is different. I must say this has been my favourite part about France so far, the amazing differences you will see without travelling much distance. Every village and city we have visited varied so much and provided so many new things to discover.
    Our initial week in Paris after landing was great, a mix of touristing and paperwork. The reality that set in once we had purchased a European SIM card and set up a France bank account was beyond exciting. Especially since our bank appointment wasn't in a small little bank in an alley...it was at the HSBC on the Champs-Elysees! I won't lie, I felt pretty excited sitting in the bank signing papers while glancing out onto the bustling street. Oddly enough, it appeared in order to set up a bank account in France as a foreigner you had to have a deposit of 2,500 Euros to 10,000 Euros! Not only to just deposit that large sum, but you actually had to have that amount stay in your account. After visiting the first few banks we felt discouraged by this, especially since we NEEDED this account in order to obtain our Personal Liability Insurance (at last we discovered how to find this insurance). The last bank we walked into, without much hope, was the HSBC Elite bank on the Champs-Elysees. They were very helpful and thankfully spoke a little English, and helped us set up an appointment to discuss our options. She told us we could set up the basic account that included the insurance, online banking and other important details except that we wouldn't be able to come in and speak to bank tellers with this account. A huge weight lifted off my shoulders when we had confirmed our accounts and handed in our needed Utility bill from Canada. Suddenly everything felt real...very real, I was actually living abroad!

 

    After Paris my fiance and I didn't really have a plan. We had signed up to Wwoofing France and had booked our first stay, starting at the beginning of September in the Pyrenees. So, we had nearly a full month to roam France on our way down to the Pyrenees. We decided to stop at several different villages and cities along the way that were not in the travel books. We wanted to stop and see the real France, where the streets weren't littered with tourists. Looking back I couldn't of been happier that we took that route allowing us to see incredibly beautiful and charming villages minus the tourist traps.
    Our first stop was a few hours by train south of Paris to a small village called Brive-la-Galliarde (most people in France know it as just 'Brive'). A small village with wonderful people, tiny streets winding through the old town and an impressive Patisserie in the center. There was also a fantastic outdoor market held on Tuesdays and Thursdays (and possibly Saturdays) where there were dozens of locals offering artisan cheeses, meats, breads and foie gras products. I felt like a child in a toy store... I wanted to sample everything! The hostel in Brive is very basic and very affordable. There was a kitchen to use, free Internet and friendly owners who live above the office. A very good thing to know about hosteling in France is FUAJ, which is the French branch of Hosteling International. It allows you to find hostels in nearly every village in France unlike if you search from the general HI website. I enjoyed Brive very much especially because of a woman we met at our hostel named Annie. She was from Paris and on her holidays for three weeks at the hostel (a very smart budget holiday when you are on a pension) and was so familiar with the hostel she appeared to run it. We spent a large amount of time with her over our 6 day stay, eating our meals with her and practicing french. She was a fantastic person who we will keep in touch with for life I believe.

   The next village was my personal favourite of the towns we visited on our way to the Pyrenees. Cahors was about an hour south of Brive. The town was nestled in the surrounding hills and was actually itself surrounded by a river. Therefore, there were beautiful bridges to walk across and admire. The most impressive bridge was the medieval looking "Pont Neuf". Before crossing the bridge you can admire the ancient grape vines along the pathway with benches to sit and take in the view. We also climbed a steep hill on the opposite side of the river where we were able to get a panoramic view of Cahors. I really enjoyed wandering throughout Cahors and I would recommend others to visit.

    Montauban was our next stop on our journey South. The buildings were interesting here because in the time period the town was built, reddish-pink bricks were predominately used giving the entire city a pinkish hue. Our hostel in Montauban was very interesting. Still to this day I'm not completely sure what this building was. This large building appeared to house Elderly living, Student housing, summer groups and hostelers! It was a very neat dynamic and was good to see the entire building used to its capacity. The hostel was very comfortable with Internet, a kitchen, spacious rooms and friendly staff. After touring the historic center of the town, we decided to venture out of the city and see the 'modern' side of France. We walked a couple hours from the pink bricked homes to the industrial center where we caught a glimpse of where the locals buy their cars, furniture and tools. It was really interesting to venture to an area like that and see the more modern side as well. There is plenty to see throughout the streets but once again I must restrain myself from writing 3 paragraphs on each town.

