Calgary, Alberta
Tuesday | 31 July 2001 | Calgary, Alberta, Canada:
This was the first day of our trip we did not have to get up and get on the
road. So, we just didn't get up. Well, we didn't get up until 8 a.m. and had
a leisurely morning actually eating a breakfast requiring a plate and fork.
The day was cloudy and we needed sweaters, but the wind was gone. Late in
the morning we drove into Calgary and took-in a few of the local sites. I
did not take photos though, so if you want to see Calgary you will have to
visit the websites.
Calgary is a huge city - it takes up an immense span of land and nearly
800,000 people live here. We saw the
Calgary Tower, which looms over the
city and must fill the same purpose as the Seattle Space Needle. It is no
longer the tallest building in town. We toured through the downtown, China
Town and spent a while walking through the
Eau Claire Market - local crafts and
vendors, imports, produce and restaurants - all very interesting. Great
postcard shopping! The Market is on the Bow River and we strolled through
the park that runs along the river and walked over two of the many
footbridges from the park to a river island. The parks were alive with a mix
of people: tourists from all over the world, business people enjoying their
lunch hour, joggers, families with picnics, nannies pushing strollers,
police patrolling the park and bicyclists. The gardens were beautiful - very
English - in full bloom and weed-free.
After our stroll, we were ready for a late lunch and at 2:00 we found
ourselves on
Stephen's Walk - a car-free section of
streets downtown near the Calgary Tower, with quaint shops and sidewalk
cafes. Beautiful hanging baskets dripping with blooms decorated the
lampposts. We sat down, outside, at the
James Joyce Pub and were handed a menu
when we ordered our pints. When the waitress brought our beer, she took the
menus away, to replace them with new choices because "we are now using the
2:00 menus". (I don't know if they also have 3:00 menus, 4:00 menus, etc.) I
ordered a boxty - sort of an Irish latke. It was delicious! DT had a
sandwich and a very good time "people-watching". The street performers were
entertaining - as they are in every city. Cowboys in Calgary now have cell
phones and wear DKNY tee-shirts. European tourists still just dress
strangely. We saw an adorable little girl - maybe 7 years old - walking out
of a Western shop with a new cowgirl hat on her head and new cowgirl boots
on her feet - her old sandals carried in a shopping bag!
Calgary at night
After viewing
Olympic Park and the
Calgary Stampede Grounds, we went back
to the camper for a rest! I baked brownies and did a little needlepoint
while DT snoozed. The wind did not show up this evening. After our rest and
a run (walk for me) we drove into town a bit - the world's longest
strip-mall - and had a just-wonderful meal at a Greek Taverna - can anything
taste better than fried cheese??? Greek Salads, saganaki, spanokopita and
calamari rings). Fun proprietor, good food... a nice way to end our stay in
Calgary.
RV Park: Pine Creek RV Campground (actually in De Winton,
Alberta) NOTE: I believe this campground is now closed!
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