#fundy you did spectacular

[pparkerpoetry]

Face Reality (Part 5)

Title: a Home for the Lost (why were they cast aside?)

Summary: None of it went to plan.

Ranboo never planned on facing it, Tommy never planned on leaving, Fundy didn't plan on losing the one place where he belonged. Sam didn't plan on opening his house to a bunch of traumatized hybrids that would worm their way into his heart.

And yet, here they were. Here they were, together. Maybe that was the best part of it all. Part 1 Part 6 Masterlist

_____

Ranboo started learning about everything that he’d missed, like how Tommy’s wings came to be and what people had been up to. Other things, he just noticed. He was very perceptive, and it only served to isolate him from everyone more. He could tell things that other people would rather not face, like how Tommy pretended that everything was fine with Phil and Techno and himself. How he pretended that they were a family, and as they relaxed together, how he would show his vulnerability. Ranboo would’ve bought the act that Tommy believed in wholeheartedly, if not for one thing.

Tommy never let them preen his wings.

So yeah, they could all pretend in their little dollhouse that everything was fine and that their relations were fixed, but it would never be perfect. They could believe it all they wanted, but subconsciously, they knew it’d never go back to the way it was before. Maybe that’s why they so desperately put on a show.

Ranboo noticed these things. All the time, to be honest.

He also noticed that slowly, after he had returned and told Tommy why he’d left, that Tommy drifted slightly from his old family. It wasn’t a bad thing, if a little sad, because he’d found another that believed in him and wanted the best for him instead of trying to make up for using him. 

On a different note in the same tune, Sam and Puffy were angels sent from heaven. Nothing could convince Ranboo otherwise. The way they had gently pushed Tommy in the right direction, understanding how messed up he’d been and knowing that harshness wasn’t the way to fix it. Maybe that’s why when they saw Ranboo accompanying Tommy on one of his visits, they recognized his unrest.

Ranboo knew they had a past, those three. He didn’t think Tommy realized it, but they’d adopted him. They’d decided that Phil wasn’t fit to be a father to anyone but Technoblade long ago, and he was amazed at the subtle way they’d taught him to be better. Maybe they were the reason, then, that he’d matured so much. Maybe they could be his family, too.

And they were.

Phil and Techno still received visits from Tommy every now and then, and Tubbo was over most of the time because at the end of the day they were still best friends, but in their own time they realized that maybe it was best to let bygones be bygones. They’d always be close, they’d always love each other, but maybe this time, the damage was done. In this case, it was okay. It was never mentioned, it was never brought up, but it was acknowledged by everyone. He couldn’t really cut them out, not that he wanted to, but he couldn’t have even if he did, not with the constant reminder on his back that he would always be Phil’s son.

Instead, Tommy spent most of his days at Sam’s base, and Ranboo spent most of his time with Tommy, so they ended up just hanging out with Sam and Puffy more than they intended. Maybe it was all part of the plan for the two older adults.

In any case, Ranboo grew closer and more comfortable with the other three, until soon, he wasn’t quiet and reserved anymore. He wasn’t scared of his own shadow, flinching at every footstep. He was Ranboo again, and he owed it to his family. Maybe, now that he’d healed, he’d be able to face the family he’d lost.

_______________

The summer afternoon found Tommy and Ranboo under a tree, half asleep and lazy, one writing and the other talking. It was hot, and muggy, but Sam had said that he needed to do some renovations and Puffy was away. Ranboo knew she was spending time with Niki, but he had yet to go with her to see his sister.

Did that technically make Ranboo Puffy’s sister-in-law? Or was Niki now his step-mother?

He didn’t want to think on it too much. It’d just make his head hurt.

Ranboo didn’t even completely know what Tommy was rambling about, but he smiled and nodded and he did truly enjoy it. Or, he enjoyed Tommy’s company. Was there a difference?

He zoned in when Tommy nudged his shoulder. “Hey, big man, you awake?”

Rolling his eyes, Ranboo responded. “I am now. What’s up?”

“Something I just remembered, Ranboo- I, now here’s a biggie-” Tommy paused for suspense. “I know how to fly a plane, but-”

“Hold on, you can fly a plane?” 

“Yeah,” Tommy shrugged. “I didn’t appear here, a 16 year old. I had other experiences. Anyway, I know how to fly a plane but I don’t know how to ride a bike.”

“A bike?”

Tommy mistook Ranboo’s confusion for mockery. “Yeah, big man. Phil never taught me. Who taught you, if you’re such a pro?”

“Tommy, I barely even know what a bike is.” Ranboo deadpanned.

So, now, the two young men, for that’s what they were at this point, stood outside of the base that they had been told to stay out of all day. Specifically, they were to stay out of it unless it was an emergency. Was this an emergency? See, that’s where it gets complicated.

“What kind of man my age doesn’t know how to ride a bike?” Tommy argued, “We need to learn and clearly, we haven’t got one. I think that Sam might. He strikes me as a bicycle kind of guy.”

“Neither of us are dying, though!” Ranboo protested. “He’ll probably get mad if we interrupt him, too. What’s he even doing?” 

Tommy groaned. “He’s just, I don’t know, building n’ shit. It’ll take two seconds, Ranboo, come on-”

The large door opened, and though neither of them were short, they felt incredibly small. And nervous.

“Can I help you?” Sam asked, looking at his two- his uh, his two mentees. Yeah, that’s it. Mentees. That’s the word he’s looking for. Definitely not something else. At all.

The two- well, now, they looked like boys, - stared at him, anxiously, suddenly at a loss for words. 

“Well?” He raised an eyebrow. “I’m done with building, it didn’t take as long as I thought it would. What do you guys need?”

“We don’t know how to ride a-”

Tommy interrupted, “What Ranboo’s trying to say is, neither of us had spectacular father figures in our early life, and we don’t- well, really, we were wondering if you happened to have a bicycle anywhere here? I’m sure we can figure it out on our own, but we don’t have any bikes, is the issue-”

Sam laughed. “Yeah, I’m sure I’ve got a bike around here somewhere, come help me look.”

So, Sam turned and left, leaving Ranboo and Tommy to trail after him. Not like little ducklings. Not at all. More like, uh… more like… something else. Not ducklings.

After rummaging around a bit, they found one, and after a little more searching, they found another. None of them were sure why Sam, who lived alone, had two bikes (could he even ride them? He pleads the fifth. Why? You’ll find out later.), but they weren’t going to complain. Now, Ranboo and Tommy had thought that Sam would hand them the bikes and let them be off, but, to their surprise, he didn’t. He took the handles of one and walked with it over to a path.

“Hey Sam, why are you going over there?” Tommy yelled, still standing by the main entrance.

“Well, you aren’t going to bike on the grass, are you?”

Wordlessly, Ranboo and Tommy jogged to catch up. Sam stood on the pavement, holding one bike, as Ranboo walked up with the other. He handed his to Tommy, and clapped, bringing the attention back to him. 

“Alright! So, get on the bikes.” Both of the younger men knew what he was doing. They didn’t say anything, though, and obeyed. “So, when you bike, you have to stay balanced…”

They spent the afternoon learning how to ride bikes, and though it maybe wasn’t the most productive way to spend an afternoon, it was a fun and relaxing one that they all needed. It ended with Sam sitting in the grass next to the road while Tommy and Ranboo rode their bikes up and down it. They all chatted, and laughed, and they barely even heard Puffy return. At least, not until she spoke up.

“Hey guys, I’m back! And, I… I brought someone with me.”

Ranboo stopped his bike and turned to where the voice was coming from, stopping all movements abruptly. Sure, Puffy was standing there and he was happy to see her back, but right next to her, looking nervous, was Niki. Not his sister. She’d made sure of that. She was Niki, nothing more.

“Hi, Ranboo.” She said, not meeting his eyes. “It’s been a bit.”

When had Sam and Tommy left? “Yeah. Hi, Niki. What’re you doing here?” It came out harsher than he intended.

“I thought- well, I figured, now that we’ve both had a little more time to, to think about things, I thought that I could come and… apologize.”

It was a little quieter then. Niki was waiting for a response, and Ranboo was thinking of one. What did he want to do? As much as he wanted to forgive her, some of the things that she’d done couldn’t be glossed over.

“I… I forgive you.” Ranboo started, “But, Niki… Niki, you’ve got to understand, you hurt me. You hurt me a lot.”

Niki sighed. “I know. I know I did, Ranboo, but at the end of the day, aren’t you still my brother?”

His chest felt like it closed. Was he? “I’m not sure I am anymore, Niki. I don’t even know who you are.” He looked away from her crestfallen face. “But… I think I’d be willing to re-start.”

He looked back up, and Niki looked a little happier. A bittersweet cheerfulness. He held his arms open, and she ran over to give him a hug. Maybe they weren’t family anymore, but they could be. They just had to hope. This time, neither of them pulled away from the hug. They didn’t want to, but at some point, Puffy told them that it was going to get dark soon, so they needed to head inside.

Sam and Tommy were in the kitchen, making dinner, although only one of them was really working. 

Niki and Puffy stayed for dinner before heading home. It went great, and it was a very relaxed atmosphere. They chatted, made fun of Tommy when he was clumsy with his wings, and laughed every time someone made a joke. Ranboo was truly happy, and he hoped it lasted this time.

That night, when it was dark and the noises of the forest had all settled, Ranboo was thinking. “Hey, Sam, where’s the renovations you were working on this morning? I can’t tell a difference here-”

“Forget that, Ranboo,” Tommy said while yawning, wings hitting the hybrid gently. “We’ve gotta head out if we want to make it back to the cottage in time for a good night’s sleep.”

“Well, about that…” Sam said, laughing a little. “Follow me.” They did, and they followed him down a hallway to two doors, right next to each other.  “Left is for Ranboo, right is for Tommy. I mean, you don’t have to use them, and obviously you can decorate them how you want to, but…”

They each opened their doors, and they were met with little bedrooms. Not too little, but not too large, each with a bed in a corner, a chest, and some other bits of furniture. “Did you make bedrooms for us?” Ranboo asked, and once Sam nodded, he grinned. “That’s great! Could we stay the night? Please?”

