What a day

[tvordlj]

Sometimes you search for a word to describe something and it's hard to find the perfect word. I found a word for today. "Splendid"... it's not used that much around here anymore but it flashed through my mind even from the very beginning of the day. There was hardly a puff of a cloud in the sky when i set out this morning, clear, no humidity, hot. I had to go to the hospital to get blood work. That was a half hour mostly waiting to check in. The tape they use to stick the cotton puff to my arm after always sticks and leaves a red mark so it looks like i've been shooting up. Never mind that.

Today was a vacation day, not a flex day off. So i did vacationy things, played the tourist. I loaded a roll of film in my camera, planning to take photos of attractions and things around Halifax (ran out of film, should have brought an extra) just so i can show people what it looks like around here. Or at least what the sights around Halifax are. Walked past our cathedral, All Saints but it was shut so i couldn't go in. Must look up some info on it on the net cause i'm not sure when it was built. Might even be an early 20th century one.

Since there were no breakfasty things in the house i went to Smitty's pancake house and had eggs benny and a fruit salad. Yummy. Stopped in to the public gardens for a couple of photos, then in and around Spring Garden Road. Fab street! Lots of funky shops as well as designer ones. Pubs, restaurants, cafes and a few places that have roof top patios. A quick walk through the Old Burying Ground where there are graves from the founding of Halifax in 1749 up to 1844. There are quite a few though only about 10% are actually marked. Crooked mossy headstones, blurred with age, a few larger stones and monuments and the large Welsford monument at the entrance commemorating two soldiers from here that died in the Crimea war in 1855.

Walked.. no .. trudged all the way down to Pier 21 and sat inside and had a bottle of water. Pier 21 is a museum of immigration now. Halifax was a major entry point for immigrants for a great part of the 20th century as well as a departing point for troops in the wars. I decided to wait for FRED. FRED is a free shuttle bus courtesy of the Downtown Halifax Business Association and it stands for Free Rides Everywhere Downtown. Only i had to wait nearly a half hour in the heat for it. :( Still, i don't think my poor feet would have taken the walk.

Down to the waterfront, along the boardwalk and there was the band i had seen last weekend, OKA from Australia. You remember. Anyway i stopped and listened again, quite happily through two sets. In between sets i went to talk to them to express my appreciation and asked if i could have a photo so they posed with me :) I sat off to one side on the wharf for their second set. Their music is simply ... spellbinding really. I have been listening to the cd all week and it really does transport you away. It's so much better live of course.

A little further on i came across the other act i had wanted to see, the bloke with the marionettes. I caught about half of his act and enjoyed it although he was more open about nagging for donations. His name is Lee Zimmerman and he's from California. His closing number is a Jimi Hendrix marionette and you would almost swear it was actually playing the guitar! My visit is complete, i've seen both acts i wanted to see. I can escape the crowds

I've been out in the sun pretty much all afternoon so i figure i'm ready for a brew. Off to my favourite watering hole, the Split Crow for a beer. Or two. I sat there out of the sun with a little breeze occaisionally drifting in through the open windows, ogling my favourite waiter, Scott. I thought, i should go home. Then i thought , why should i? i'm very peaceful here, quite happy, no i think i'll have another. And when it came time to have a third i had that too though i did order a bite to eat.

It's been a perfectly splendid day! I said that, i know. The clouds are a little more numerous now. I shall have a relaxing evening as well.

Comments

[tammihayne.livejournal.com]

Sounds like a perfect day...I am in need of one of those...haven't had one in a while.
Another awesome Australian band that played during Buskers in 2001 was "Rivertribe". I picked up both of their cds...amazing...relaxing.

[tvor.livejournal.com]

Are they the ones that do a sort of rock/celtic mix or something like that? i may have seen them a few years ago as well.

[aditi-.livejournal.com]

As you said....."a splendid day".

[acey.livejournal.com]

It sounds wonderful. Looking forward to your pics :))

[browncoweyes.livejournal.com]

Sounds wonderful!

I can't remember the last time I played tourist here....although I play tourguide alot to out of town clients.... wonder if that counts.

I havent been to the buskers in a long time. They got way too organized and way too commercial and the crowds got too bad to allow dragging two little ones through it.

It used to be that you could wander around the waterfront and never know which surprise act was just around the corner..... I liked that better

[tvor.livejournal.com]

I'm not a big fan of the buskerfest, mainly because of the constant nagging for money. Geez now they even suggest a donation of $5 which really pees me off. I stopped going when they started pushing for it. This guy on Friday was like that butthe only reason i did give him a handful of change was that i enjoyed the show. Normally that nagging will have me *not* contributing out of spite. The Ozzie band was very subtle, no amount suggestions, just a comment that the got paid by the fistful so any contributions were welcome. Far more gracious. It's a bit too organized now but it's also good to know when and where your favourite acts will be but then they sell the schedule as well, rather than post it on the website. :(