    The largest city we stopped in was Toulouse where the reddish-pink bricks dominated the city again. I really loved Toulouse. It felt like a smaller Paris to me with charming shops, cafes, boutique clothing stores and many Patisseries. It felt like a city but didn't have that hustle bustle of say New York or Paris. We stopped and ate orange braised duck with a Tarte Tatin at a brasserie that was fantastic and reasonably priced. There is so much to see in Toulouse including an impressive university campus, a canal that winds through the city and the cathedral. We rented bikes for the day allowing us to see more of the city at a great cost of under 6 Euros! Biking was a great way to see the city especially since Toulouse has many bike routes to use. Spending the day leisurely peddling along the canal was a memorable afternoon I am happy to of experienced.

    The next town was very small, called Saint Gaudens located under an hour from Toulouse. Most locals ask us 'Why did you go to Saint Gaudens? There is nothing to do there?' but I would disagree. Yes, there isn't a major center or large amount of shops but I found it enjoyable nonetheless. It is at the beginning of the Pyrenees, which you can see off in the horizon and had the most wonderful crisp air. There was also a large sawmill on the outskirts of town which reminded both my fiance and I of home. We spent our two days walking around the neighbourhoods and having fun in the local grocery store checking out new products. It's funny because sometimes just wandering around and doing what you normally do, such as grocery shopping or looking for socks can be really enjoyable while travelling. I wouldn't tell someone to go out of their way to visit Saint Gaudens but if you are passing through its a nice place to spend the night. Do not expect much from the hostel as I think it is more for long term housing with a few rooms available for the hostel. There was no reception for most of the time, the Internet did not work and the building was oddly quiet. Although, in the evening they did offer a dinner for 5 Euros which was fantastic! I will not complain about the hostel though as it was an affordable stay and I am just happy many towns allow a small section of their building for hostelers, or else it would limit us to staying in large cities only.

    Lastly, we visited the city of Tarbes. Once again, I really enjoyed Tarbes as there was lots to see and do with a beautiful historic center. The houses were a different style than the previous towns with high peaked roofs and no longer reddish bricks. Some homes reminded me of homes you'd picture in the Alps. The Hotel de Ville (Town Hall) is very beautiful and the small streets through the center have many cafes, boutiques and specialty stores to wander through.

We purchased a can of Cassoulet from a specialty food shop that was delicious with large chunks of duck and sausage, definitely a favourite French dish of mine.

 From Tarbes, you have an even better view of the Pyrenees in the distance that reach high up into the sky. My favourite part of Tarbes was the large public Garden in the center of the city. You can wander through the manicured gardens complete with a picturesque pond with ducks, swans and large fish. There is also a section of the garden where there are goats and chickens to go and see which I thought was a very neat addition to the Garden. You will also find peacocks roaming the grounds dragging behind their luxurious feathers (which I was lucky enough to find one laying on the ground!). Do not though, however, venture onto the grass as you will get a whistle blown loudly at you from one of the garden police...yes this happened to us!
   I enjoyed travelling down central France and seeing the small villages and cities along the way. I loved being able to see the historic and modern parts of France and actually seeing the real neighbourhoods people live in and not just the touristy cores. After experiencing these areas it made me so happy to know that the traditions of long meals, good food and wine and small shops even exist in everyday life here.

 

 

   
   
   

Wow...it's the end of the roadtrip already!

    Driving off of the ferry from Newfoundland back onto the mainland of Nova Scotia was very odd. We had been planning this road trip for so long and organizing all of the tasks we had to do when we reached Halifax...but now that it was actually here is didn't feel real. We had to pull over to pitch a tent for a few hours after we drove off the ferry as we all had no sleep. I believe it was a field we camped in however in the morning there appeared to be alot of houses around...