“That’s kind of what they’re here for.” Sam said, and he melted inside at the happy grins that Ranboo and Tommy exchanged. “I’ll let you guys get comfy, uh, goodnight?”

“Goodnight!” The other two cheered, nearly crushing Sam in a hug before going to their rooms.

By all means, it should’ve been a peaceful night, but when there’s a traumatized hybrid involved, you never know what to expect. That night, Ranboo’s dreams were plagued with nightmares, all violent and scary and loud- he didn’t know exactly what was happening, but he knew that he was there with Fundy, on the ground and bleeding. He could feel the tears rolling down his face, this time they burned again, with new vigor, and he was forced to look the fox in the eyes as they dimmed. He didn’t know why he started crying harder, but soon he turned to see who had killed his friend, and there stood Dream, hair long from his time in prison.

“It was only a matter of time until I escaped, Ranboo.” Dream taunted. “Ranboo!”

He was scared. Was he going to die?

“Ranboo, wake up!”

And, just like that, he sat up in bed, breathing heavily. Tommy was near, but that didn’t make sense, they didn’t share a room. What was Tommy doing here? Ranboo could feel wings circling around his body, comforting and warm, as he tried to calm down.

“You alright, Ranboo?”

He managed to nod, but it probably wasn’t convincing. He still couldn’t speak. Why couldn’t Dream just leave him alone?

“Am I okay to leave, or-”

“Can you stay?” His voice sounded small, even to him, and was hoarse from screaming in terror. Sam must’ve been a deep sleeper to not wake up.

“Sure thing, man.”

They went back to sleep, then, Ranboo curled in on himself with one of Tommy’s wings draped over him protectively. This time, they slept well, and when Sam went to wake them up the next morning, he did nothing but smile and walk away. He’d let them rest. They’d more than earned it.

When Ranboo’s eyes slipped open a few hours later, he let out a small sigh. He was warm, and he was happy, and he didn’t ever want to move. He was content to have stayed in bed for hours, but then he felt the blankets behind him shift. He let out a confused little warble that sounded remarkably like a cat getting its sleep interrupted.

“What was that?” Tommy groaned. “My ears aren’t started yet. Catch me in a few minutes.”

It was more than a few minutes before they got out of bed, hair wild and eyes still half-closed despite the sun that shone through the windows. Sam greeted them with a cheerful, “Hello,” to which they responded with a vague grunt. They were very articulate in the morning, it appeared. By all means, it should’ve been a dream. It should have been the best thing to happen to him in a while, and it was. But, Ranboo couldn’t shake the underlying feeling of dread that plagued his mind. 

“Ah, what do you want to do today, Ranboo?” Tommy asked loudly, sprawled out across the couch and head lolling back. 

Ranboo thought for a moment, the pit in his stomach growing. “I think that maybe we should go on a trip today, to… to uh, to visit Fundy.”

Tommy furrowed his eyebrows and lifted his head. “Fundy? As in, my nephew, Fundy?”

Nodding, Ranboo fidgeted with his hands. “Yeah. Is that okay?”

“‘Course it is, big man. You want to go now?”

Ranboo got up swiftly. “If that’s okay. I’ve got a bad feeling.”

They bid Sam goodbye, and went off towards Fundy’s house. It took them a while, because they had to ask Niki for the coords, but they found it eventually. Fundy lived in a village that had gone unnoticed, a peaceful haven that usually would’ve been somewhere for weary travelers to rest. Now, however, the air was thick with dust and there was no one to be seen. The first houses that Tommy and Ranboo found were nothing but ruin, the ashes still smoldering. It was only after a shrill horn could be heard that they realized what was happening.

There was a raid.

They broke into a run, swords pulled out. They yelled for Fundy, and the only response they got was the sound of the Illagers that they ran towards. 

Fighting seemed to go on forever as Ranboo and Tommy slashed at the enemy, backs to each other, until finally they got a chance to breathe. There weren’t as many, though still a lot. Ranboo tried to listen harder, trying to detect even a hint of life in one of the houses. When he heard a soft whimper, he grabbed Tommy’s hand and pulled him to it.

When they saw two Illagers standing over Fundy with their crossbows out, they didn’t hesitate to throw themselves forward. They looked up over the bodies, then, and their eyes softened when they saw how Fundy curled up into himself. He was so small, and he still had his eyes tightly shut.

Tommy got up and wiped his bloody hands on his pants before going over to Fundy. “Hey, Fundy. Is it alright if I touch you?” Tommy didn’t even really have to ask, because the minute Fundy saw the blond, he latched onto his arm. Ranboo hadn’t ever seen Tommy look so awkward, slowly putting his arms around the fox that really wasn’t all that younger than he was. 

They’d all had their childhoods stolen from them, it seemed. 

Fundy was inconsolable, and Tommy motioned for Ranboo to help. They seemed to have the same idea, when Ranboo gathered the fox into his arms and they walked outside to see the still-smoking ruins of all the houses. 

When Fundy stopped crying for a moment, and opened his eyes, he did nothing but utter a small, “Ranboo?”

“Yeah, it’s me.” Ranboo said, and was surprised when Fundy closed his eyes again to burrow further into his hold. 

Sam had to do a double-take when the boys got home. “Is that Fundy?” He asked, getting up quickly.

Tommy and Ranboo paused, like children who had been caught sneaking a pet indoors. Only, they were tall young men with a traumatized fox hybrid in their arms. Who, Sam soon learned, was now homeless.

“Please, can he stay with us Sam, please?” Tommy had pleaded, Ranboo standing near, still holding Fundy. “He’s got nowhere else to go, Sam, please?”

And, well, Sam took one look at his little brothers and had to concede. “Of course he can stay,” Sam said, already coming up for a plan for Fundy’s room.

Later that night, once Fundy had been told he was fine to stay and was sharing a room with Tommy (all three of the boys, for that’s how Sam fondly thought of them, ended up crammed into one bed by the morning, though, and neither of them knew which one of them had the nightmare. Maybe it was all three.), Sam let out a soft chuckle. 

He really was collecting a menagerie of fucked-up kids, wasn’t he? Only, they weren’t really kids anymore.

Well, he was growing his little family, and if no one else was going to let these kiddos heal, he would. They deserved the chances that war and adulthood had stolen from them. They deserved the love that he was set on giving them.

#fundy #niki #nihachu #ranboo #tommyinnit #awesamdude #dsmp #dreamsmp #dream #captain puffy #fluff #angst #hurt/comfort #found family #fic #ao3 #please let this be fluff its like my fifth attempt #i keep hurting my readers #i swear i dont mean to #awesamdad #sam nook #hybrid!ranboo #hybrid!tommy #hybrid!fundy #tommy has wings #wings #philza #technoblade #platonic cuddling #platonic

[sardonic-the-writer]

Fundy's trills took you by surprise, yet it was always welcome. Every time you called him handsome, there was a slight 'hihihi' underlying the gibberish he sprays. (It was in happiness, he swore it) His laughter sounded similar, but you could tell the difference. His trills were more mischievous, where as his laughter was more genuine — not that his trills weren't genuine, they were as genuine as his laughter, but they felt as if it was secretive when you heard them. He was definitely insecure about them.

Fundy's trills when you surprised him with a stack of stroopwafel — a treat that his mother had made him when he was young before she left — had pasted a large smile on your face for the rest of the day. The two of you stayed in your room, snacking on stroopwafel and hot-but-cool-enough-that-you-could-scull-it cocoa. You were cuddled up in blankets and pillows and you both had dumb grins on your faces as you binge-watched a new, stupid sitcom.

When you scratched behind his ears, his trills were as delightful as ever. You swore you could hear purring, though he always tried to dismiss it, trying not to even talk about it. Every time he did, you'd call him a furry and it was back to the stupid (in an endearing way) banter that the two of you easily shared.

Im a simp, what can I say —

-Fundy Anon :)

AWWWWWW

I don't simp for Fundy but this made me swoon 🥺

Writing is spectacular as always

[dreamygeorgenap-archive]

since ranbob kills everyone before they get to know much about Dream and if Dream did rewrite the smp’s history- I wonder how Dream wrote himself. like there’s nothing we can get from that unless Karl decides to revisit this which I highly doubt- but it is something that is scratching at the back of my head. no answers to be found. very sad. it keeps itching.

also I find it interesting that wilbur wasn’t mentioned- specifically because fundy was. even with the picture in tommy and tubbo’s rooms of all the l’manberg people lined up- cuz Niki, jack manifold and wilbur were all there so you think they would’ve been mentioned. I just wonder if it was intentional or because karl didn’t have enough time or smth. I just though someone as important to the story as wilbur wouldve been mentioned.

also going with the Dream rewrote smp history thing- it is very sweet that Dream still loves his friends and writes them as being spectacular people even if they technically betrayed him <3

-♟ god I miss being able to blog

I’m still shadowbanned not poggg

It would’ve been interesting to see how Ranbob wrote Dream, who was his idol. Also, about the Wilbur and Fundy thing. Let’s not act like they had a good relationship, they did in the beginning and then it got bad. Fundy formed an election party to run against him, then Wilbur abandoned Fundy, and Wilbur died as a villain who blew up the land where Fundy was born. Maybe Fundy didn’t want to write his dad in history. 

