The Cabot Trail, Peggy's Cove, Cape Enrage, St. Andrew's, covered bridges, ocean tides, east coast architecture, fishing and sailing boats -- all outstandingly beautiful. I snapped many pictures, trying to capture some of the awesomeness surrounding me.
But it is a different kind of beauty that struck me most. Everyone I met, whether someone addressing me as a tourist, or in casual conversation snatched during a walk, was unfailingly polite, interested, kind. One example was when we walked around the citadel in Halifax, we were talking about various excursions we had made or were planning to make. We moved to the side of the path as we heard the approach of a jogger. The jogger slowed down, asked us about our experience as tourists, and then walked alongside us to answer questions and provide insights about his city. Turns out he was the deputy chief of police! And he took the time to engage in conversation.
Yesterday, I was sharing some of my Down East experiences with a friend. She commented that she had loved the people she met. In particular, she felt trusted. There was an openness and innocence in the people she met.
Whether talking to the staff at Fort Louisbourg or the fisheries museum in Lunenburg, or the servers at restaurants, everyone I met was open, knowledgeable, and interested in both sharing and engaging. I felt like I was living a pre-cell-phone life, where cell phones seem to be used to avoid face-to-face engagement.
I guess this is nothing new really...taking about the beauty of the scenery and the people of the East Coast. But it bears revisiting and repeating. Ordinary observations from an ordinary girl.