    After some much needed sleep (possibly in someones yard) we were back on the road to our last destination. It feels so weird to say that. The past month has been wonderful...a once in a lifetime experience. I feel like I truly know Canada now and understand how vast this country really is. Every province offered such different experiences but one thing remained constant the entire trip...the wonderful Canadian people we interacted with. I have always heard people say Canadians are friendly and likable and now I see what people mean. Even as a Canadian, I seen how wonderful and hospitable my fellow Canadians are, and it really makes me proud to be part of this country.

    We had three days in Halifax, mainly to organize ourselves to get ready to leave the country for a year. However, we still managed to go out sightseeing and see lots of the city. Halifax was a lovely city to visit. It is a city rich with history and truly feels like the capitol of the east coast. Although a large city, it still had the charm of the east coast and wasn't overwhelming like other large cities. The brick buildings downtown are beautiful to wander through and when we were visiting there was thick fog covering the city. We asked some locals if the fog was common and we were told Halifax is quite frequently blanketed in thick fog.

    We got to see a Navy ship once again at the docks, this time a fully operational Canadian destroyer. The docks are great to walk around on and we happened to be there on Natal Day (The first Monday of August) so there was lots happening like live bands and food stands. My personal favourite sight we seen in Halifax was the Maritime Museum. Admission was only $8.75/adult and allowed you to view three floors of exhibits. There was an extensive exhibit on the Atlantic cable ships giving you insight into how important these ships were. They were responsible for laying the cable on the ocean floor for communication and were out for months at a time in the worst of weather...these were the ships that were first on the call when the Titanic sunk as well. A fantastic exhibit showcasing an extremely important group of ships that are quite unknown to most people.

The next large exhibit was on the devastating explosion of 1917. Seeing the photographs of the explosion was heart-wrenching and I couldn't imagine how terrible that day would of been. There was lots of interesting facts on how and why the explosion occurred as well as an informative short video. One item left over from the explosion that really stuck with me was a watch that had stopped right at the exact second of the explosion but remained intact. 

    The final exhibit was on the Titanic. It was fascinating to admire the pieces of the ship that had been recovered such as hand carved wood pieces from the dining room and grand staircase.

 There was also a replica of a lounging deck chair you could try out, letting you sit back for a moment and imagine what it would of been like to lounge in the sun on that impressive ship.

 Wandering through the exhibit and seeing the treasures recovered from the ship really made you realize how grand the Titanic really was. One appalling item in the exhibit was a board game created shortly after the sinking. The object of the game was to try to escape the sinking Titanic alive and you got bonus points for bringing a fellow survivor. Thankfully, it was pulled from shelves shortly after being released. I couldn't believe that a company had actually took advantage of such a horrific accident to make a few bucks!

    Aside from the exhibits I have mentioned, there was plenty of other ship related displays to see including dozens of scale model ships finished to exact precision. These model ships were very impressive! The detail painted onto each window, life preserver and raft was amazing...there really was not one detail missed. Definitely plan to spend 2-3 hours in the Maritime Museum as there is so much fascinating things to see. It was probably my favourite museum I have visited, and especially my favourite activity in Halifax.

    The final day in Halifax was spent rushing around getting last minute tasks done before our evening flight. We sent a Rubbermaid of camping gear and Canada Memorabilia back to family in British Columbia on a local bus line affiliated with Greyhound Canada for a surprisingly good price! (A large container probably weighing 20KG for $90). Then we did our last task of the day, selling our beloved "Dank Mobile" van. We had found a local private buyer (through Craigslist) a day prior to leaving and thankfully he took it off of our hands, paying only $200! We sold the van at such a bargain because we did not have the luxury of time to find a higher price elsewhere because we had to get rid of it before our flight (it is illegal in Canada to abandon a vehicle). So, relieved that the van was gone we headed to Halifax International airport and awaited our 8pm flight.

    Waiting in the airport for the final hours in Canada felt once again surreal. Reflecting back on all we had seen in the past month was amazing. I loved every part of Canada! I never truly realized how beautiful Canada was from the jagged Rockies to the yellow prairies. Visiting all the towns, big and small was so rewarding and in an odd way I feel 'More Canadian' if that's possible. I can honestly say now that Canada is a remarkable country filled with even more remarkable people, because I have experienced both first hand. It was truly a road trip of a lifetime that I will never forget and hope to perhaps do again one day with my own children.

