Aspiring Nirvana

Relive the colonial past at Fortress of Louisbourg, Nova Scotia, Canada

If you aspire to step back in time of colonial past from 18th century to embrace turbulent Canadian history then you must visit Fortress of Louisbourg.

The Fortress of Louisbourg is a National Historic Site of Canada and is located in Louisbourg, on eastern Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia, Canada.

Louisbourgh was founded by the French in 1713 and was busiest port of 18th century in America as it was perfectly situated on the trade route between America and Europe. Throughout mid-1700s, French and English forces battled for control of Nova Scotia.

The battered fortress and town were partially reconstructed in the 1960s and this site stands as the largest reconstruction project in North America.

Having explored scenic Cabot Trail previous day, we started from town of Sydney and headed towards Fortress of Louisbourg which was just a few hours drive. There was plenty of parking at the site.

Based on our wonderful experience we highly recommend taking a guided tour. Our knowledgeable guide was dressed in a period costume. We admired authentic architecture of buildings, watched French solders march through the streets, children playing games from the past, tasted freshly cooked bread from a bakery, and toured area full of rum storage containers.

There were multiple spots to meet actors going through their daily (18th century) chores. We had chance to interact with them and learn fascinating stories on how they landed there from Europe.

Throughout the site, one can hear soldiers drum beats, clock chimes, and water front café music.

We saw first-hand demonstration of thundering canon fires just like it was done back in the 18th century.

While exploring the site, we did not even felt that this was a recreation, it almost felt as if we had stepped truly back in time.

Lighthouse

Having enjoyed insight into the rich historical past of Fortress, we next planned to visit Louisbourg Lighthouse which was located just a quick drive from the Fortress. The site of Louisbourg Lighthouse is considered Canada’s first lighthouse. It is a perfect spot for photos opportunities of the lighthouse on rocky cliffs and majestic ocean in the background.

Having admired the beautiful lighthouse we headed back to our hotel in Sydney. This concluded our trip to beautiful Cape Breton Island in Nova Scotia. Our next destination was to visit Hopewell Rocks Park in New Brunswick province.

Rating: 3.5*/5

Helpful Links: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fortress_of_Louisbourg

Cozumel – Beautiful Mexican Island with Caribbean Soul

Cozumel is a popular island in Mexico with rich history, white beaches, beautiful coral reefs, authentic food, offering plenty of water adventure and relaxation activities in natural settings.

Cozumel is one of Mexico‘s largest island located 20 km (12 mi) off the Yucatan Peninsula in southeastern Mexico and 80 km (50 mi) from Cancun. The island has a total area of 480 km2 (185 sq mi) and can be easily covered in a day.

Cozumel offers clean beaches, natural forest, spectacular natural scenery, diverse animal species and Mayan archeological sites. It is very safe and affordable place to visit with welcoming and warm local population. Spring to early summer months from March – June are the best time to enjoy warm weather in Cozumel. Falls season is rainy with risk of hurricanes and winter is slightly cooler. There are multiple all-inclusive resorts and plenty of outdoor eateries on the island. One can rent cars, jeeps, and scooters at affordable prices and drive around exploring the island.

We took a self-driving guided jeep tour to drive around the island so that we could pick and spend time on activities as per our liking. We are sharing highlights from our trip.

Crocodiles at Nature Preserve

Our first stop was at a natural preserve that had crocodiles relaxing in the shallow water. We climbed on top of a wooden observation tower to enjoy natural lagoon around it.

Snorkeling at Tortugas Beach Club

Our next stop was at Tortugas beach club where we enjoyed snorkeling tour of shallow colorful reefs with beautiful fishes in crystal clear water swimming around us. After snorkeling we sat down to have delicious Mexican food for lunch while listening to mariachi music. The place also offered relaxing massage service, beautiful artifacts in local shops, colorful fashion accessories and open bar with amazing ocean views.

Lighthouse at Punta Sur

We drove through sandy road to reach a historic lighthouse at Punta Sur ecological park. We had to traverse extremely narrow stairs to reach on top of the lighthouse. The panoramic view from the top was breathtaking, offering white sand beaches, blue water and plenty of natural preserve all around.

Mayan Traditional House

Our next stop was at a Mayan traditional house NAH where we took a guided tour. We learned rich information on: Mayan Gods, history of Cozumel island, ancient artifacts, attended a religious ceremony and tasted freshly cooked burritos on a wood platform.

Tequila Tasting

Our last stop was at Tequila distillery Cava Antigua where we learned the process of making tequila. We tasted variety of tequilas, though those driving the jeep had to hold on to their natural inkling.

Having completed our fun-filled tour of the Cozumel island, we headed back with fond memories to board our cruise ship for an overnight journey to visit Costa Maya, Mexico, next day!

Rating: 4*/5

Helpful Link: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cozumel

Clove: Nutritional Facts, Health Benefits, Consumption and Risks

If you aspire to consume a spice that adds distinct flavor to your meals as well as offers excellent health benefits, then you must try clove.

Cloves are flower buds of the clove tree that is native to Asia and South America. It has a distinctly strong taste and pleasant smell. It is widely used to add flavor to dishes, desserts, beverages and meat products. Known as a rich source of vitamins and minerals, clove offers multiple health benefits and has been used as alternate medicine (ayurveda) for many years.

More and more people are consuming clove to reap the natural health benefits without any risky side-effects.

Potential Health Benefits of Clove

Oral Health Clove oil is used for cleaning teeth and gums, reduce toothache and promote fresh breath

Reduce Cancer Clove may help in reducing growth of cancerous cells

Diabetic Clove may help in regulating blood sugar

Bone Health Clove being rich in manganese may increase bone density

Stomach Ulcer Clove oil may help in preventing stomach ulcers

Bacteria Cloves have antimicrobial properties that may kill harmful bacteria

Reduce Stress Cloves being high in antioxidants may help in reducing stress

Aromatherapy Clove oil is used in massage oil that improves physical and emotional health

Options to Consume Clove

Flavor in hot tea and milk
Flavor in rice, soups, sauces and condiments
Flavor in cookies, muffins and oatmeal
Complement ginger, basil, cumin and cinnamon in many dishes
Enable slow cooking of meat products

Caution

Some people have observed certain side effects like food allergy, skin irritation or bleeding risk that may be related to consuming clove. Clove has a somewhat strong taste that may not fit well with taste buds of certain people. Make sure you consult with your doctor before including it in your diet.

Final Verdict

Clove has many health benefits, but like anything else, use it as part of a holistic healthy lifestyle that includes healthy diet, proper exercise and regular doctor visit.

We hope the information in this post will be helpful in your journey of aspiring nirvana!