#asks #♟ anon #emoji anon #tales from the smp #Anonymous

[mariaiscrafting]

I think the Fundy thing is just bad timing and bad luck

You see, Fundy carried the beginning of Season 2 while there was still no plot going on, he had his lil family drama wrapped around his fingers and he did spectacular with the opportunity. But that had the same fate as the flower shop x ice cream shop arc and the quackity possession arc, both stopped with Tommy reintroduction and the new writting style

Fundy worked well with Wilbur and his writting bc he is pretty much improv and personal lore, and Wilbur wrote season one as one event where everyone circled around, Manberg vs Pogtopia, and Fundy could do anything with his character while always into the story, something not possible with the season 2 plot that was either Tommy Exile or Techno Retirement as plotlines

Dry Waters existed bc of Niki. Fundy wasn't making any lore streams during those times unless for small rp moments during chill streams, and one day Niki talked with Tubbo, Ranboo and Fundy about she was feeling left out and thats why she was inactive

The next day, Fundy came up with this idea of finding far lands so they could run away together from all that pain. He wanted to make her feel part of the story again and it worked, Niki has been more active since then

When the time passed, the story was getting more and more closed, and after doomsday, when fundy took a 1 week break/1 year away in character, there was no more space for him to insert himself

So, his character decided that it was enough, he was now just going to vibe and make his lil fox den (aka dirt mansion). And the cc said that he wouldn't be part of future arcs unless people needed him to be, so he is still up to rp but not as much as always (which is a loss for us, but understandable for Fundy) (I mean once Fundy was like +30 min late for a Sneeg stream bc he was writting for his character, so he really liked doing it)

thank you for the context, interesting summary

#dream smp #fundy #Anonymous

[honkster]

Good quotes from THAT Phil stream A.K.A. chat being funnier than me

* “I love this entire server's general misunderstanding of how babies happen”

* “you know, I'm glad we collectively fixed the logical issues by making Sally a shapeshifter and fundy age faster than human kids, just for you to fuck a fridge and own a tardis”

* “I mute stream to make a clip for one goddamn sec & return to "Phil fucked a fridge." Wilbur I may only be 5 foot tall but I'm about to take your kneecaps”

* “I have multiple questions most of them looping back to why did I have to hear that with my own two ears”

* “I have decided that the sleepy boys operate by fairy tale rules, so that's how you get a fox from a salmon, a boy from a fridge and a pigman from whatever happened there”

* “SAMSUNG FRIDGE ABOUT TO MAKE ME ACT UP MERCY ME”

* “o7 to wilbur for his spectacular ability to turn things absolutely cursed, your confuse and frighten me mr soot sir”

* 00:51:07

* 00:51:57

#completely correct mcyt quotes #dream smp #i loved this stream

[dfnews]

Episode Rerun Recap of "The Big Day"

Season 3, Episode 6 - February 20, 2017

From TV Guide: Jinger's wedding day arrives AGAIN after details from dress fittings are finalized AGAIN and surprise decorations are put into place AGAIN!

Part 1

1. The Babe Pinning Party: The episode begins with Jinger talking about having a pinning party. It's where the bridesmaids all get together and stick pins in each other. No, it's where they measure the hems of their dresses. Is this a fundie thing? I've never heard of a pinning party. When I have been a bridesmaid I just went to the dress store and they measured me. No party needed. How is this a thing? Jinger also gets to see her finished dress for the first time and she seems to like it and wants to get married that day to jump Jeremy's bones. After pinning up all the dresses for a wedding happening in three days, Ms. Wendy gathers the women around for a Jinger roast. Unfortunately, they're all boring and only say nice things. For some reason they shed tears thinking about Jinger moving away. I shed tears because all my sisters remained within a half hour drive after they wed. I just couldn't shake them.

2. The Babe Bridal Shower: They pin their dresses in a mansion and hold a bridal shower in a barn. I think they should have reversed those locations. Anna organizes a "Date Night" jar. People write date night ideas on  popsicle sticks. Anna must have contributed the idea, "When your husband gets too into porn and cheats on you, visit him in rehab with a picnic lunch." Then they play a shower game where the women have to answer questions about Jeremy. Only Jinger and Jeremy's mom know the answers. Jill just outright admits, "I don't know. I don't know the groom very well." That's because you idiots believe in "fast track" weddings! Nobody knows each other very well except for Jim Bob's who had to read the 50 page questionnaire and listen to all the private investigators who followed Jeremy around. Michelle even admits she doesn't have her own kids birthdays memorized much less Jeremy's. Well that's just freaking sad. When the question is asked about the color of Jeremy's eyes, Jed is way to quick to answer, "hazelnut". Is that a real eye color or is Jed just being slick with an insult. Jeremy's mom gets the answer wrong which makes Michelle not knowing her kids' birthdays a little less sad.

3. Two Days Before Babeday: Some of the Duggars and friends are heading to Miss Cindy's neck of the woods in Little Rock to rip up her yard. They need greenery for the wedding. They are collecting green branches to fill in a large V for display. Jason makes a dumb joke about the V standing for voila and I start to dread hearing him talk as much as Derick. Cindy gave the spinster boys one job to do, other than lugging logs, and they messed it up. She asked them to bring buckets for the roses and they forgot and left them at home. Are they really that lame or did the show set this up for dramatic effect? Either way, it makes them look useless, insensitive and stupid. Then Cindy tells Joe to make sure the refrigerated truck is set at 60 degrees to keep the roses cool and Joe says 65? What the heck is wrong with these asses?

4. Babe is Back: Jinger and Michelle head off to the airport, again, to meet Jeremy, again. Jeremy sure must have piled up a lot of frequent flier miles. Babe and Babe are reunited. Meanwhile, the useless boys arrive back in NWA with the dying roses and try to resuscitate them in a hotel room. One of the boys shows up with all the missing buckets but they aren't cleaned out of course. One even apparently has a mouse in it which is shoved into Cindy's face. And people wonder why the Duggar boys aren't married? They're jerks! Jason seems to want to feel worthwhile by saying they all worked together to save the flowers and then Joe complains about maybe being there all night. Cindy will know better the next time to not expect any help from a Duggar boy.

5. The Day Before Babeday. The three stooges Duggar boys try to fit a giant letter V through a church door. After finally figuring out that they would need to remove the stand, they accomplish one task. They all work to place the flowers and branches into the V frame. Cindy is an amazing task master and visionary. Why she remains friends with the Duggars is a mystery.

6. Wedding Babehearsal: They all meet at the church of the large V. Jinger is blown away by her V. Jeremy looks impressed too. He's ready to jump that V.  Wendy, the wedding coordinator, tries to calm down the hormones by wrangling up Duggars for rehearsal and I notice a sad looking Johannah chewing on her nails in the pews. The little Duggar kids have a lot of nervous habits for some reason. The Godbobber appears to pretend walk Jinger down the aisle. Benessa and Derjill appear to make lame generic speeches. Then they get to eat real food! I will never attend a Duggar wedding of melted ice cream or popcorn or a pickled table but I would totally enjoy a rehearsal dinner arranged by the groom's family. If there's real food, I'm there!

The big babe wedding day spectacular recap will be continued on Saturday.  Maybe they'll file for annulment before then. ;)

[charllieeldridge]

Exploring Nova Scotia: Our Experience On Canada’s East Coast

How much of your home country have you seen? As Canadians who have been travelling abroad for around 11 years, we’ve explored very little of our home country — and I mean very little. Prior to our recent trip to Nova Scotia, Nick had only been as far east as Edmonton, and I went to Montreal once when I was young!

We were overdue to experience more of Canada, and what better place to start with than one of the furthest eastern points in the country? 

Our 15-day journey through the second smallest province in Canada gave us a taste of the Maritimes and left us wanting more. Each of the seven main areas of Nova Scotia offered a different feel — in terms of landscapes, cuisine, and heritage.  We’ll be writing more articles, and creating more videos from our time in Nova Scotia, but for now, read the rest of this article and check out the video below to find out more about travelling in this stunning province. 

The Invitation to Nova Scotia

It had been a while since we’d been on a press trip. In fact, the last one was when we were invited to visit Chicago — in 2018. Earlier this year we had backpacked around Ecuador and Peru, and enjoyed a digital detox along the way, free of work and campaigns.

We were ready for another partnership that suited our interests, and the Nova Scotia tourism board was the perfect match. 

Once we received the proposed itinerary, we asked to make a couple of changes to better fit our travel style, and they were happy to accommodate our requests. 

We knew right away that the tourism board was going to be great to work with. They understood the value of influencers and online media and that it’s important to create content that our readers will enjoy.  

What a view!

Our trip to Nova Scotia was 18 days, but only 10 days were planned with the tourism board, the rest of the time we were on our own — so, we had lots of time to see the in-between bits of the province (Although, we could’ve stayed double that time).

The Road Trip Route

“Don’t forget to drive on the righthand side of the road!”

Those were my first words to Nick when we picked up our car at the Halifax airport. Living in Grenada, we drive on the left. Plus, it’s practically impossible to drive more than 65 kilometers/hour as our windy roads have obstacles to dodge like people, goats, dogs, and potholes (to name a few). 

Driving in Nova Scotia with its paved roads, lane dividers and traffic lights was going to be a breeze…provided Nick remembered to stay on the correct side of the road.

After loading Google Maps on our phone, we set off to downtown Halifax. The sun was shining, our Dodge Charger was purring, and we were so excited for the start of the journey!

Having your own wheels is a must in Nova Scotia. Our Dodge Charger was a great ride!

With so many epic viewpoints, tasty restaurants, and offtrack spots to explore, having your own wheels in Nova Scotia is essential. Not only that, but since it’s such a compact province, driving around here is pretty straightforward — it’s basically impossible to get lost. 

The only thing you need to decide is where you want to go, and which scenic route you want to take. 

If you look at a map of Nova Scotia, you’ll see a very jagged coastline with a bunch of “fingers”, numerous bays and coves, and an uncountable amount of lakes (well, over 3,000), rivers, and streams. Needless to say, the drives here are stunning. 

Our road trip route in Nova Scotia looked like this:

Halifax ⇢ Peggy’s Cove ⇢ Mahone Bay ⇢ Lunenburg ⇢ Blue Rocks ⇢ Liverpool ⇢ White Point ⇢ Shelburne ⇢ Barrington ⇢ Yarmouth ⇢ White Point ⇢ Kejimkujik National Park ⇢ Digby ⇢ Annapolis Royal ⇢ Wolfville ⇢ Urbania ⇢ Pictou.

