Sunday, August 24, 2008

Calgary

Playlist
The Bad Plus – Give
The Bad Plus – Suspicious Activity
Various – Holiday Hits Vol 20

Up around 7 and wrote up my notes and read about Calgary before breakfast at 8:30, which comprised cereal, coffee and fruit juice plus French toast with bacon, banana and blueberries along with a bagel and home made jam!!

Yummy...

Drove into town as there was ample parking on a Sunday...

We parked at Chinatown and walked back over the bridge which had taken us over the river (the same river which flowed by the back garden of “our” house) into Downtown, to get a good picture of the city centre...



Then we walked down to the Calgary Tower and took the elevator to the top from where we were rewarded with spectacular views of the sprawling city and the Rocky Mountains in the distance...



There is a glass floored section but I must admit it took me rather a long time to get around to standing on it...

Of course, small children were dancing around on it while I looked on, quaking and building up my courage...

Eventually, after firstly placing a rather tentative left foot on it, I took the plunge, so to speak, and I convinced Anne to do the same...



After leaving the tower, we walked to the market at the river bank where I purchased new sunglasses, having just broken those brought with me, during my exuberant photo taking at the top of the tower...

We walked on over a bridge to the small island in the middle of the river with its lush park and enjoyed a seat just taking in the views...



No need for lunch after the huge breakfast...

We then walked along the river bank back past Chinatown and on out to the Calgary Fort on the outskirts of the city centre – this tells the story of the founders of the city just a hundred and twenty or so years ago...



We walked back to town and through a mall which features a full botanical garden on its fourth floor – the Devonian Gardens...



From there, we returned to the car and drove to what was billed in the guidebook as the bohemian area of the city, Inglewood...

It was a bit rundown but did have some interesting boutiques...

You may find it difficult to believe, but I do not know what the inside of this building looks like...

We found ourselves in the Swan bar where I enjoyed a root beer while Anne was able to partake of some alcohol to cool down in the heat of the day...



Music played during our visit included classics from the early 70’s by the likes of Yes, Bad Company, Golden Earring and Neil Young...

Nice...

We drove home for a sleep, still suffering from jet-lag – before heading out to what has apparently been a staple of the neighbourhood since the early 1970s, "Nick’s Steak House & Pizza" (opposite the Calgary Football Stadium) and enjoyed a tasty meal (Philly Steak Sandwich/Lasagne) with more Root Beer for me...



We were served by “Eric” and a more sincere waiter you could not wish to find - a very strange phenomenon for cynical Brits like us...

Home to bed by nine (4am Crispycat Time) absolutely whacked...

Of course I awoke at 2am and, once again unable to get back to sleep, I snoozed for the rest of the night whilst listening to the jukebox...

Highlight of the Day : Standing on air...

2 comments:

Lindsay said...

Nice to see Calgary in the sun. We went one February and it was so cold we were the only people walking around. Everyone else was in tunnels between the malls, but we didn't figure that out until we had frostbite! Looking forward to reading more...!

Anonymous said...

Jeezo! That must be strong glass...! :-)