Canada Day

So, the ship’s propulsion system failed and we ended up stuck in Halifax for a second day. This changed our USA coastal stops, skipping New York and Charleston. Instead, we visited Boston.

The second day in Halifax gave us time to hang out at the boardwalk. We got to celebrate Canada Day with locals.

We Love Bikes

Spotted this colorful and cool bicycle rental shop near the boardwalk.

Wireframe Ship

Called the Ghost Ship, this wire mesh sculpture rises more than twenty feet above the boardwalk. Lights in the base make the artwork’s sailing ship pop [at night][san].

Links To Norway

The Norwegian memorial stone at Sackville Landing commemorates WWII sailors. The face models after a similar stone in Larvik, Norway. The back names 30 Norwegian men buried in Nova Scotian cemetaries.

Norway

In memory of members of
the Norwegian Merchant Navy,
Royal Norwegian Navy
and Royal Norwegian Army
who were lost at sea or were buried
in Nova Scotia during the Second World War

We Will Remember them

Pilot Boat Sees Us Off

Fourth of July

On our way from Halifax to Miami, we stopped in Boston.

A few crazy Boston facts:

  • First lit on September 14, 1716, Boston Light is the first lighthouse built in America. It was destroyed at some point during the American Revolution, but reconstructed in 1783.
  • The Boston University Bridge is a place where a boat can pass under a train, passing under a car, passing under an airplane. Come claim this is the only place in the world, however Portland’s Steel Bridge has a similar configuration.
  • A storage tank burst in 1919, unleashing more than two million gallons of boiling molasses. The Great Molasses Flood killed 21 and injured 150. The Dead Milkmen song The Great Boston Molasses Flood uses the event to poke fun at regulations and corporate negligence.
  • Puritans viewed Christmas as a pagan custom and made it illegal to celebrate from 1659 until 1681. Anyone caught observing risked a five-shilling fine. Even after the English Crown stepped in to repeal the law, Massachusetts did not make Christmas a holiday until 1856, due to the lingering sentiments and history.
  • The Omni Parker House converted its room 303 into a storage closet due to the numerous associated paranormal events. People claimed to smell whiskey and cigars, tied to a liquor salesman who reportedly died in that room. Could this have inspired the King short story 1408?
  • While not specific to Boston, the state bans bars from having “happy hour” drinks. This followed a 1984 drunk-driving fatality, and Massachusetts does not permit bars to offer discounted drinks.

Police Presence

As we got closer to the fireworks viewing spot, the police presence remarkably increased.

Fireworks

Boston put on a spectacular fireworks presentation. You could not have asked for better weather, either.

Back On The Ship

Oceania Vista was home to us for more than twenty days. The crew outdid themselves daily and what they planned for July 4th did not disappoint. We had so much fun that evening, as we approached Miami from Boston.

The Band

I should say, one of the bands.

Dancing

People were definitely moving and grooving to the tunes.

Selfie

We said good bye to the ship with a selfie from one of the upper decks.