On the northern shore of Bras d’Or Lake in Victoria county, Baddeck is a charming one-street town on Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia.
Today is Sunday. It’s 22°C, sunny, and everywhere I look from the balcony of the Telegraph House hotel, I see blue lakes, sailing boats, lime green trees and old style Victorian shop fronts, painted a satisfying rust red. Last night, we dined on unbelievably delicious lobster at the Baddeck Lobster Supper joint. When we leave the hotel we’re off to learn more about Alexander Graham Bell, who used to live across the lake, and now has a museum dedicated to his inventions at the eastern end of this tiny town. As I write, an old dude is strumming his guitar in the main street singing John Denver and Hank Williams ditties while a black cat is sunning itself in the garden. One gets the feeling that not a lot is happening in Baddeck, winter or summer, and with a population of just 769 people, that’s how it should be.
How did I get to Baddeck?
We collected a VW Passat from Halifax Airport at Budget and drove north then east for about 4.4 hours, with a coffee stop in Truro. Driving is super easy in Canada once you remember to keep to the right. There is little traffic in Nova Scotia and the roads are good.
#handyhint
There is a 15 per cent GST in Canada, but it is not stated in the price. So, when everything seems a little more expensive than you thought, it’s because the tax is added at the cash register.
