Sydney, Nova Scotia, Canada
October 13, 2026
There was a beautiful sunrise before we docked in Sydney today.
We began our tour of Cape Breton in Sydney. The Cape Breton coat of arms incorporates the unicorn in honor of the Scottish heritage of Nova Scotia (New Scotland).
The Membertou school, Maupeltuewey Kina'matno'kuom, is just one of the many successes of Chief Terry Paul who was instrumental in implementing policies that raised the community from one of the poorest to one of the most prosperous communities in Atlantic Canada.
On our way to Iona, we enjoyed the scenery and even saw a bald eagle on the shore!
At the Highland Village Museum, we walked through history from the traditional Scottish blackhouse with its peat fire
to the pioneer log cabins built by Scottish settlers in New Breton from the 1770s to the 1850s.
The trail next led us to an 1830 frame house with a carriage house and dairy, as well traditional farm implements as the community grew more prosperous.
Our final stop at the living history museum was a turn of the century village.
We then headed to Baddeck, boarding a cable ferry to cross over.
Baddeck was the home of Alexander Graham Bell and his wife Mabel. A sculpture of the couple on their favorite bench memorializes the couple.
We then walked down to the waterfront for a view of the Kidstone Island Lighthouse.
Next we headed up the hill to the Alexander Graham Bell Museum.
Then we headed back to the ship.
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