    Sitting in the uncomfortable waiting chairs I decided to indulge in one more Canadian pleasure before leaving abroad. I ordered myself up a cooked lobster from the Seafood stand, collected butter packs from the food court, ordered a hot water from Tim Hortons then sat down for one last Canadian dinner. I sat in the airport covered in buttery lobster, warming my butter and lobster claws in the hot water thinking to myself...'Man, Canada really is the best place on earth'.

The great journey to Newfoundland!

    After touring Fort Louisbourg for the greater portion of the morning we drove the hour or so to Sydney, where we would take an evening ferry to Newfoundland. I had booked tickets weeks earlier somewhere in the prairies and I will not lie...they were pretty pricey! For one van and three passengers it was nearly $500! Not a price I would want to pay very often but for our complete cross-Canada trip is was necessary. We had 6 hours to spend in Sydney before our ferry came and unfortunately it turned out Sydney is more of a 1 hour city. Sydney is a basic port town with a few shops to wander through, we spent some time rummaging around in the used book store which I always enjoy doing. There were lots of young teenagers driving around in their barely running vehicles making me laugh to myself as it reminded me of my home town. By 5 o'clock we had run out of things to look at and decided to all lounge in our home (the van) and read our novels. We were laughing at the looks people were giving us as they looked into our windows and saw our 'gypsie' style of living.
    The time finally came to go to the ferries...to wait again for our 8pm departure. Around 30 minutes before 8 I noticed something bad...really bad. After flipping the tickets around in my hands for awhile I glanced down at them and something caught my eye...

DEPARTURE: 20:00 NORTH SYDNEY----PORT AUX BASQUES

   Quickly using the free terminal wi-fi I searched 'Port Aux Basques' and to my horror it was indeed the ferry terminal on the complete OTHER side of the island!!! I had specifically ordered tickets for Argentia weeks previously, which is only 90 minutes from the city of Saint John's, but later learned something had been typed into the computer wrong and we indeed had tickets to Port Aux Basques. We were also told that the ferry had already left earlier that evening for Argentia and the price for that ferry would of been $1000! Slightly stressed at first, we all came to the realization that we had to accept the new itinerary and that it was for the best because we could not of afforded the other sailing.
    The ferry was only 6 hours, leaving us with very minimal sleep for our 11 hour drive in the morning to Saint John's. I slept under the seats on the floor with surprisingly good results and before we knew it we were there.

 I highly recommend scheduling your ferry crossings far in advance as each sailing only crosses on specific days of the week which changes throughout the year. Knowing well in advance will make sure the ferries coincide with the rest of your travel days.
http://marine-atlantic.ca/index.asp
    Driving across Newfoundland was a very, very long drive and I will put it out there right now...there is nothing for 11 hours aside from a couple very small towns. To drive it once would be alright but knowing we had to turn around and drive it again in a couple days was brutal. My favourite parts of the drive were at the beginning and end of the journey (by the water) where the land got very green and beautiful. At one point there were rolling hills that were covered in moss with ponds which was very nice and the morning fog gave it that extra flair.

 After 11 very long hours we arrived into Saint John's to our campsite located conveniently close to the downtown core. The campsite (and all hotel/hostels) were full due to festivals and summer tourism but luckily we were able to camp in a field provided by the campground. It served our purpose perfectly for our tent and the only difference with the field was we did not have a fire pit and there were many other tents in the field with you. The campground was called Pippy Campground and I would recommend staying there if you are on a budget, just make sure to book far in advance as accommodation in Newfoundland fills up fast especially in the summer months.
    We woke up extra early the next morning to venture to Cape Spear for sunrise so we could be the first ones in North America to see the sunrise. Cape Spear is the farthest point East in North America. We were up and out the tent by 4:45am (crazy I know!) and unfortunately the fog was quite thick and we could not see the sun but regardless it was amazing being out so early at Cape Spear.

