This street sign was found during a walk around the town of Qaqortoq. A local young lady walking by was asked about the sign and how it’s pronounced. While her speaking the word sounded completely alien, it sounded pleasant and she explained it is a local favorite song that means “I think of you every time I pass by”.
Qaqortoq is a town in the Kujalleq municipality in southern Greenland, located near Cape Thorvaldsen. It has a population of 3,089 being the most populous town in southern Greenland and the fourth-largest on the island.
Tassuunnaqquunnerit became a popular song written by the Greenlandic musician Rasmus Lyberth. The song is sung in the Greenlandic language, which is the official language of Greenland and spoken by the majority of the population in Greenland.
A little research shows that Tassuunnaqquunnerit, does translates to “I think of you every time I pass by”. The origin of this word can be traced back in the Inuit culture and language, which has a long history in Greenland. Inuit language and culture have been passed down through generations, and many words are combined phrases of which “Tassuunnaqquunnerit” is just one example. Greenland’s language is Greenlandic with a unique and rich vocabulary with many of these old phrases are still found in the Greenlandic language even today.
Today “Tassuunnaqquunnerit” lyrics vary depending on the version but the general theme of the song is about longing for loved ones who are far away.
The Cape Breton Development Corporation or DEVCO was a federal crown corporation established in 1967 to oversee the coal mining industry in Cape Breton and was the economic heart of the region. Coal and a steel mill provided jobs for a majority of the population along with a number of related businesses. The closure of the Cape Breton Development Corporation (CBDC), also known as DEVCO, in 2001 had a significant impact on the local economy of Sydney, Nova Scotia.
The Big Fiddle at the port
In an effort to help the area survive and with support of the Canadian government, the town has made efforts to further develop its tourism industry through initiatives such as the Sydney Waterfront District revitalization project. Today, tourism is an important contributor to the economy of Sydney, Nova Scotia and includes a new emphasis on attracting cruise ships to the new modern port area.
Where Your Ship Docks
Cruise ships tie up at the newly improved docks that can accommodate two or three cruise ships at a time. The port includes a cruise terminal and information building along with an interesting collection of small shops that connect with Sydney Waterfront District that offers almost a mile of walkways along the city’s waterfront. There are food venues and public facilities.
Wheelchair Accessibility
Disembarking – This port has a developed cruise ship pier but the ease of disembarking varies by the individual ships gangway designs. The xxx pier disembarks right into downtown. For passengers using wheelchairs there can be a moderate ramp incline to deal with in both locations.
Port City Characteristics – This port has an average wheelchair infrastructure typical of small cities but much energy is being put into improving wheelchair infrastructure. The port area has moderate inclines going up from the waterfront with good sidewalks. Intersection crosswalks outside of downtown may still have some curbs or other wheelchair obstacles.
Local Currency
The Canadian Dollar is the only currency accepted but most credit cards are welcome. There are also a number of ATMs in town.
Transportation
Sydney is a small town with a nice waterfront and compact downtown perfect for walking. There are no rental car agencies near the cruise port. There is public transportation in Sydney, Nova Scotia. The Cape Breton Regional Municipality (CBRM) Transit operates buses throughout the area. The schedule for buses can be found on their website HERE along with the fares.
Attractions
The town is becoming a popular tourist destination, with attractions such as the Cabot Trail, the Fortress of Louisbourg National Historic Site, and the Alexander Graham Bell National Historic Site. Walking tours are the primary offering. Local attractions draw in a number of visitors each year, which in turn are helping revive the economy by creating job opportunities in the hospitality and service industries. Additionally, tourism generates revenue for local businesses such as restaurants, souvenir shops, and tour operators.
Nova Scotia has also been the main staging area during World Wars I & II for ocean convoys to Europe and the regions history says a lot about this effort. Sydney lost a significant number of its sons in that effort and you will find a number of memorials noting this loss.
One of Sydney, Australia’s most popular adventures is climbing the Sydney Harbour Bridge. Check it out HERE. Tour groups include a guide and are each person is ffitted with a harness. A climb tour takes you up the arch spanning 1,650 feet and up to 440 feet above sea level.
It’s the second most iconic structure in Sydney Australia’s harbour after the Opera House. The bridge across Sydney Harbor to Port Jackson, Australia opened in 1932, and is the main land link between Sydney and the northern suburbs. It spans about 1,650 feet, making it one of the longest steel-arch bridges in the world. If you visit Sydney and are adventurous enough you can take a tour on a walkway to the top. They tell me the views are spectacular.