We then crossed the Canso Causeway to Cape Breton Island.

Pictou ⇢ Mabou ⇢ Ingonish ⇢ Baddeck ⇢ Margaree Forks ⇢ Inverness ⇢ Halifax

History & Culture  

We travel the world to learn about other cultures, customs and ways of life. By simply visiting the eastern coast of Canada, we found ourselves in our home country, but with new cultures and cuisines to experience. 

With just 15 days to travel around Nova Scotia, it was a bit difficult to learn everything about the history and people here (and to visit all the historical sites, and sample all of the traditional cuisines). But, we did our best and had nothing but positive experiences with the welcoming people of the province.

From the Mi’kmaq, the French Acadians, and the Africans, to the English, Irish and Scottish – as well as the many who have immigrated here more recently, Nova Scotia is a melting pot of cultures and people. 

The Mi’kmaq have called Nova Scotia home for over 13,000 years. During our trip, we visited the Kejimikujik National park which is home to ancient petroglyphs, and the waterways here were used by the Mi’kmaq as travel routes to move them between the Bay Of Fundy and the Atlantic Ocean — by means of a dugout, wooden canoe. 

Loved this tree at the Kejimikujik National Park

In Latin, Nova Scotia translates to “New Scotland”, and there’s still a strong Scottish influence in the province, especially on Cape Breton Island and the town of Pictou. From Ceilidhs (get-togethers) and fiddle music to their accent and cuisine, the Scottish roots are prominent here.

We spent some time in the town of Pictou, which is where the first Scottish settlers arrived aboard the Hector ship in 1773. Here, lamp posts are decorated with Scottish tartans, a replica of the Hector sits in the bay, and there’s a yearly Festival Of The Tartans (in Pictou County) which celebrates all things Scottish — bagpipes, traditional games, food, highland dancing, and more.

Pictou was a beautiful little town!

We also visited some of the Acadian communities in the southwest part of the province, as well as Cheticamp on Cape Breton Island. The French were the first Europeans to arrive in Nova Scotia in the 1600s, and they set up their base in Annapolis Royal — a lovely little community that we stopped in on our way to Wolfville. From there, the Acadians spread out around the province. 

During our road trip, we saw Acadian flags with signs informing us that we’ve arrived in an Acadian community. The Acadian influence is prominent in Nova Scotia and it reveals itself in the food, language, and architecture.

No matter which town or community we were in, it seemed each had some sort of historical significance. The next time we visit Nova Scotia, we want to immerse ourselves further in the culture and learn more about the Acadians, Africans, and Mi’kmaq people and perhaps give more time to camping, national parks and the outdoors. 

Highlights From Nova Scotia

Many of the places we visited, and the things we did stick out in our minds as highlights from our journey. During our brief visit, we were able to get a taste of what each area of Nova Scotia has to offer. Here are just a few of our highlights:

Halifax

This city of around 430,000 people is set on the second-largest natural harbour in the world… as you can imagine, it’s an incredibly picturesque place. 

We wandered up and down the Waterfront (a pedestrian-only walkway) while stopping in for poutine, beaver tails, and craft beers along the way. We popped into the Atlantic Maritime Museum, wandered through the Farmer’s Market, and rode an amphibious vehicle (Harbour Hopper) through the streets of Halifax…and directly into the Ocean. 

The Waterfront in Halifax is a great place to walk

Across the bay, just a 5-minute ferry ride away, is the community of Dartmouth. Colourful buildings, street art, little cafes and a great walking path are all reasons to visit here. Plus, you’ll get a great view of Halifax from across the water.

With numerous international cuisines to dine on, historical sites to visit, endless events to attend (we were there for the annual Halifax Jazz Festival!), and a chilled-out vibe, Halifax was a great first stop on our Nova Scotia trip. 

Taking the 5-minute ferry from Halifax to Dartmouth

Where To Stay

We stayed at two different places in Halifax.

The Westin Nova Scotian (in the newly renovated rooms). The view across the harbour was spectacular, the breakfast buffet was excellent, the staff were friendly and the location was great.

A cute Airbnb in one of the historic homes in the city. Again, a great location, just steps from the waterfront. 

Don’t forget to grab your Airbnb coupon to receive up to $55 off your booking.

Where To Eat:

There are numerous options for local and international cuisine. Some of our favourites include:

The Bicycle Thief – great location, tasty food, and friendly staff. Try the lobster roll and the rigatoni ragu. 

Johnny K’s – Donair is the official food of Halifax, and they say that you haven’t truly been to the city until you’ve eaten one. These aren’t the same as the traditional Middle Eastern doner kebab or shawarma, there’s a twist. (we personally prefer the traditional ones, but hey, when in Halifax!)

The Five Fishermen – excellent restaurant serving delicious cuisine. Try the lobster and the tenderloin steak.

Food Stalls – located on the waterfront, there’s a cluster of food stalls. Try the beaver tail, poutine, and ice cream. Plus, the Stubborn Goat beer garden is a great option for cold beers on a sunny day. (The only downside is they serve drinks in plastic cups. Bring your own reusable cup to help with the excessive use of plastic).

This was a tasty lobster roll!

Lunenburg

Located on the South Shore is the UNESCO listed (fish obsessed) town of Lunenburg. The town revolves around fishing and is evident as soon as you arrive — fishing boats in port, fish ornaments on shops and churches, shipbuilding and fisheries museum, and fish on the restaurant menus!

We were told by our walking tour guide that the people of Lunenburg lived and died by the sea — as in the past, numerous people sadly lost their lives while fishing in treacherous conditions.

With its location right on the water, and the Georgian, Victorian and Colonial-style homes, this is a very picturesque place. Apart from wandering around and enjoying the port town, don’t miss the Ironworks Distillery which produces dangerously delicious fruit liqueurs, plus harder booze such as rum, vodka, and gin. Even if you’re not a drinker, the building it’s set in is worth a visit. 

We really enjoyed Lunenburg and would’ve stayed an extra night if we had time

Where to Stay: We stayed at the Bagintine Inn, which had a great view of the water. Even though there’s a bar and restaurant down below, we didn’t have any issues with it being too loud. The location is excellent.

Where to Eat: The Savvy Sailor has tasty (filling) breakfast, with a great view. For dinner, we ate at the Salt Shaker, and while the food was good, it didn’t blow us away. Staff were great and the location was excellent. We heard good things about the Grand Banker Bar and Grill…but didn’t have a chance to try the food, only the beers.

Kayaking at Blue Rocks

The community of Blue Rocks is a quick drive from Lunenburg and is a popular place for photographers. But, we weren’t there to photograph the blue shale rocks, we were there to do some kayaking! 

As we pulled in, the Atlantic Ocean was rough and the white caps were pretty big. I was nervous and thought the water was too choppy to kayak. Nick (with his common sense) assured me that the guide wouldn’t take us somewhere dangerous.

And, he was right. 

As soon as I voiced my concerns to the guide, he said there was no way he’d take clients out in that water. Where we were going was protected by little islands and rocks. The company was called Pleasant Paddling, and it was definitely pleasant. 

Even though the Atlantic was rough, where we kayaked was nice and calm

We paddled through narrow channels while spotting bald eagles, numerous black ducks, and other sea birds. We even had some curious seals swim towards us. Getting on the water and learning about Blue Rocks (and the province as a whole), while burning off some of the food we had been eating, was a great way to spend the morning. 

Pleasant Paddling offers 3 different tours, starting from $60 per person. Click here to learn more. 

Whale Watching at Digby

Located just outside of Digby is the Digby Neck. This peninsula is an excellent place to embark on a whale-watching trip out into the Bay of Fundy. The sun was shining as our boat passed Long Island and circled the bottom of the peninsula at Brier Island, before heading out into the open Bay of Fundy.

Time for some whale watching

We all had our eyes peeled, hoping to spot a humpback whale. 

Thankfully, even though we were a little bit early in the season, we spotted one! The crew knew this whale and had named him “Rooftop”. We spotted him a few times during the day, as he showed off by putting his fluke in the air. 

As the day was coming to an end, we were extremely fortunate to spot a Finback Whale. This is the second largest whale in the world, and they move very fast in the water. For whatever reason, this whale decided to hang out with us and allowed us to “ooo and ahh” and take some pictures and videos, before descending down into the depths. 

There’s just something special about seeing wildlife in its natural habitat. 

Bring warm clothes for whale watching…and check out the video above for whale clips!

Where To Stay: We stayed in Digby itself and enjoyed checking out the town the day before. We stayed at the Digby Pines Golf Resort and Spa, which was set on a gorgeous property. 

Where To Eat: I recommend the Shoreline Restaurant in Digby. The town is known for having the best scallops in the world, and the bacon-wrapped scallops and pan-fried scallops with garlic and butter are delicious. 

Whale Watching: The company we went with was Petit Passage Whale Watching, and we had a great experience. Make sure to bring warm clothing, even in the summer months. It’s $85 for adults and $30 for kids. Click here to learn more. 

Tidal Bore Rafting

Have you heard of this?! It’s an experience you can only have in Nova Scotia — nowhere else in the world offers it. 

Here’s what happens…

Where’s the boat?! Tidal bore rafting was so much fun

The tides in the Bay of Fundy are the highest in the world, fluctuating between 3.5 meters (11ft) and 16 meters (53ft). When the rush of the incoming tide meets with the outgoing Shubenacadie River, it creates swells, waves, and rapids. 

We hopped on a zodiac and headed out on the river to ride these waves!

Even though we were gulping down mud and water (due to laughing so hard), we had such a great time. The boat launched over the waves while we held on tight. Once we completed our rapids, we headed to the banks of the river to do some mud sliding. 

Mud sliding was a great way to end the day

This trip really brought out our inner child and we had such a blast. Highly recommended! To learn more about tidal bore rafting, click here. 

