Nova Scotia means New Scotland. Nova Scotia is one of the thirteen provinces and territories of Canada. Cape Breton Island is at the eastern end of Nova Scotia.
Sydney is the historic capital of Cape Breton and largest urban centre on the island. An example of some of the local homes are pictured below, and as we all know, you can’t go anywhere without coming across an Irish pub!!! This Old Triangle offers nearly two dozen different brews, ranging from Guinness Irish Stout to an India Pale Ale.
We walked along the harbour side boardwalk.
We took a tour out to a Highland Village, a 50-acre historical site that overlooks Bras d’Or Lakes at the centre of Cape Breton Island. It gave us an insight to the gaelic folklife that was brought here by the Scottish people. For tens of thousands of Scottish Highlanders emigrating to Nova Scotia during the early to mid-nineteenth century, Gaelic was their only language. By the early 20th century, an estimated 100,000 Nova Scotians spoke Gaelic. Most of the buildings are replicas that present a chronological journey through 180 years Cape Breton’s Scottish architecture.
The scenery to, and around the village was breathtaking.
After a scenic drive back to the harbour, we were all aboard Seven Seas to head to our next destination, Halifax!