Wednesday, November 04, 2009

Halifax

At the beginning of October I visited Hannah in Halifax for a long weekend. I always wanted to visit her, since she started going to NSCAD University there.

Halifax Oct 2-5-6
(see the pillars, one's in the sun and one's in the shade, that's the entry to University; it's several historical buildings together, I think a couple of blocks, really huge, and that's just the old part.)

Even though she didn't have much time (after she left me in the evenings, she had to go to school do some printing), she tried to make this short visit a nice one for me. She would drag (in the most loving way) me around the city from Friday to Sunday, rain and shine, no matter.


We visited the Art Gallery of Noca Scotia, and the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic. We went for strolls along the Halifax Harbour twice (rain or shine remember!). It was wet, cold, windy, sunny, and I loved it.

Halifax Oct 2-5-16

Hannah with the forbidden Island in the background (it's what I call it, since it's military and no one is allowed there. It also has the oldest lighthouse ever on it.)

Halifax Oct 2-5-17

One evening we spoiled ourselves and went to Waterfront Warehouse Seafood Restaurant - delicious! The photos are blurry because I didn't use flash light and the camera couldn't focus right. After dinner our sight was blurry too! :o)
Halifax Oct 2-5-23

mussels for Hannah and

Halifax Oct 2-5-24
seafood chowder for me.

Halifax is a nice city. I like it. It's just the right size. I've been there from Friday noon until Monday noonish. Hannah and I ran around from Friday afternoon til Sunday noonish, and I swear I knew my way around after that, no problem. It's also small enough that you start recognizing people again. I saw a few people who stood out to me (like the guy who served us tea and sandwiches in a bakery or the woman with the stroller), and I later saw them around town at different places, days, and times. I thought it especially nice that as we walked, Hannah got greeted many times by fellow students.
We walked (and walked) through cemeteries, and the Halifax Public Gardens, all very beautiful even on overcast days.
Halifax Oct 2-5-4

This ones in the middle of the city, and so peaceful, while outside the fence the traffic pustles along.

On Saturday we went to the Farmers Market and boy was I overwhelmed with it all. So many people, such amazing abundance of food, and handmade items. I could not resist to take home a couple of those beautiful cutting boards. (for unknown reasons I can't get the photo to show up here)
They came in all sizes, but I had to carry them around for a while, so I opted for the smallest ones. We ate fine pastry, and had some Elderberry juice as well.
It was all so wonderful, except I had blisters on my feet! For a while I sucked it up, but at one point I could not make another step because of the pain. Well I could, but it looked funny. The next shoe store I saw would make a sale, I was sure of that. In I went, looked around to find the Birkenstock section, didn't find it, and almost crying left again. Hannah knew of another shoe store (yeah well, big surprise, that Halifax has more than ONE shoe store!), so we went to find this one, very slow going it was.
I went in, found the section I was looking for, found a pair of Birkenstock clogs (didn't care what color, just that they were closed in front and open in the back. Looked around for some help, pointed and said with tears in my eyes, " I want those in size 42!"
The Lady who helped me said," Are you aware that this this size costs more?" I was sitting by then. I bit my tongue, because I wanted to shout, if that's so, then I'll take size 38, even though I need a 42! Long story short, I got my clogs, and could walk again!

Halifax Oct 2-5-8

On the board walk at the Harbour there was this guy with these gorgeous two fellows. The big one was called Rocky. I didn't catch the name of the little guy, but he's 4 1/2 month old in this picture. The guy said, his wife calls the dogs "chick magnets" and it was true. They got photographed a lot, and petted as well.

Halifax Oct 2-5-11

Here we had to walk UP after a short, but cold rain shower (still with my feet hurting at this point).

Halifax Oct 2-5-22

Here is Hannah sitting outside a nice cafe (can't remember the name of it, but something with a Monk in it). We later went inside, sat down for tea and knit until closing time. In the background there's an old boarding house. I loved this building which was about a block long, down the road, and to the left side. It's going to be torn down though. Very sad.



After all this running around, the nicest time we had was in my hotel room. Sunday at around noon we were wet to our undies, and exhausted. Hannah left me at the hotel to get dry and to put my feet up. Meanwhile she ran home (oh yeah, I visited her house too, but didn't take any pictures there) to get some clothes to change and her knitting stuff (which was the black sock I mentioned in the post before this one). She picked up a pizza and some chai tea for us. Well, she's in better shape then I am, so I was just sitting there in the big ole chair, with my feet up, and she was comfortable in my bed. We watched a couple of movies, and it was cozy and nice. We never get so much together time when she's at home.