Cape Breton Island

I’m listing the whole island as a highlight, as there are just too many things that stood out for us here! The famous Cabot Trail drive is a must, but I recommend not rushing it. Drive a little bit, then stay the night somewhere and explore around that area, before continuing on the Cabot Trail the following day. 

Inverness town has a beautiful oceanfront boardwalk, excellent golfing, craft beer brewery, and camping opportunities. The Glenora Inn and Distillery is the longest-running producer of single malt whiskey in North America (there are only 2), plus, the accommodation and restaurant there are excellent. 

The boardwalk along the beach in Inverness is a great place to walk

The Margaree River offers fantastic fly fishing opportunities. Even though Nick didn’t catch a fish (the weather wasn’t in his favour), there were 40-pound salmon jumping out of the river there! If you’re interested, pick up a salmon fishing license for around $62. You can buy flies and a license at the Tying Scotsman.

The Cape Breton Highlands National Park offers numerous hiking trails and scenic pull-outs. Definitely make sure to get out of the car and do some walking. We walked The Skyline Trail and while it has stunning views, it was quite busy. If you’re looking for a quieter, more natural hike, then I’d recommend giving yourself a bit of extra time to enjoy a less popular trail.

View from the Middle Head Trail

Ingonish Beach has a sandy or rocky beach, depending on the tides. There’s a freshwater lake here, camping opportunities, and the stunning Keltic Lodge. The lodge was the most scenic accommodation we had during our trip, and conveniently, it’s the starting point for a great short hike — Middle Head Trail. 

To sum up, don’t miss Cape Breton Island!

Where to Stay: 

Genora Inn and Distillery. The property is located just outside of Inverness and is beautiful. Don’t miss the tours of the distillery, dining at the restaurant, and the live music at night.

The Keltic Lodge is home to the world-renowned Cape Breton Island Golf Course, is the starting point for the Middle Head Trail, and is set in the most picturesque place! The restaurant served great food (the burger and pasta were delicious), and our room had an excellent view. Located at Ingonish.

The Inverary Resort is a lovely property located right on the lake. You can rent kayaks, SUP or jet skis and enjoy a day on the water. There are different room styles to choose from. The new restaurant needs more staff, but the food was tasty (try the mussels and halibut). Located in Baddeck.

We booked a 3 bedroom chalet at Lakeland Cottage for a couple of nights while Nick went fishing and loved the little cabin. It was spacious and there were walking trails nearby. Just a 10-minute drive to Inverness, and near to Margaree Forks.

We enjoyed our stay, the tour and the restaurant at the Glenora Inn

Where to Eat:

The Red Shoe Pub comes highly recommended for food and music, but we decided to spend the evening at the Glenora Distillery restaurant instead.

The Celtic Music Interpretive Center has lunchtime ceilidhs and serves up good food. Try the salt cod fish cakes. 

The Dancing Moose: Owned by a Dutch couple, they serve up Dutch Pannekoek (pancakes), and other tasty homemade food. 

Rusty Anchor Restaurant: Near Pleasant Bay, this spot has a great outdoor patio, friendly staff and good seafood dishes.

Eating at the lodges. Each of the accommodations we stayed at in Cape Breton Island (except for our chalet outside of Inverness), had an onsite restaurant with tasty food. So, we opted to stay there and relax for the evening. 

What’s Next? 

Now that we’ve returned to Grenada, we’re just letting our Nova Scotia trip sink in. While we were in the province, we took lots of video and photos and will be creating 3-4 videos showcasing the best places to visit, the best things to do, our experience tidal bore rafting, and a list of things you won’t want to miss in Halifax.

We’ll also be writing lots of articles and continuing to share photos and posts on Facebook and Instagram. Stay tuned for more from this small, but action-packed province. 

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[atypical60]

I know. I’m late to the party.  But the sad truth is, I’ve been sick since Sunday evening with the worst stomach bug of all time. Ugh.  I only got to watch some of the Grammy’s because I was in the bathroom most of the night.

The only thing getting cuddled in Chateau Bonaparte was my stomach and the ceramic throne in the bathroom!

Honestly, it felt so good to kneel on the tiled floor and hug the cold ceramic of my toilet bowl when I wasn’t sitting on it. That outta give you an idea of how I spent the past couple of days!

Anyway, I just got back from the doctor. Bonaparte literally forced me to go. I think it was because he was tired of hearing me moan “Ohhhhhh. My stomach. I hope this isn’t serious!”

I mean that literally and figuratively!

Honest to God. The thought of eating is making me more ill thank I am, but the good doctor gave me a prescription to ward off the nausea so that I could keep something in my gut.  And the only food item I want right now is Campbell’s Chicken Noodle Soup.  It’s been my “sick” comfort food since I was a child.

I’m eating this as I write..

I’m getting off track here.

This is about Grammy. And not my Grammy.

My real-life Grammy. In her wedding dress. Beyonce could have worn my grandmother’s wedding headpiece and would have looked much better!

It’s about the Grammy Awards, which, in my opinion, could very well be the reason I was so sick!

Ugh. I believe that watching E!’s “On the Red Carpet” made me ill from the get go.  Kriss Jenner and that dumb butch hairdo of hers!  And that dress–it is absolutely awful! Why does Ryan Seacrest insist on having this doyenne of bad taste hosting a red carpet event?  Brad Goreski–I’m appalled that you would wear such a hideous jacket.  And Kristin Cavallari–one false move and your girls are going to escape big time!  

OK—so the music industry has a bit more creativity than, say the film or TV industries.  And I guess that’s why people who attend feel as though they have to dress a bit more eccentric or differently.

I get that. I really do.  But there is a fine line between dressing differently or more creatively and coming off as looking downright silly.  It’s about fit. It’s about what looks good or even great on you.

So, let’s just take a look at some of the fashions I happened to see when I wasn’t in the bathroom!

I had just exited the bathroom and Bonaparte was cleaning my glasses when Beyonce was doing her number.  I swear from far away I thought I was watching a Novena to the Blessed Mother.  I knelt down before the TV and started chanting “Oh Mary conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee”.  Then Bonaparte gave me my glasses and I realized Queen Bee just wanted to look like the old-school Christmas tree toppers we had when we were kids! Who wore it best?  Why the cute little pug on the right! And speaking of JLo…

…she needs to come up with a new signature pose. I’m sick and tired of that dopey “come hither” look her face makes in every single pose. And you may want to change it up from the Angelina Jolie pose.   I swear JLo will be a wrinkly 80 year old with lips that sag down to her chest and she’ll still pose with that dopey face!

Shoes notwithstanding, Heidi Klum gets my vote for best dressed. Had two inches been added to the hem, and had she worn silver pointy-toed stilettos with toe cleavage, this would be my favorite red carpet look of all time!  I love the simple cut of the dress and I LOVE the length of the sleeves.Her earrings and makeup!  She rocked it!

Laverne Cox almost got it right!  The dress is a weird length. It should have been shorter. Just at the knees. She has great legs! And the cut-out sides give the dress a very rocker type vibe while still maintaining fashionable taste!  Her eye makeup is great too!  I love Laverne!

I was born in 1955.  In the early to mid-1960’s we practically lived on these Funny Face drinks. That’s probably one of the reasons I lost most of my hair. Anyway, all I could think of when I saw Taraji P. Henson in that getup was Goofy Grape!  Henson is cute as a button and she could have gone with something a little edgy without looking ridiculous. The dress doesn’t even fit! The fabric looks sloppy. When will these celebrities ever learn?

Rihanna. RiRi.  You are one of the most beautiful women in the world. You can wear just about anything. So then, can you explain just why you put on something that wore YOU?  I’ll admit, the black and orange put me in a very sentimental mood for those wax whistles that we used to get at Halloweeen time!  That skirt looks like the umbrella you sang about!

I actually loved the simple and streamlined cut of the suit that Chance the Rapper wore. But–did your mother ever tell you it was not proper to wear a hat indoors? Well, I’m telling you now. Get rid of the hat when you are inside a building!!!

I have no idea who this young woman is. But she has my vote as one of the Grammy Best Dressed!  Her gown is fresh and youthful and the color is gorgeous on her. In fact, if she was cross-eyed, she would remind me of a young ME! I can’t get enough of this dress! The dropped waist is so flattering! And she’s a bit modest on top without looking fundie!  Most of the celebrities at the Grammy’s could take a lesson from her!  Absolutely perfect!

Why did Beyonce and Jay Z take their daughter to the Grammy Awards!  I KNOW! I KNOW!  They didn’t want Solange to be their plus-one at the after parties so by bringing Blue Ivy, they had a great excuse for Solange to babysit! Poor Blue Ivy!   Mommy and Daddy should have dressed you in a blue suit..that pink looks like Pepto Bismol! Props to Mr. Carter for the way he looks so lovingly at his daughter!  It’s so sweet!

…speaking of Solange…she looked like….

The Golden Ticket from Willie Wonka!

Carrie Underwood needs a new stylist.  NOW!  It was bad enough she looked like chewed up bubble gum at the Golden Globes, but now she has a dress that not only looks like a newly used tampon, it is an old lady bar mitzvah dress. I don’t even think Joan Rivers would have worn it…

This is red done right! Faith Hill nailed another “Best Dressed”. It is a beautiful shade of red. The lines are simple and even with the little cut out, it was discreet. And the shoes! Oh God–I can’t even!  I WANT those shoes!  Well done Ms. Hill!

She may be “zuh gret-ess singuhr” but Ms. Dion is far from the greatest dresser. She’s only 48. She’s young. She looks older than me–and I’m old! She needs to wear her hair down and layered to soften her angular structure. The dress. It’s too low-cut for a flat-chested woman. What is WITH these low cut dresses anyway? And while I’m at it–what’s with the ankle strap shoes. Faith Hill is the only one to rock those ankle straps..Celine Dion looks more like a…

…glittery St. Patrick’s Day hat!  Save that shade o’ green for March 17th!

