Canada Road Trip š
Crabigail and I at one of our road stops in New Hampshire! My hair got super messy since I was driving so much šµāš«
In the middle of June, I took a road trip up to Nova Scotia to visit family! š„° Although I donāt talk about it much, I am actually a dual citizen (US & Canada) and many of my maternal relatives live there still. This year, they decided to host a memorial for my great-grandparents, which also acted as a sort of family reunion! Those of us who have moved to the States drove up north to stay the weekend. I drove up on Friday, the 14th, and stayed until Monday!
The drive from my home in Massachusetts up to our AirBnB in Beaubassin-Est took about 9.5 hours, but we took several stops along the way! I made sure to pack plenty of snacks and drinks, so we didnāt have to stop for a long time for a meal. We ended up arriving just before midnight, and I was able to take a shower and settle in for bed. Because we got there so late, I didnāt get to see the cabinās amazing ocean view until the next morningā¦! šāļø
The cabin actually has its own small private dock that lead down to a tiny beach. I think not many people would utilize it due to how rocky it was (the surrounding houses mostly just had viewing platforms rather than stairs down to the water,) but as someone who absolutely adores the ocean, I was thrilled! I went down early in the morning on Saturday, before my family was awake, and stepped into the sea. I even met a little friend, from a distance š¦
Unfortunately it was placed in the bag sideways so some of the frosting got stuck š not very picturesque, but berry yummy!
But of course, I had to visit Tim Hortons! I decided to try this Wildberry Cheescake Donut, and it was super yummy! š©
I always think itās funny how people argue over which coffee shop chain is best. As a non-coffee drinker, I tend to just go wherever gives me real options for tea! (Usually Starbucks and local cafĆ©s when Iām at home) That being said, most of my close friends and family loves Dunkin Donuts (as true New Englanders are wont to do) but I personally donāt care for their donuts, so Iām always happy to get an opportunity to go to Tim Hortons. š„°
The bingo card early in the game! Each square relates to something either my great-grandmother, great-granfather, or both enjoyed! After each item was called, there was an opportunity for family members to share stories and memories relating to it!
On Saturday, we had the main event, the memorial. The family rented out the church hall venue to host my (rather abundant) family, and one of the relatives, who owns and manages several restaurants, arranged some catering. People told stories of memories with my great-grandparents, and we played a themed bingo (though it wasnāt truly bingo, as almost everyoneās entire card was crossed off by the end!) - a wonderful excuse to share more memories and stories. Because they both passed when I was younger, and I only visited them once as a child, when I was around seven years old, I didnāt have much knowledge of their daily lives. Hearing everyone share these anecdotes painted a beautiful picture of the kind of people they were. š
The āBBQ Bacon Burgerā and poutine! I always notice that portion sizes are different in different countries! While the burger was much smaller than a standard American burger, it felt much more reasonable ā like one portion instead of two!
We then went and had dinner together at one of my relativeās restaurants. There was also several relatives singing karaoke! (I considered joining myself but ended up being too nervous š¦)
I got a burger and of course, had to get some poutine! And I may have had some again the next dayā¦ and may have returned home with a minor poutine addictionā¦ and I may have gotten poutine locally at least twice since coming homeā¦ š«£
I also got to see my grandparentsā dogs, Bambi (L) and her son Apollo (R)! They are Leonbergers, and big sweeties! Because my grandparents have a large RV, they bring their large pups up from Massachusetts for events like this. They were very nicely hanging around the deck of the restaurant, while the family was eating on the deck.
On Sunday, we all got together to go to the AKADI LUMINA in Bouctouche. This is an experience that is pretty difficult to describe ā it is part art exhibit, part educational walking trail.
They describe the tour on their website as such:
āFollow a walking path through nature at night, as lighting effects, projections, soundscapes and set design immerse you in a unique storyworld. Enjoy the experience at your own pace, as you discover each enchanted moment along the way.ā
I chose not to take very many photos of the experience, because I wanted to truly immerse myself in it. The walk is focused on the history of the Acadians and the Miākmaq, with a big emphasis on family. I had known for years that I have Native Acadian (Miākmaq) heritage, but honestly, didnāt know very much about the specifics. (It turns out that I am 15 generations removed ā I didnāt know the specifics before, and assumed it was even further back) Between talking with family and attending this event, I learned a lot about the history, culture, and about myself. I highly recommend this tour if you ever have the opportunity!
Patty my belovedā¦ I will help you reach your idol dreamsā¦! š¤āØ
We said our goodbyes to family on Sunday night after the walk, and went back to our cabin. In the morning, I left for Portland, Maine, where I would be staying for the evening, and used that as an opportunity to visit their Round1 Arcade and be reunited with Patty, my beloved, from the very fun and unique rhythm game TetoteConnect! Unfortunately, the NESiCA servers were down for maintenance, so I had to use a guest account and wasnāt able to get experience points for playing š
After that, it was time to head home! I left for Massachusetts early Tuesday morning, because I had a minor surgery for my foot scheduled on Tuesday afternoon!
I had a really lovey time, and it felt great to reconnect with family, and connect to more of our history and culture! š