 It was so beautiful there, magical really with the waves crashing against the rocks. Knowing you are the farthest you can possibly go in North America is surreal and really made me realize how far we had travelled. There was also a neat sign noting you have reached 'THE END OF CANADA' or 'BEGINNING OF CANADA' depending on which way you are going. This sign really signified to me that we have driven from one end of Canada to the other and are leaving Canada soon for an entire new journey abroad.

    After Cape Spear we headed back into town for some breakfast at Smitty's. This is surprisingly a great restaurant to go and catch a view of the harbour and Signal Hill! Refueled and ready for the day we drove up to Signal Hill and spent close to 3 hours wandering around. Signal Hill was stunning...it was everything I wanted to see in the East coast and more. After coming down the vertical wooden stairs you can roam around the rocky terrain and cliffs overlooking the ocean.

As the wind whips your hair and eyelashes you feel like you're at the edge of the earth. The views of the ocean were spectacular especially looking down on a lighthouse perched on a cliff with waves crashing up against it. Further down the path you can visit the old battery and see the canons perched on the hill protecting the harbour.

 You get a very neat view of the Saint John's harbour nestled safely behind the cliffs from above...showing you how untouchable it would of been from invading navies. Signal Hill was breath-taking and made the 22 hours of driving completely worth it! I could of spent the entire three days sitting staring at the view.

 

   The city of Saint John's was so very East coast with the pastel coloured houses lining the streets and the fishing boasts in the harbour. The brightly coloured homes really make the city and it made me wonder why we don't do that in other Canadian cities. It would bring liveliness to neighbourhoods and transform otherwise plain houses into character-rich homes.

 There are plenty of restaurants and bars to go to, especially George Street which has the title of having the most bars per square foot in North America over 2 city blocks. We went to a restaurant called Velma's advertising traditional Newfoundland dishes like the one my fiance ordered called 'Fish and Brewis'. It was a cod and bread fry that was surprisingly very tasty! I ordered in the in-house made baked beans that were hardy and satisfying.

    Later on that afternoon we stopped by at the Info Center where we found out that there was a busking festival on down the street, free of charge. Busking refers to street performers that travel to different cities to put on short performances in exchange for small donations. We were thrilled to have a free show to go and watch and entertaining it was! There was juggling, acrobatic fireman, odd men dressed like wizards and extremely talented gymnasts. We had a great time watching the shows and I will definitely look out for more busking festivals in the future.

 I had a fantastic day in Saint John's from sunrise to sunset and it is a city that really offers everything from natural beauty to city exploring. Although it was a bit of a journey to get there, I loved it and I am so glad to of seen that special part of Canada.

Fort Louisbourg...A glance back in history.

    Before travelling to Sydney to board our ferry to Newfoundland we stopped at the historical site of Fort Louisbourg. I wasn't exactly sure what it was at first but my fiance assured me it was an important Canadian site to see. The ticket building is located about a 5 minute drive from the fort and admission was $17.50/ adult. WORTH EVERY PENNY!
    A small bus (leaving in 15 minute intervals) picks you up and brings you to the gates of the fort where you are free to roam around as you please. It really does feel like you are walking back in time to the 1740's. Fort Louisbourg was a French fortress that became an important commercial port but eventually got captured by British Colonists in 1745. When you walk through the gates you are greated by a French soldier in full attire questioning you on why you are visiting the fort. Throughout the entire fort you will see people in full costume going about their daily routine like they would of in the 1700's.

    Wandering freely around the town was exciting, and having the freedom to search the streets and inside buildings really gave you the realistic feel. There were many buildings to wander through such as the giant holding room for all of the barrels of whisky or the sleeping quarters for the soldiers.

    In one particular brick building a woman was inside and told us about the typical household back then and how drying fish was so important. Men working in the Cod fishing industry would actually make more than men in the fur trade industry! She also told us that despite making decent money, houses were built very simply in case of a raid on the fort where houses would need to be burned down. The homes were built very simple indeed but served their purpose and were functional.