I love Adele.  And this pea-soup green frock did nothing to enhance her beautiful curves.  That waistband makes her titties look supersized and saggy. She needs a princess cut.  Slightly fitted.  She needs boning in the chest area to hold those ta-ta’s up.  The dress is too long–it looks sloppy.  Adele was meant for black dresses.  She needs a simple dress because that voice of her’s is what draws attention!  I”m glad she swept the Grammys!

 Chrissy Teigen.  No. This isn’t working. SHE is someone who needs to show a bit more skin! But not the way this dress shows it.  She looks like an extra from a vampire movie! I’m kind of surprised because she usually gets it right. Her makeup looks horrible too. What happened Chrissy?  You better look more like your fashionable self at the Oscars!

I’m guessing Cee Lo was channeling his inner Pussy Galore from Goldfinger. And this one in the middle. Wearing 45’s slogan? WTF?  THAT was what really made me sick.  Who is this Girl Crush on the far right?  That dress!  How the hell did she sit down or go to the bathroom?  Well, I can honestly say she has more balls than Mitch McConnell and Paul Ryan!

What’s with the unbottoned shirt? What’s with the ill-fitting pj bottoms?  What’s with the awful sleeves?  I think this one was trying to channel her inner…

…..Sick Pense look!  Same color of blue. Same lousy fit!

I need to say something about this Tom Ford dress that Katy Perry wore. I KNOW this dress did not get a lot of love.  However, if you want to be edgy and different without looking clownish, THIS is the way to do it.  Naturally, I have a bit of commentary on this dress. *Sigh* sometimes I wish gay designers would be more in touch with their feminine sides. Why?  I’ll show you…

Katy Perry has the best set of Ta-ta’s on earth. In fact, if I ever hit it big in the lottery, I’m taking a photo of her in a low-cut dress to a plastic surgeon. I’m going to tell him that I want HER ta-tas!  They are spectacular and they are real!  Anyway, back to the dress. I would give her a ballet scooped neckline so that her cleavage would be a focal point.  Then I would cut the sleeves to a long short sleeve. Tom–are you listening?  Thank you! Might I also add, Katy Perry ALWAYS has THE best made-up face!  Her makeup is never less than perfect!

This is NOT good cleavage.  At all.  Lady Gaga looks like she wore the wrong sized bra and reached up to a top shelf to grab something. Girls–hasn’t that happened to you?  You know. You reach for something and your bra rides up in the front? Even for Lady Gaga who can basically get away with anything outrageous, the bottom tit look is just ugly!

Katy Perry sure knows how to show bosom!  They are the envy of us all!  Even though this suit DID remind me of piano keys!

That’s about it.  I ended up falling asleep because I was so violently ill.  I couldn’t even make it out of bed yesterday to write this so I know I’m getting much better!

Did you watch the Grammy Awards? Did you have a favorite look? Did you have a look that you thought was just awful.  Tell me!!

And…. HAPPY VALENTINE’S DAY!!!

One of my favorite songs about love. John Mayer with Katy Perry “Who You Love”.  (I hope they get back together!!!)

Atypical60 Takes a Look at Grammy Fashions! I know. I’m late to the party.  But the sad truth is, I’ve been sick since Sunday evening with…

#Fashion #Grammy Awards #Humor

[theopenrhode]

Puffins and Muffins: A Journey to Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island

‘Puffins and Muffins’ was the slogan for our 13 hour road trip to the North. The name originated from our goal to seek out the stocky birds and our car breakfasts of muffins along the trek. We took our long road trip up the East Coast from Rhode Island to Prince Edward Island and Nova Scotia in 2016. With the current exchange rate between the USD and CAD, there’s no better time to visit Canada!

West Quoddy Head

West Quoddy Head, Lubec, Maine Our journey began in Rhode Island and our first leg took us to the halfway mark. Seven hours traveling north brought us all the way to Lubec, Maine. We arrived after dark and barely slept as we wanted to be up early to get out to West Quoddy Head which is the easternmost point in the United States….and home of the first sunrise in the continental US. We arrived a little before 5 am to wait in the dark as the first hints of light illuminated the famous red and white striped lighthouse. The iconic lighthouse now operates with an automated light instead of a lighthouse keeper and it’s absolutely worth the trip. You feel at the edge of the world gazing off into the Atlantic. Few tourists make it out this early so you’ll have the park mostly to yourself. We didn’t stay long enough for the museum to open, but they reportedly also sell certificates so you can boast that you’ve been to the easternmost point. We kept it moving to stick to our travel schedule but made a quick stroll through the charming town of Lubec. They have a few smaller bed and breakfasts, gift shops, art galleries and restaurants. We popped into the Sunrise Cafe to grab some beverages to accompany our muffins! 

The Bay of Fundy

Next we rambled up the coast of Maine and then continued onto New Brunswick. In New Brunswick, we drove through Fundy National Park which sits on Goose Bay, the northwestern branch of the Bay of Fundy. The Bay of Fundy has the highest tides in the world which can rise and fall an incredible 50 feet in one twelve hour expanse. We made our first stop at the eastern entrance to Fundy National Park at Cape Enrage. There is a large reef that extends south from the Cape which causes the water to become turbulent when the reef is exposed at lower tides and the water is moving rapidly over the reef. It’s a pretty stop with a picturesque lighthouse (built in 1838) and a staircase to walk down to the water where you can literally see the water coming in from the rapidly moving tide. You won’t need to spend much time here unless you stop for lunch at the onsite restaurant, but the views from their towering cliffs are spectacular. Our final New Brunswick stop was the famous Hopewell Rocks, also known as the Flowerpot Rocks. Located on the upper reaches of the Bay of Fundy. These sandstone formations have been geologically carved over time. At low tide, you can walk among the formations and explore tidal pools and coves and at high tide; they appear as tall islands topped by trees. The Canadians have named many of them based on their appearance (Lover’s Arch, Dinosaur Rock, ET, etc). They have well kept trails and it’s a super easy walk to get to the formations…a nice leg stretch on our journey! We skipped the tourist filled restaurant there and headed 10 minutes away to the Cinnamon Soul Cafe which had some terrific sandwiches. It will take about 4 hours to get from Quoddy Head to Hopewell Rocks without stops…but I would factor in 3 hours for all your photo stops. If you’ve followed our itinerary though, you were up at sunrise! 

Prince Edward Island

Cavendish, PEI Our final driving leg took us the last 3 hours to Prince Edward Island. You’ll take the Confederation Bridge, an 8 mile long expanse that spans the narrowest part of the Northumberland Strait, separating the island from the mainland. Prince Edward Island is Canada’s smallest province though the most densely populated. It only takes 3 hours to drive from tip to tip but it’s unspoiled scenery, rolling farmlands, and rocky red shores pack a punch over the 139 miles. Of course, PEI is well known to many of us through the eyes of Anne of Green Gables, the fictional spirited redheaded heroine of Lucy Maud Montgomery’s classic book. I confess I read all of her tales repeatedly as a child and her presence is definitely felt in many facets of PEI life.  After our long day of driving, we checked into The Great George Hotel in PEI’s capital of Charlottetown. It’s a boutique hotel made of 54 suites spread across 17 restored heritage buildings dating back to the mid 1840’s. Charlottetown itself is modern, safe, and charming…we used it as our base to explore PEI. You’ll definitely want to spend a few hours rambling through the cobblestone streets. Victoria Row (The Row) is lined with red brick buildings and in the summer, it’s closed to traffic so you can grab a table outside or head to a rooftop bar for views of the city. It’s known for being a culinary powerhouse and especially so for seafood. 

Anne of Green Gables

Anne of Green Gables Heritage Place You could easily spend a week or more exploring the relaxing PEI, or even just Charlottetown, but we did a little over a day of highlights as Nova Scotia beckoned. However, we couldn’t miss a stop at Anne of Green Gables’s famed home. Located in Cavendish, PEI, Green Gables Heritage Place is visited by thousands of tourists each year who come to find the green gabled farmhouse and surrounding woodlands. There’s an Anne onsite marvelously in character who dutifully posed for a curtsy photo with my husband. From the farmhouse, we meandered along Prince Edward Island National Park Drive which encompasses the island’s rocky northern coastline. We drove the segment from Cavendish to North Rustico admiring the red towering cliffs along the sandy beaches. Everyone recommended Blue Mussell Cafe to dine in North Rustico and we would also highly recommend a stop there! They don’t take reservations but it’s a fine view of North Rustico Harbor to wait a bit for your table. Our other dining recommendation is the Point Prim Chowderhouse at sunset. This one definitely needs a reservation! They are located at the end of the road near the Point Prim Lighthouse, Canada’s oldest lighthouse, about a 45 minute drive from Charlottetown. They offer spectacular views of the tidal pools surrounding Point Prim and you can enjoy fresh seafood on their outdoor deck. We loved sipping a cocktail and watching the sun dip into the ocean. Our time in PEI was much too short. If able, I’d advise up to a week there in the summer as it is beautiful and filled with quintessential summer activities.

Burntcoat Head Park

We left Charlottetown and finally crossed in Nova Scotia! We traveled 3 hours from PEI to Burntcoat Head Park. This park boasts the highest tides in the world and it’s backed up by a Guinness World Record! It’s average tide is 47.5 feet with an extreme range of 53.6 feet. Twice daily, the Bay of Fundy fills and recedes 160 billion tons of water. We arrived here at low tide and explored the ocean floor and tidal pools taking many pictures of the area that would be flooded with 50 feet of water a mere 6 hours later. We would recommend that you see the Park at both low and high tide. After our low tide exploration, we drove to Avondale Sky Winery (about an hour away) to fill some of the gap. It was an enjoyable few hours with a little wine tasting, vineyard wandering and delicious lunch. On the way to the winery, we also popped into the Frieze and Roy General Store, which is Canada’s oldest continually run general store. Some interesting antiques to view but the lunch they had here at their small counter was pretty terrible. We rarely write bad reviews but the customer service and food was our worst experience of the year. We threw it out and were fortunately rewarded for this decision by having a great experience at the winery in an idyllic outdoor setting. As our 6 hours drew to a close, we headed back to the park and it was pretty amazing to see how rapidly the tide had covered the very ocean floor we’d explored hours earlier. We took some photos in the same spot as before and afters and the tide change is dramatic! To note, there are several locations in the area that offer river rafting on the tidal bore…this definitely looked intriguing but given our limited clothing for our week long trip and the mud covered photos we saw, we took a pass. Might be a fun adventure though!