The bridge is known as “The Coathanger” because of its distinctive arch shape. It was built over eight years and is made of over 550,000 pieces of structural steel and held together by 6 million hand-driven rivets. The bridge is 2 3/4 miles long, including the bridge and its approach supports.
Tsarevets is a medieval stronghold located on a hill of the same name in Veliko Tarnovo, northern Bulgaria. Tsarevets stands 676 feet above sea level. It served as the Second Bulgarian Empire’s primary fortress and strongest bulwark from 1185 to 1393, housing the royal and the patriarchal palaces.
Join us as we visit historic treasures, natural wonders and vibrant cities set against backdrops that are endlessly changing and visually magnificent. Celebrate a world of travel experiences with these decorating accessories that are perfect for framing.
This landmark church is commonly referred to as the bombed-out church. It was constructed between 1811 and 1832. Besides being intended as a parish church it was also to be used as a ceremonial venue by the city government as well as a concert hall.
St. Luke’s was seriously damaged during the Liverpool Blitz in 1941 and has remained a roofless shell ever since. The bombing happened on 6 May 1941 when it was set fire by an incendiary bomb guttin the building.
Today it stands as a memorial to those Liverpool residents who died in the Second World War.
One of the best day trips out of Sydney Australia is a visit and hiking in the Blue Mountains. Easily reached by convenient train service in a little over an hour.
TROLLY TOURS STATIONS
If you’re spending some time in Sydney Australia and are looking to get some good hiking in, there are a lot of great options. The region has some great public transportation that allows you to get around the city as well as reaching some points well outside of Sydney. Travel for very little cost (see the Opal Card link below) on public transportation.
Sydney itself is a great city for walking, featuring a number of gardens, parks, beaches and harbors, ALL well worth exploring. and for a really great hiking beach there’s Bondi Beach. It boasts an easy walking trail that winds along the cliffs above the beach for a couple of miles down the coast. Bondi Beach is within the Sydney metropolitan area and can be reached by public transportation in about 40 minutes from central Sydney.
Another opportunity to take advantage of is a day trip (or two) to the Blue Mountains. The trains use the Opal Card system so they are easy to use and are reasonably priced. A trip from the Central Station to the main Blue Mountain station of Katoomba takes a little over an hour. To make the most of the day, across the street from the station is a hop-on, hop-off trolly service that can get you to most of the sites and trails in the area.
One of the most worthwhile easy walking trails in the Blue Mountains is:
KATOOMBA FALLS ROUND WALK
A circuit track to Katoomba Falls brings you to one of the most impressive waterfalls in the Blue Mountains. It’s a short and relatively easy walking trail for all ages and fitness levels, but it’s rated easy to moderate because there are some steeper sections to climb.
The trail starts at Scenic World and guides hikers dense rainforest to Katoomba Falls, with its panoramic views of the valley below. The waterfall drops descends about 450 feet into the Jamison Valley.
The start of the Katoomba Falls Round Walk is the parking lot at Scenic World, on Violet Street off Cliff Drive.
Distance: 2.5 Miles (circuit)
Time: 2 hours
Grade: Easy / moderate
ROUND WALKING TRACK
Distance: 0.75 Miles
Duration: 0.5-1 hour
Difficulty: Easy to moderate
If you are limited by time one hike to do is the Round Walking Track of the Katoomba escarpment. The trail is reasonably short and provides great views of the Three Sisters rock formation and Katoomba Falls. It travels through a lush rainforest and includes numerous lookouts offering panoramic views of the area.
LEURA CASCADES FERN BOWER CIRCUIT
Distance: 2.75 Miles
Time: 2-3 hours
Difficulty: Moderate
The Leura Cascades Fern Bower Circuit travels along the imposing cliff line that rings the Jamison Valley. The trail travels through a stone arch and crosses several streams on footbridges before reaching the clifftop with a beautiful lookout stop above the Bridal Veil Falls. From here the track descends steeply into the rainforest, then climbs back up the slopes of the valley via steep steps.
When taking the train from Sydney, one stop beyond Katoomba Station is Lawson Station and a short walk to Echo Bluff trail.
ECHO BLUFF, DANTES GLEN AND ST. MICHAELS FALLS TRAIL
A 3.1 mile loop trail located near Katoomba Blue Mountains, that feature a waterfall and is good for all skill levels. The trail is primarily used for hiking, walking, and nature trips and is accessible year-round.
Blue Mountains Transit is a local bus service from near Katoomba Railway Station. The bus stop is across from the train station at Katoomba Street before Bathurst Rd with the trip to Lawson Station taking about a half hour for about US$2.25. Buses run every 2 hours.
The Intentional Travelers 