To the Hydrostone

Distinct whiffs of autumn today. It's been lovely and sunny, but it was a mere 12 degrees outside when I woke up this morning. One of the trees has already begun to shed its leaves across our front deck.

But it warmed up in the afternoon, so we drove over to the Hydrostone Market. The Hydrostone neighbourhood is one of the historic and architectural gems of Halifax, and was built after the explosion in 1917 which levelled most of the city. It was planned in the style of the English 'garden suburbs' (like those at Hampstead, Letchworth and Welwyn in the UK), but on a vastly smaller scale - Halifax's Hydrostone is only about six blocks long, and one wide.

Astonishingly, I'd never actually walked around the area until today - mainly because it's in the North End, which is a fairly dodgy part of town, and it can be hard to get to if you don't have a car. So we went, had coffee and sweeties at Julien's - arguably the best artisanal bakery in the city - and pootled round the various little shops. And very nice they were, too. I shall doubtless return.