       There was even a restaurant you could eat lunch at (with suprisingly decent prices) that still used the original decor making you feel like you were eating in the 18th-century. The staff were dressed in poofy white dresses and bonnets serving traditonal recipes, even observing the church calender and not serving meat dishes on days of abstinence (Fridays and Saturdays).

    You will also find many different animals in the town like sheep, roosters,chickens and goats. I particularly loved petting the sheep and being able to feel the rough texture of the wool. The rooster was fun to watch as well as he strutted around the pen puffing his feathers.

    My personal favourite was a visit to the Bakery where you could see bread being baked in the traditional wood burning ovens. Fresh bread was tossed into awaiting baskets where two young girls would sell you either a single bun or entire loaf. ($2.50/bun and $5.50/loaf). You could choose between white, whole wheat and a heavy rye. We purchased a white bun and a rye bun to sample which turned out to be a very satisfying and filling lunch! I also must add that you can buy apple turnovers made in the bakery as well that are to die for!

    There is so much to write about as everything we explored was worth noting except once again I must remind myself to keep my blogs short and sweet :) Visiting Fort Louisbourg was a great experience, with so much important history. I enjoyed it immensly and can'tt say enough how great of a job they have done perserving the fort and giving visitors of all ages a truly unique and interactive experience.

 

 

Prince Edward Island to Cape Breton

 

    We had a wonderful drive from Prince Edward Island to Pictou, Nova Scotia stopping at attractions along the way and enjoying the beautiful scenery. I couldn't help myself but to pull over when I seen the sign for the Winegarden Esatate Winery. We couldn't tell if it was open or not because the store was pitch dark when we walked in. A minute later a woman walked out from the back and explained that the power was out. I thought to myself, 'Darn, I don't have any cash..' As if she read my mind she smiled and told me she could still take Visa. Wandering around the dark store filled with assorted fruit wines was very relaxing and actually a very unique way to shop. I sampled some blueberry wine and a Cabernet, later choosing the unique blueberry wine. Very sweet and fruity and hit the spot chilled on a summer day.

    Nova Scotia was very beautiful to drive across with the wild flowers lining the roads and the houses perched on hills overlooking the ocean. There are different routes to take across Nova Scotia but I would highly recommend taking the scenic routes rather than the Trans Canada Highway. The routes may take you longer but are very scenic and truly show you Nova Scotia. The scenic route we took was called the Sunrise Trail and took us along the northern coast. Randomly on the side of the road we even spotted a couple Tallships docked for the day! We jumped out of the car and snapped some pictures. A couple nice men told us we could even get a bit closer by coming into their gated sailing club entrance where we would have an unobstructed view. They were amazing ships with weathered wood hulls and tall masts. I felt very lucky to of been able to see them with my own eyes after seeing them only in pictures. Unfortunately they informed us that the ship on the left was the Picton Castle ship where Bob Gainey's (former Montreal Canadiens General Manager) daughter was sadly swept overboard and killed.

    My next stop on the Sunrise Trail was at the Seafoam Lavender Farm. I absolutely love lavender...I love the plants, soaps, the colour, the smell...anything really to do with lavender. I was like a child in a candy store when we pulled in with the rows of lavender in front of me. I'm sure my travel partners were a little less enthusiastic and were probably laughing at me. At no charge you can wander between the rows of lavender and smell the intoxicating smells from the different varieties. There was also a nice gift shop offering different products they made on-site. I purchased a small container of hand cream for a steal of $3.00!

    We arrived in the town of Pictou by early afternoon via the Sunrise trail. This small town is known as the "Birthplace of New Scotland"because the first Scottish immigrants landed here in 1773. It's a pleasant town to drive through with tree-lined streets and period homes. A restaurant caught our eye as we were driving down the main street, so we did a u-turn and went back to check it out.  It was called Murphey's Fish & Chips with a nice patio out in the sun. We were all very excited to order some East coast fish and chips especially since it had been voted 'Canada's #1 Fish & Chips' in 2000 by Chatelaine magazine! It was amazingly crispy, fresh and not greasy and even the fries had been breaded for extra crispiness. Definitely on my Top 3 fish & chips list.

