Sydney in the morning, Antigonish in the afternoon

Before leaving Sydney, we had a few more places to visit. First up, was a trip back to Open Hearth Park for some fun in the playground for Eli. There was bit of light rain, and no other children around, so we didn't stay very long.

Then it was down to the harbour/cruise pavilion to check out the giant fiddle. I've never actually cruised into Sydney, but I've seen photos before. They don't do it justice. At 60 feet in height, it is built of steel, and is a tribute to the local Celtic community. There is clearly a sound system hooked up that plays traditional music. 

Next up was Cossit House Museum, a living museum with individuals dressed in period costumes and offering tours and information about the property. The house was built in 1787, and named for the original owner, Reverend Rana Cossit. He and his family, wife Thankful, and ten of their thirteen children lived there until 1815. 

With a final stop at a local thrift shop, where D found several books from a favorite author, we headed out on the highway toward Antigonish. (By this point, I was thinking we were going to need an additional bag.)

The clouds were low in the sky, and at points nearly obscuring the top of the hills.

Our first stop in Antigonish was the Snow Queen Diner. It was set up much like an old style diner except we were provided a pager to notify us when our lunch was ready. I went with their special of the day, a smash burger - it was delicious! 

D had hoped to visit a number of churches along Church Street, and I had my heart set on visiting St. Ninian Cathedral. Since I was driving, I got my wish. I had visited there in 2015, and remember being amazed by the church then, and that was my impression this time too.

As it turned out the other churches D thought would be interesting were not open to the public. After a brief visit to a gift shop downtown, we headed off to the hotel - a very modern Microtel Inn & Suites. There was a heated pool, and D and Eli took advantage both that evening and the following morning.

This hotel was across the highway and quite far from the center of the community. There wasn't much out there, just a few fast food restaurants, a gas station and convenience store. But it was definitely quiet and provided a continental breakfast in the morning. It also had the only heated pool in our travels.

The following day was July 1, Canada Day, and we would be heading back to Halifax for our final night. But there was at least one more place nearby we wanted to explore. Stay tuned!