Little Lolly's Small Adventures: May 2017

Land again! Days go quickly when one is busy. For staff port days are either a good thing or not such a good thing, depending on which department they are in and what shift they are doing.

It was a bit overcast when we docked but the sun soon started to peek its head out, bringing in some lovely sunshine and a bit of warmth. For a second day in a row I was able to have a leisurely breakfast before heading ashore on a tour.

The tour involved a nice leisurely ½ hour walk along the shoreline then up a hill to a casino to get to the tea party. 2 members of the group opted to get a taxi to the casino to save their not so agile knees and hips, another not so agile 2 started walking earlier in order to go at a slow pace yet still meet up with the tour group at the casino on time. Cheryl and Diana, our guides for the tour, were really lovely and interacted with the guests – taking time to talk to them and answer questions. Now and then Cheryl would point out historic buildings or sites, giving an explanation. Unfortunately I was right at the back of the group with the last straggler or two who were keener to talk to me than taking in the sights. So, I didn’t get the opportunity to take many photographs because as soon as I caught up Cheryl was ready to move on again.

We finally arrived at the casino where we were directed to an enclosed part of the building – almost like a huge black curtain. Tables were set with teacups, sugar, cream, milk and oatcakes and during the show hot tea and coffee were served. In front of a small black platform/stage sat 2 ladies, one played a violin and the other played a guitar, playing a range of Celtic music from Cape Breton Island music to a little bit of Scottish and Irish music. They also sang a few times, including in Gaelic. A dance teacher now and then did a dancing demonstration – French and Cape Breton styles. Unfortunately the lass wore black against a black background so you couldn’t see her and also she danced behind the guitarist and violinist so you couldn’t see the steps which were mainly tap-dancing steps. For a Scottish highland jig she demonstrated this on the floor in front of the audience which was a bit better. The guitarist and violinist also took turns to do a bit of dancing in between playing music and singing. At one point during the show we were encouraged to get up to dance a ceilidh circle dance but guests seemed very shy to get up and take part. In the end I got up and so did another 2 guests; and I managed to persuade Cheryl, one of the guides, to join in to make a small set which included the dance teacher and guitarist. It was fun but hard work on a carpeted concrete floor! Very soon the tea party ended and guests were on a bit of a joyful ‘high’, wishing that the music would continue! A guest comment form was handed out and filled in. A few suggestions were made as to how the tea party-side of the tour could be improved, such as the dancer dancing on the floor instead of behind the musicians and not wearing black. Also sometimes the casino’s background music overpowered the musicians. I didn’t notice but those with hearing aids or hard of hearing did, so perhaps the tour operator will ask the casino to switch their background music off during the show. It is only the 3^rd time that the kitchen tea party has been held at the casino so Cheryl and Diana welcomed the suggestions to improve the overall tour experience.

Unfortunately I was not allowed to take pictures in the casino because people were in there who would probably not want to be identified if my pictures got out.

There was about an hour of free time afterwards before heading back to the ship. Some guests opted to go shopping nearby or stay and seek their fortunes at the casino with the option to return back to the ship under their own steam or meet up with the 2 guides at a designated time. In the end only 2 couples opted to join me and the guides for the walk back. We took a different back to the ship and it was very pleasant.

By not wearing a sunhat during my walk, I’ve got a bit sun-kissed but it doesn’t matter. I’m almost ‘glowing’ so to speak. A bit of coconut oil on it and I will be sizzling!!

Tomorrow we dock in Halifax.

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The sun was out when I woke up – it looked like a nice day to be outside. It was nice to have a leisurely late breakfast for a change.

I was assigned to go with an excursion group to see ‘Anne & Gilbert – The Musical’ which was showing just after midday. Instead of a bus to take us into town we had a nice ½ hour walk with our guide, Cheryl, who stopped now and then to talk about a historical building or to point out something of interest.

The musical started on time in a tiny theatre. There was no stage. Everything took place on the floor and the theatre chairs were nicely placed, being stepped quite steeply so that everyone could see clearly over each other’s heads or shoulders. There was a tiny orchestra – pianist, guitarist and violinist. One of the cast members was also a musician who also played during the musical. Being a small theatre, the cast was small but they all did very well. The background on the wall wasn’t painted, instead it was left blank so that a themed backdrop slideshow could change as and when required, e.g. inside a school house or church, or outside in a garden, etc. Some of the scenery was changed as and when required by being pushed/rolled out along the floor. Smaller items like tables and chairs were carried by the cast. The musical was not the Anne of Green Gables story of when she was growing up but rather when she was ‘of age’ and falling in love. It was a sweet story.

After the concert we had a nice walk back to the ship, including a nice short visit into St Dunstan’s Basilica which was open. Apparently it is often closed when Cheryl takes her tour groups past there but today it was open and we were fortunate enough to be able to go inside and have a peek. It was very pretty inside.

This evening, after dinner, Paul and I went to an evening show in the ship’s showroom. Highlander Michael Adams gave a talk about the Citadel in Halifax – its past history and what it offers to visiting guests at the present time. He also showed some slides too, which helped to illustrate what he was saying. There was a bagpiper who played some music for us as well. Later on the audience were encouraged to ask the Piper and the Highlander questions which were duly answered, either historical or about the bagpipes. We enjoyed the evening because it was something quite different to the run of the usual shows that we see on the ship.

Time to hit the pillow!

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Around and About Charlottetown