Cape Breton

Our next destination brought us further into Nova Scotia with a goal of driving the coast of Cape Breton along the Cabot Trail. We set up a base at Cabot Shores. I’ll confess this lodging choice was not a great one and we would not recommend it. We stumbled upon it on Airbnb and the adorable appearing yurts seemed unique. However, the reality was that they were MUCH smaller than they appeared in the photos, had a bit of a musty smell, and the lodging tried to overcharge for everything. A ‘free’ pitcher of warm tap water was provided, but they wouldn’t give ice, firewood, or refill the pitcher without charging you. The communal bathroom facilities were also pretty lackluster. Our main complaint though was that the yurt had no way to lock so we essentially repacked and locked our belongings in our trunk each day. In retrospect, instead of choosing one base accommodation, we would recommend a couple lodging options along Cape Breton so you aren’t backtracking each day as you meander along. While we didn’t stay at the Keltic Lodge at the Highlands, we did drive through on our way along the Cabot Trail and it looked well maintained with breathtaking views…we definitely thought about abandoning that yurt and making a move! There isn’t much to eat nearby but we did enjoy a little homey place called “Simply Pizza” which unsurprisingly served no frills pizza which was very good and much better than eating at the yurt. 

The tiny yurt

Puffins!

Before we set out for the Cabot Trail in earnest, we aimed to fulfill our mission of seeing puffins. We opted for the Bird Island Puffin Tour. This tour runs from May to mid September. Puffins are migratory sea birds and spend the majority of the year at sea feeding. In the spring and summer, they gather in colonies on the coasts of the North Atlantic to breed. During this time, their beaks turn a flashy orange color which is great for your puffin pics! However, many companies we researched stopped their tours at the end of August…we should have payed a little closer attention to that. We visited in early September, but by that time, the puffins had mostly moved on. There were only 2 mating pairs left which fortunately we did see from a distance. In the peak season though, hundreds of birds fill the island. This short tour (about an hour and a half) was still worthwhile though at $50. 

Skyline Trail

Our next endeavor was the Cabot Trail. This is a 185 mile loop around the northern tip of Nova Scotia. The western and eastern portions have scenic views of the rocky coastline and ocean. The northern section passes through Cape Breton Highlands National Park with the famed Skyline Trail. Finally, the Southern section passes through the Margaree River valley and Bras d’Or Lake. It’s a gorgeous drive and you could do it in one day though as I mentioned above, a lodging stop along the way would likely be better. Though there are numerous hikes along the route, if you are going to do only one, I’d go for the Skyline Trail. This is a relatively easy 2 hour hike on French Mountain and at the halfway point of the trail, there are viewing platforms that afford sweeping views of the famous Cabot Trail roadway and the Gulf of St. Lawrence. Moose sighting are common and we spied a sleeping moose at a close distance. Who knew moose slept lying down? We also tried our luck whale watching with Dixon’s Zodiac Seafari where you board a smaller 12 passenger zodiac and whip along the shores of Cape Breton. We spotted 2 minke whales at a distance but it was still exhilarating zipping along the coast on a sun filled day.

Halifax

Our final leg of our whirlwind Nova Scotia tour was Halifax. Halifax combines historic charm with plenty of modern flourishes. It’s a harbor front city that I think is best explored on foot as you can wander the streets and harborfront stumbling upon numerous and shops. The dining scene is plentiful. We tried our luck at the Bicycle Thief with an amazing patio steps from the water with delicious food they describe as “North American food with Italian soul.” We also has a nightcap at the livelier Split Crow Pub, Nova Scotia’s Original Tavern with some great live music. Besides enjoying some great dining and browsing the harborfront, we also hiked up to the Halifax Citadel set on a prominent hill overlooking the city. It consists of a series of forts that protected the harbor and the views are worth a quick stop.

Peggy's Cove

Our farewell to Nova Scotia was at the famous Peggy’s Cove, a quaint fishing village located approximately an hour from Halifax. This very small village houses the famous Peggy’s Cove Lighthouse which may be the most photographed lighthouse in all of Canada. Many artists call this cove home and there are various local galleries and giftshops. It does get a little crowded on a summer day, so I’d arrive early to escape the tour buses and enjoy the peaceful views of the lighthouse and the mighty Atlantic. On your way to or from Peggy’s Cove, I’d advise a cookie stop at the White Sails Bakery!  This weeklong trip involved our usual bustle from location to location and we did get a preview of stunning PEI and Nova Scotia. Though, this trip might be a better place to hunker down for a few days in one spot and just soak in the abundant views and relax! 

Champagne Splurge

This trip was decidedly one of our more frugal trips. No pricey airfare, no luxurious accommodations and with the exchange rate, our dining was a pretty great bargain as well. If we had to do it again, we’d splurge for the Keltic Lodge or another place with gorgeous views along Cape Breton! 

Champagne "Buzz"worthy

The CAT ferry operates between Bar Harbor, Maine and Nova Scotia. I think the drive is spectacular but you only need one way to experience it. It might be nice to take the ferry back home to shave a little time off your drive. 

Insider Tips

Instead of picking lodging at the start of the Cabot Trail, we advise a slower pace along the trail and choosing an accommodating or two as you go. We could have avoided a lot of backtracking and done more hiking instead.Get to Peggy’s Cove early to beat the crowds. The small village splendor isn’t as majestic when a tour bus rolls up. Do make a stop at West Quoddy if you are driving up from the States; that first sunrise is pretty magical! Read the full article

#HIking #princeedwardisland #puffins

[theopenrhode]

A Road Trip Journey Guide to Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island | Champagne Traveling

‘Puffins and Muffins’ was the slogan for our 13 hour road trip to the North. The name originated from our goal to seek out the stocky birds and our car breakfasts of muffins along the trek. We took our long road trip up the East Coast from Rhode Island to Prince Edward Island and Nova Scotia in 2016. With the current exchange rate between the USD and CAD, there’s no better time to visit Canada!

West Quoddy Head

Our journey began in Rhode Island and our first leg took us to the halfway mark. Seven hours traveling north brought us all the way to Lubec, Maine. We arrived after dark and barely slept as we wanted to be up early to get out to West Quoddy Head which is the easternmost point in the United States….and home of the first sunrise in the continental US. We arrived a little before 5 am to wait in the dark as the first hints of light illuminated the famous red and white striped lighthouse.

West Quoddy Head, Lubec, Maine The iconic lighthouse now operates with an automated light instead of a lighthouse keeper and it’s absolutely worth the trip. You feel at the edge of the world gazing off into the Atlantic. Few tourists make it out this early so you’ll have the park mostly to yourself. We didn’t stay long enough for the museum to open, but they reportedly also sell certificates so you can boast that you’ve been to the easternmost point. We kept it moving to stick to our travel schedule but made a quick stroll through the charming town of Lubec. They have a few smaller bed and breakfasts, gift shops, art galleries and restaurants. We popped into the Sunrise Cafe to grab some beverages to accompany our muffins!

The Bay of Fundy

Next we rambled up the coast of Maine and then continued onto New Brunswick. In New Brunswick, we drove through Fundy National Park which sits on Goose Bay, the northwestern branch of the Bay of Fundy. The Bay of Fundy has the highest tides in the world which can rise and fall an incredible 50 feet in one twelve hour expanse. We made our first stop at the eastern entrance to Fundy National Park at Cape Enrage. There is a large reef that extends south from the Cape which causes the water to become turbulent when the reef is exposed at lower tides and the water is moving rapidly over the reef. It’s a pretty stop with a picturesque lighthouse (built in 1838) and a staircase to walk down to the water where you can literally see the water coming in from the rapidly moving tide. You won’t need to spend much time here unless you stop for lunch at the onsite restaurant, but the views from their towering cliffs are spectacular. Our final New Brunswick stop was the famous Hopewell Rocks, also known as the Flowerpot Rocks. Located on the upper reaches of the Bay of Fundy. These sandstone formations have been geologically carved over time. At low tide, you can walk among the formations and explore tidal pools and coves and at high tide; they appear as tall islands topped by trees. The Canadians have named many of them based on their appearance (Lover’s Arch, Dinosaur Rock, ET, etc). They have well kept trails and it’s a super easy walk to get to the formations…a nice leg stretch on our journey! We skipped the tourist filled restaurant there and headed 10 minutes away to the Cinnamon Soul Cafe which had some terrific sandwiches. It will take about 4 hours to get from Quoddy Head to Hopewell Rocks without stops…but I would factor in 3 hours for all your photo stops. If you’ve followed our itinerary though, you were up at sunrise! 

Prince Edward Island

Cavendish, PEI Our final driving leg took us the last 3 hours to Prince Edward Island. You’ll take the Confederation Bridge, an 8 mile long expanse that spans the narrowest part of the Northumberland Strait, separating the island from the mainland. Prince Edward Island is Canada’s smallest province though the most densely populated. It only takes 3 hours to drive from tip to tip but it’s unspoiled scenery, rolling farmlands, and rocky red shores pack a punch over the 139 miles. Of course, PEI is well known to many of us through the eyes of Anne of Green Gables, the fictional spirited redheaded heroine of Lucy Maud Montgomery’s classic book. I confess I read all of her tales repeatedly as a child and her presence is definitely felt in many facets of PEI life.  After our long day of driving, we checked into The Great George Hotel in PEI’s capital of Charlottetown. It’s a boutique hotel made of 54 suites spread across 17 restored heritage buildings dating back to the mid 1840’s. Charlottetown itself is modern, safe, and charming…we used it as our base to explore PEI. You’ll definitely want to spend a few hours rambling through the cobblestone streets. Victoria Row (The Row) is lined with red brick buildings and in the summer, it’s closed to traffic so you can grab a table outside or head to a rooftop bar for views of the city. It’s known for being a culinary powerhouse and especially so for seafood. 