     Not having anywhere planned to camp yet we looked at our provincial campsite map and found one just up the street called Caribou Provincial Park. Very nice campground with quiet sites hidden throughout the trees. The fees for provincial parks across Canada all seemed to be around the same $24 fee plus the cost of firewood ($4-5). This is for a tent site with no electrical, fees for motor homes and electricity are higher. This campground had a fantastic beach to explore only a 5 minute walk down a wooded trail. The water was refreshing with lots of sea life to explore below the surface. We all bobbed in the water with our goggles finding crabs, sand dollars and even a giant sea snail!

    It was so nice to spend lots of much time swimming and camping this summer. Doing the things you remember doing growing up but sadly don't make time to do later on in life. I made a promise to myself this trip...to make time when we return to Canada to put the chores aside some weekends and just go out and have fun...whether that's camping, hiking or just going for a swim. Life quickly becomes revolved around work and chores and it's important to have a reminder in life to stop and smell the roses (excuse the cheesy metaphor). That evening I enjoyed the blueberry wine and made some perfectly over-toasted marshmallows.
    We continued to Cape Breton Island the next morning where the drive got even more beautiful. Cape Breton is an island located on the eastern side of mainland Nova Scotia with lots to see including the world famous Cabot Trail. As big of an attraction as it is, we did not drive the trail. My fiance had driven it before and said it was spectacular but very similar to driving to Tofino on Vancouver Island. Therefore, we wanted to spend the few days we had, exploring as much as we could of the other parts of Cape Breton. If we would of had a few extra days to play around with we would of driven the Cabot Trail for sure, but with only so many days, sadly we had to pick and choose.

    We arrived in a town called St. Peter's and decided to stop at the Tourist center to find a campsite. The woman in the tourist center was so helpful and cheerful and sent us to a campground up the street called Battery Provincial Park. Before leaving town we stocked up at the Sobeys grocery store for dinner (a good supermarket you will come across lots in the East coast) but leaving lunch open for a possible lobster roll. We had been on the hunt for the past few days for a traditional lobster roll with no success so we decided to stop and ask some locals. The first few people we stopped to ask only could recommend a spot 20 minutes out of town but finally at our last stop we had success! The friendly man and woman in the liquor store were more than happy to help us find the Lobsta' roll, even going as far as phoning friends to find a spot. It turned out, the woman's friend knew a spot just down the street! We were so grateful for their help and couldn't believe how pleasant they had been to us, especially the man who had been particularly amusing with his cross Canada hitch hiking stories. We found the restaurant (although there was no sign) and walked in to find no one at the counter. We could see people in a different room eating and we wondered if we had came into the right entrance. Eventually a waitress came out and asked if she could help us...we replied, rather confused, we would like lobster roll. Fifteen minutes later we had a traditional lobster roll in front of us with the hot dog bun and all (very traditional) stuffed full of seasoned lobster meat. It was so tasty...exactly like what I hoped it would be like.  ($10.95)

    I did locate a small paper sign half glued onto a window later on with 'Louie's Cozy Corner' so I believe that is what it was called. However, look for a large green building with no signage almost right across the street from the liquor store if you are stopping through.
   Full of amazing lobster we piled back in the van and headed out on the road to search for our campground. We actually ended up driving past the entrance as the sign is hidden behind some bushes. Sure enough when we came back it around was located right after the bridge like the tourist center had directed. This was probably my second favourite campground of the trip (first being Rainbow Falls) as the views were spectacular. From our campground we had a view of St. Peters Bay from high up on the hill with a refreshing salty breeze. There was also a canal to go and explore on the campground where we were able to spot starfish and jelly fish. Battery Provincial Park was an excellent spot to camp with plenty of views and a tranquil environment.

    I loved driving through and camping on Cape Breton Island. It is a beautiful place to visit with wonderful people, amazing coastlines and an East coast feel. If I had to choose an area on the east coast to come back and visit it would definitely be driving along the Sunshine trail and back to Cape Breton Island. Nova Scotia will remain my fondest memory of the east coast portion of our trip forever.