July 25, 2023 Sydney, Nova Scotia

    It was a bright morning and already 20°C by 8 a.m. with a light wind at 11 km and a few small clouds. Zuiderdam moored at Sydney, Nova Scotia. Yesterday we arranged with Ellen and David to meet them at the dining room entrance for breakfast. We walked on the Promenade Deck a couple of laps before meeting them for breakfast.

   By 9 a.m. the temperature had risen to 25°C. There was more than an hour to wander before our event. We walked along the harbour boardwalk passing the waterfront memorial to the Merchant Navy on the way to Wentworth Park and then back along George Street.

   The group of 22 for Royal Canadian Yacht Club: Cape Breton Mussels & Music excursion met on the dock. The Jean Harris Cruise Pavilion is the terminal for cruise ships and on the second floor is the Royal Canadian Yacht Club auditorium. We enjoyed fresh steamed East Coast mussels with a flight of two local beers and two local ciders. The group was serenaded by a Cape Breton singer/guitarist for 90 minutes. We even danced to one of the tunes. For some of the songs the audience sang along. The performer is the president of the Cape Breton Music Industry Cooperative.

   After the performance Larry uploaded the last few days blogs on reasonable speed  terminal Wi-Fi. There was a big craft market in the lower terminal auditorium where I wandered. Next we walked a few blocks to the Tim Hortons coffee shop for cold drinks. We wandered in the original townsite with its 150 year old houses and churches, passing some of the museums that we visited five years ago on a cruise.

  We were back to the ship just after 2 p.m. The afternoon temperature was by then 30°C. We had walked 13,830 steps.

   We had dinner in the main dining room with our new table-mates, Cee Kaye and Brad. Tonight’s entertainment in the World Stage theatre was stand-up comedian Kelly MacFarland. Her comedy was not crude and we hope to see her next show. As we walked to the Explorer’s Lounge for a performance, looking out the window there was a light mist on the water, reducing the visible a bit. We enjoyed the Brahms selections for cello and piano. These recitals take place in the gallery which used to be called Live from Lincoln Center.  The cruise line’s long term contract with New York’s Lincoln Center ended in April when we were on the Japan cruise, but the musicians are presenting the same programs as we enjoyed under the old affiliation.

  Today’s step total was 16,753



arrival in Sydney, Nova Scotia


giant fiddle on the pier


Town Crier waiting for guests



memorial to the Merchant Navy


Wentworth Park


Royal Canadian Yacht Club


East Coast mussels with a flight of two local beers and two local ciders


Cape Breton singer/guitarist








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