Dear Mr. Albertson,

We are interested in renting your charming cottage for the first two weeks of September. I found your ad on the internet, and the pictures are really attractive. Living that close to the ocean would be a real treat for a few weeks. I can already smell the refreshing salt air!

I’ve heard that the Atlantic Ocean is quite cold and that swimming isn’t always possible. Is that true? Your ad mentions nearby Martinique Beach, a 5-km-long white sand beach with beautiful waves enjoyed by surfers. The pictures I’ve seen show surfers in protective wetsuits, but perhaps that’s winter surfing? We’re hoping to put in long hours lying on the beach, and then cooling off in the fresh ocean water.

Another thing I’ve heard is that Nova Scotia gets hurricanes, especially in September. Is that true? I’ve read all about Hurricane Juan that hit in late September, 2003. I learned that the power was out for some residents for as long as three weeks. How can anyone survive without electricity for that long? It’s unimaginable. In a situation such as this, what do you do for food and coffee, for heat and water? Do you keep emergency supplies and information in the cottage? I just can’t imagine winds of 160 km/h! Wow. The waves must be spectacular with that much wind. It would be fantastic watching the waves from the comfort of your lovely cottage!

We really enjoy sampling the local cuisine, and we’ve read about Nova Scotian specialties such as lobster and scallops. On the internet I found one food place—it can’t really be called a restaurant—that serves seafood. This is Scallopini’s, which is supposed to be a short drive from your cottage. It features two dishes worth trying, a scallop sauté and a cold lobster roll. Would you recommend Scallopini’s, or should we go into the city to a real restaurant?

Anyway, we would like to reserve your cottage. Please let me know what details you need and how to send the deposit.

Thanks,

Alison MacGregor