What better way to spend a rainy Sunday afternoon than taking in the Royal Nova Scotia International Tattoo! I’ve seen the show a few times over the years now and it never fails to entertain, educate and delight!!
You know how the best laid plans work, right? Well, when I was asked to come to the Tattoo to write this review, the plan was for the handsome Mr. Byrne and I to make a date out of it and Mom would watch the girls. Until the flu hit our home and not only did it mess with our Tattoo plans, the girls both missed their last day of school, too!! Welcome to summer vacation, right? So, instead of Michael and I having a date, I had the privilege of Lena’s company for the day!
We arrived at the Scotiabank Centre just as things were starting – I’ll blame the traffic and a car that had died in the middle of the street! Thankfully I had run into Sarah and her crew, a friendly face always makes things better!
We settled into our seats and prepared to be entertained and wowed by acts from around the world, just like last year which you can read HERE. And we weren’t disappointed this year, either!!! This year’s theme, Power of Peace, is so relevant in this time and age, just as much as it was back in the days that the Tattoo is tied to and that they showcased over the course of the event.
There is something so thrilling about the sound of bagpipes filling the huge centre with their strains of Scotland. It never gets old. It speaks of history, tradition and honouring the past. When the chords of many pipes blend together, or one, lonely piper plays, it does something to my soul. I find watching the Tattoo to be a very emotional experience, time after time.
The part of the show that always gets me is when they ask all those who have served our country to stand. Man, it is so powerful to see men and women, young and old rise and let the loud, boisterous applause of the crowd wash over them. It never fails to bring me to tears. I hope they truly know how thankful I am, that we are, for their service to this great country we call home.
I’m not a history buff and the stories they share during the performance ring a bell dating back to my schooling days but I’m not great at remembering dates and names. The Tattoo does a wonderful job of educating as well as entertaining. I was a kid when the Berlin wall came down. I remember hearing about it but I felt impacted more by it during the Tattoo then when it actually happened. Maybe it’s a certain amount of understanding that comes with age and seeing the world through adult eyes that changes it. But the part of the show where they re-enacted the Berlin wall coming down will stick with me. We are so much stronger united than divided.
Act after act impressed me with the dedication it takes to reach that performance level. Hours upon hours. That is the true spirit of team work. Your team mates counting on you and not wanting to let anyone down. And all that hard work paid off with shows of amazing precision, accuracy and incredible team effort. I’m blown away with the exact movement and planning it must take to pull off some of those demonstrations.
I’m hard pressed to pick just one act that I’d call my favourite. The United States Air Force Honor Guard Drill Team was mind-blowing with their exact precision – the gasps from the audience certainly lead me to believe I’m not the only one who was amazed!
Another favourite was the Chicago Wheel Jam by Cirques Experience. The big hoops, the troupe’s teamwork and precise movements made for quite a show – add some walkers and things get even more interesting!!
The beauty and grace of the Black Diamond DrillDance Team – the shimmer, the shine and the big feathers made for some great watching! So glad they made their way from Australia to Nova Scotia to show off their talents!
So, my question to you is – are you going? Have you been? What do you love about the Tattoo? And if you aren’t going, hop over to HERE to get your tickets, there is still time!! You won’t want to miss out on a fabulous piece of our Nova Scotian history and tradition!
Colourfully yours,
Lori
Disclaimer: I was provided tickets to the show but my opinions voiced in this post are just mine take on it 😉
