Seems like a routine now: Alarm, Up, Breakfast, Bus

Today we headed across the island

to the fortress of Louisburg.

This is a reconstruction of a 18th century fort built by the French to protect their fishing interests in the area.  The fortress traded hands between the French and the British a couple of times before being largely abandoned in 1768.  According to our tour guide the British, in order to assure that the French would never occupy the fortress again, brought in Welsh miners to dynamite the walls. Because there is no major population center close by (This is a VERY inhospitable site!) no other use was made of the land and the whole structure deteriorated until the mid 20th century when the government sponsored a major reconstruction – as a way to employ out of work coal miners in the area.  The reconstruction used extensive documentation, archaeological techniques and original materials to build a fortress as true to the original as possible.  The reconstructed fortress is only 20% of the original, but gives a good idea of what was there.  Character actors in period dress do a good job of interpretation.

We arrived at the fortress, were welcomed by a tour guide who walked us around and gave an orientation to the site, and were turned loose to wander, enjoy, and learn.

Lunch was in a pub on site, again served by maids in period costume.

Following lunch there was more exploring

and at 2:30 we witnessed a “public shaming” – some poor guy was caught stealing wine and placed in the stocks, to the general derision of the crowd (us).

Following the shaming we boarded the bus for our return to Baddeck.

Dinner was at the motel.

This evening we attended a Ceilidh (pronounced Kay-lee – a social event at which there is Celtic folk music and singing, traditional dancing, and storytelling.)  The fiddle player was excellent and the pianist accompanying her was pretty amazing.

They played, she talked, he even danced a bit for us.  All in all a suitable high point (thus far) for the trip.

Tomorrow we leave Nova Scotia and head for Prince Edward Island.  Anne of Green Gables, here we come!