Halifax Oct 2-5-26
The best place in my room was this chair!
Halifax Oct 2-5-13

I started knitting the Textured shawl, got halfway done, but I'm not loving it. I might rip it out again.



Oh, and how could I almost forget. Before I flew to Halifax, I looked up three yarn stores in the city. Hannah knew all of them. I was very disappointed with one of them, the other one was closed, but the third one LK Yarns was what I think is the ultimate yarn store! My heart started pounding faster, and I almost hyperventilated. There was so much yarn everywhere, all gorgeous stuff. I smiled from ear to ear, and inched my way through the narrow aisles, squeezing yarn, and of course I found something to my liking as well. Gorgeous Malabrigo sock yarn, and some Sisu sock yarn not pictured here, and Fame Trend sock yarn, probably not for socks. The On Your Toes sock yarn's already made into socks. Well, there you have it. My trip to Halifax. :o) Thanks Hannah for your lovely company, and patience with your (old, hurt, slow moving, deer in headlights, country bumkin also called yokel) mom.

2 different shades of Malabrigo sock yarn, but very similar Malabrigo sock yarn Fame Trend by Marks and Kattens on the left an middle, on the right On Your Toes by Kertzer-2

21 comments:

Renata S. P. said...

Hi Monika!
I have seen your pictures before, on flickr.
Traveling is always good =)
I really love the dogs! And the yarns, of course!

Marissa said...

What a wonderful trip you had, and a nice memory for you and your daughter! (She is so beautiful!)

Mr Puffy's Knitting Blog: said...

I loved hearing about your trip and seeing a bit of Halifax!

Hope you two have a chance to do this type of thing more often.

Queen of the Tea Cosies said...

Ah, grown up children, if only they understood the depth of our love and gratitude for the gift of their time.

But there I see your Hannah loving your company every bit as much.

That is grand.

lexa said...

You were only an hour and a half away from me!

Did you see the Titanic graves while you toured the graves? They are in the Fairview Cemetery.

Halifax is a good size. I like to visit once in awhile, but I like my little town better. :)

2paw said...

Thank you for the lovely tour of Halifax!! It made me laugh when you said you started recognising people: Halifax is half as big again as our town so I think it's giant. It's a beautiful place and I like the Forbidden Island. Lovely to see Hannah and to read about your great time together.
Nice yarn too and cute puppies!!

Anonymous said...

If I saw those cute dogs I'd be right over there myself! How wonderful that you have this kind of relationship with your daughter. Looks like a great weekend. And I love the colors of the blue malbrigio you found!

Carrie K said...

Halifax sounds fabulous! The oldest lighthouse around on a forbidden island? Excellent! Seafood chowder, scenery, hanging out in a hotel room w/Hannah - perfect!

All but the shoe saleswoman. As if you'd wear a different size foot for the price? WTH?

Unknown said...

I have that green/blue sock yarn too, I got it in London at iKnit. I can't bare to make socks with it so I think it will become a shawl. You're trip looked wonderful. I miss fresh seafood so much.

CelticCastOn said...

glad you had a good time even with your sore feet :)

Sharon said...

What an action packed weekend you had. Good company, good food and good yarn shopping too! We should all be so lucky.

Bea said...

das liest sich nach einer wundervollen Zeit, die du gehabt hast.

Schöööööööööööön!

Grüßle, die Bea

momsue84 said...

What a lovely time you must have had! Nothing like some Mom and Daughter time. I love it. Halifax is so beautiful. And nice stash enhancement. I see some socks OTN soon.

shannon said...

thanks for sharing such a special time with us. looks like both of you enjoyed the visit!

Toby said...

Monika, thanks for sharing your Halifax trip with us. It looks like a lovely place to visit.

Charlene said...

Love the colours of the Fame Trend yarn. I'll have to see if I can find some of that.
Looks like you had a nice trip to see your DD. Time goes by so fast.

Tina said...

Oh this looks indeed like a nice weekend spent in a beautiful town. And with good company. Didn’t you miss your furry friends??? There is nothing better than a pair of Birkenstock for sore feet! And I like the yarn you got.

Beverly said...

Wonderful trip. Thanks for sharing with us.

Monica aka GloriaPatre said...

Thanks SO much for sharing that! I absolutely loved it! Lucky girl you are! Love the sock yarn colors!

Cloudberry said...

Looks like you had a wonderful trip!
Can't wait to see what you'll knit up with the Fame Trend yarn. I've been looking at it at my LYS, but it's very expencive... so I haven't bought a ball - yet ;)

knittingwoman said...

Hi,
This is my first visit to your blog. I came here from several links. I am knitter and I actually live in Halifax:) glad you enjoyed your visit here.