Anne of Green Gables

Anne of Green Gables Heritage Place You could easily spend a week or more exploring the relaxing PEI, or even just Charlottetown, but we did a little over a day of highlights as Nova Scotia beckoned. However, we couldn’t miss a stop at Anne of Green Gables’s famed home. Located in Cavendish, PEI, Green Gables Heritage Place is visited by thousands of tourists each year who come to find the green gabled farmhouse and surrounding woodlands. There’s an Anne onsite marvelously in character who dutifully posed for a curtsy photo with my husband. From the farmhouse, we meandered along Prince Edward Island National Park Drive which encompasses the island’s rocky northern coastline. We drove the segment from Cavendish to North Rustico admiring the red towering cliffs along the sandy beaches. Everyone recommended Blue Mussell Cafe to dine in North Rustico and we would also highly recommend a stop there! They don’t take reservations but it’s a fine view of North Rustico Harbor to wait a bit for your table. Our other dining recommendation is the Point Prim Chowderhouse at sunset. This one definitely needs a reservation! They are located at the end of the road near the Point Prim Lighthouse, Canada’s oldest lighthouse, about a 45 minute drive from Charlottetown. They offer spectacular views of the tidal pools surrounding Point Prim and you can enjoy fresh seafood on their outdoor deck. We loved sipping a cocktail and watching the sun dip into the ocean. Our time in PEI was much too short. If able, I’d advise up to a week there in the summer as it is beautiful and filled with quintessential summer activities.

Burntcoat Head Park

We left Charlottetown and finally crossed in Nova Scotia! We traveled 3 hours from PEI to Burntcoat Head Park. This park boasts the highest tides in the world and it’s backed up by a Guinness World Record! It’s average tide is 47.5 feet with an extreme range of 53.6 feet. Twice daily, the Bay of Fundy fills and recedes 160 billion tons of water. We arrived here at low tide and explored the ocean floor and tidal pools taking many pictures of the area that would be flooded with 50 feet of water a mere 6 hours later. We would recommend that you see the Park at both low and high tide. After our low tide exploration, we drove to Avondale Sky Winery (about an hour away) to fill some of the gap. It was an enjoyable few hours with a little wine tasting, vineyard wandering and delicious lunch. On the way to the winery, we also popped into the Frieze and Roy General Store, which is Canada’s oldest continually run general store. Some interesting antiques to view but the lunch they had here at their small counter was pretty terrible. We rarely write bad reviews but the customer service and food was our worst experience of the year. We threw it out and were fortunately rewarded for this decision by having a great experience at the winery in an idyllic outdoor setting. As our 6 hours drew to a close, we headed back to the park and it was pretty amazing to see how rapidly the tide had covered the very ocean floor we’d explored hours earlier. We took some photos in the same spot as before and afters and the tide change is dramatic! To note, there are several locations in the area that offer river rafting on the tidal bore…this definitely looked intriguing but given our limited clothing for our week long trip and the mud covered photos we saw, we took a pass. Might be a fun adventure though!

Cape Breton

Our next destination brought us further into Nova Scotia with a goal of driving the coast of Cape Breton along the Cabot Trail. We set up a base at Cabot Shores. I’ll confess this lodging choice was not a great one and we would not recommend it. We stumbled upon it on Airbnb and the adorable appearing yurts seemed unique. However, the reality was that they were MUCH smaller than they appeared in the photos, had a bit of a musty smell, and the lodging tried to overcharge for everything. A ‘free’ pitcher of warm tap water was provided, but they wouldn’t give ice, firewood, or refill the pitcher without charging you. The communal bathroom facilities were also pretty lackluster. Our main complaint though was that the yurt had no way to lock so we essentially repacked and locked our belongings in our trunk each day. In retrospect, instead of choosing one base accommodation, we would recommend a couple lodging options along Cape Breton so you aren’t backtracking each day as you meander along. While we didn’t stay at the Keltic Lodge at the Highlands, we did drive through on our way along the Cabot Trail and it looked well maintained with breathtaking views…we definitely thought about abandoning that yurt and making a move! There isn’t much to eat nearby but we did enjoy a little homey place called “Simply Pizza” which unsurprisingly served no frills pizza which was very good and much better than eating at the yurt. 

The tiny yurt

Puffins!

Before we set out for the Cabot Trail in earnest, we aimed to fulfill our mission of seeing puffins. We opted for the Bird Island Puffin Tour. This tour runs from May to mid September. Puffins are migratory sea birds and spend the majority of the year at sea feeding. In the spring and summer, they gather in colonies on the coasts of the North Atlantic to breed. During this time, their beaks turn a flashy orange color which is great for your puffin pics! However, many companies we researched stopped their tours at the end of August…we should have payed a little closer attention to that. We visited in early September, but by that time, the puffins had mostly moved on. There were only 2 mating pairs left which fortunately we did see from a distance. In the peak season though, hundreds of birds fill the island. This short tour (about an hour and a half) was still worthwhile though at $50. 

Skyline Trail

Our next endeavor was the Cabot Trail. This is a 185 mile loop around the northern tip of Nova Scotia. The western and eastern portions have scenic views of the rocky coastline and ocean. The northern section passes through Cape Breton Highlands National Park with the famed Skyline Trail. Finally, the Southern section passes through the Margaree River valley and Bras d’Or Lake. It’s a gorgeous drive and you could do it in one day though as I mentioned above, a lodging stop along the way would likely be better. Though there are numerous hikes along the route, if you are going to do only one, I’d go for the Skyline Trail. This is a relatively easy 2 hour hike on French Mountain and at the halfway point of the trail, there are viewing platforms that afford sweeping views of the famous Cabot Trail roadway and the Gulf of St. Lawrence. Moose sighting are common and we spied a sleeping moose at a close distance. Who knew moose slept lying down? We also tried our luck whale watching with Dixon’s Zodiac Seafari where you board a smaller 12 passenger zodiac and whip along the shores of Cape Breton. We spotted 2 minke whales at a distance but it was still exhilarating zipping along the coast on a sun filled day.

Halifax

Our final leg of our whirlwind Nova Scotia tour was Halifax. Halifax combines historic charm with plenty of modern flourishes. It’s a harbor front city that I think is best explored on foot as you can wander the streets and harborfront stumbling upon numerous and shops. The dining scene is plentiful. We tried our luck at the Bicycle Thief with an amazing patio steps from the water with delicious food they describe as “North American food with Italian soul.” We also has a nightcap at the livelier Split Crow Pub, Nova Scotia’s Original Tavern with some great live music. Besides enjoying some great dining and browsing the harborfront, we also hiked up to the Halifax Citadel set on a prominent hill overlooking the city. It consists of a series of forts that protected the harbor and the views are worth a quick stop.

Peggy's Cove

Our farewell to Nova Scotia was at the famous Peggy’s Cove, a quaint fishing village located approximately an hour from Halifax. This very small village houses the famous Peggy’s Cove Lighthouse which may be the most photographed lighthouse in all of Canada. Many artists call this cove home and there are various local galleries and giftshops. It does get a little crowded on a summer day, so I’d arrive early to escape the tour buses and enjoy the peaceful views of the lighthouse and the mighty Atlantic. On your way to or from Peggy’s Cove, I’d advise a cookie stop at the White Sails Bakery!  This weeklong trip involved our usual bustle from location to location and we did get a preview of stunning PEI and Nova Scotia. Though, this trip might be a better place to hunker down for a few days in one spot and just soak in the abundant views and relax! 

Champagne Splurge

This trip was decidedly one of our more frugal trips. No pricey airfare, no luxurious accommodations and with the exchange rate, our dining was a pretty great bargain as well. If we had to do it again, we’d splurge for the Keltic Lodge or another place with gorgeous views along Cape Breton! 

Champagne "Buzz"worthy

The CAT ferry operates between Bar Harbor, Maine and Nova Scotia. I think the drive is spectacular but you only need one way to experience it. It might be nice to take the ferry back home to shave a little time off your drive. 

Insider Tips

Instead of picking lodging at the start of the Cabot Trail, we advise a slower pace along the trail and choosing an accommodating or two as you go. We could have avoided a lot of backtracking and done more hiking instead.Get to Peggy’s Cove early to beat the crowds. The small village splendor isn’t as majestic when a tour bus rolls up. Do make a stop at West Quoddy if you are driving up from the States; that first sunrise is pretty magical! Travel with us on a road trip adventure to Nova Scotia and PEI.  We traveled on a 13 hour road trip north and visited the easternmost point in the USA, West Quoddy Head, ME. Nova Scotia and PEI are gorgeous locales with relaxed atmospheres.  The Bay of Fundy is a remarkable place to visit with a tide that ebbs and flows over 50 feet twice daily. There are cozy wineries located all over Nova Scotia and PEI.  Don't forget about the delicious PEI oysters. Halifax has a lot to offer from Michelin star restaurants to award winning micro breweries. Check out our road trip guide to Nova Scotia and PEI to help plan your next adventure. https://www.champagnetraveling.com/puffins-and-muffins-a-journey-to-nova-scotia-and-prince-edward-island/  #HIking #princeedwardisland #puffins  #champagnetraveling #novascotia #novascotian #roadtrip #oyster #NovaScotiaCraftBeer #NovaScotiaMuseum  #novascotiacanada #halifaxns #novascotia #princeedwardisland #visitnovascotia #explorenovascotia #halifax #novascotia #bayoffundy #travelstories #roadtrippin #travelcommunity #travellove #travelislife #travelporn #roadtripping #travelnow #traveljournal #roadtrips #travelguide #travelaroundtheworld #traveljunkie #travelbloggers #traveldestination #traveltips Read the full article

#HIking #princeedwardisland #puffins