In 1999, I traveled to Halifax for a family vacation.  It was a special pilgrimage for my family as we are direct descendants of the ousted Acadians that still reside in the Acadian Triangle in Louisiana.  For personal reasons, I rate this location very high and hope to return and visit the site again. 

I would like to say that the trip to Halifax/Nova Scotia was very picturesque, entertaining, and an educational trip that I highly recommend.  In addition to the World Heritage Location Grand Pré, there were a wide array of historical, botanical, maritime activities.  These locations I rate very favorably if you are visiting:  Halifax Public Gardens, Halifax Citadel National Historic Site, Halifax Waterfront Boardwalk, Peggy’s Cove Lighthouse and Village, Fort Edward National Historic Site, Port-Royal National Historic Site, Fort Anne National Historic Site, & Annapolis Royal Historic Gardens.  There is a ton of Titanic history, and I really enjoyed the whale watching tour.  Unfortunately, I was unaware of the Old Town Lunenburg during my visit even though it was inscribed in 1995, but this was before I was aware of the World Heritage Site list.  

The drive from Halifax to Grand Pré was an hour by car and pleasant.    The park was well maintained, the exhibits were informative, and the views were stunning in every direction.  At the time I visited the site, the Deportation Cross was located on private land and there was only a telescope from the park to view from afar.  I am not proud to admit, but I did trespass on the local farm to visit the cross and take a picture (picture attached).  Law enforcement, trespassing, strong words all culminated in an international incident, but I digress.   It appears this was done quite frequently, and the private landowners allowed/extorted the memorial to be moved to the Grand Pré Historic Site in 2005.  

I am very disappointed in the opinion that Grand Pré should not be inscribed as a World Heritage Site.  I was appalled when I read some the reviews, and thought it was rather contemptuous for others to dismiss the Acadian heritage.   I then realized, this site is only half of the story; to truly understand and comprehend the significance, you must visit the descendants of the Acadians.  These Acadian exiles are not lost to history, they are the Cajuns today in South Louisiana ('Cajun' derives from 'Acadian').  Cajuns were never long-term settlers in the city of New Orleans, Cajuns settled in South Louisiana from the parishes west of New Orleans extending all the way to Texas. Cajun culture is a distinct cultural group that is characterized by a variety of factors, including:  Rural lifestyle, Cuisine, Music, Language, Warmth and hospitality, Mardi Gras, and Joie de vivre (person's ability to enjoy life and find the good in things).  

In fact, I think this World Heritage Site should include the cultural sites in Louisiana to complete the circle.  I employ you to visit the heirs to understand the impact of the expulsion has had on the history of the United States.  The Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve of Louisiana is my recommendation to close the loop.  Jean Lafitte's six sites are scattered across south Louisiana.  Each is unique in its focus, and they all reflect a place where traditions can be generations old but the ground under your feet can change with the weather.   One of the six locations is the Acadian Cultural Center that will continue the story of Grand Pré ancestry (https://acadianmemorial.org/).  

The meaning of Longfellow’s poem “Evangeline” can’t be truly appreciated if you don’t sit under the live oak tree, “the Evangeline Oak”, still standing on Bayou Teche in St. Martinville, Louisiana.