So we started our journey west into weather that we thought would be a least 10-15 degrees colder than in Toronto/Hamilton. As it turned out, we landed in Calgary on Monday during a rare 'chinook' which is basically a warm front that comes across the mountains and warms up the basin of Calgary for a couple days. Therefore, when we landed it was 2 degrees celsius and the next day it went up to 8!
Syd's cousin Janine (fondly known as Neen, and who also officiated at our wedding) lives in Calgary and so nicely picked us up from the airport. This was the first time she was picking someone up from a flight that was NOT westjet, so she was waiting in the wrong end of the terminal for us (at the westjet end!). We took the piss out of her a little bit for that, yet were grateful for the free ride and chance to chat. We went back to her house and she has this domestic thing all sorted out. We walked in to the smell of chili - that had been cooking all morning in the slow cooker and was now ready for lunch! sweet! Her mom taught her well. hee hee.
That afternoon we played with her 4 month old daughter, Kayla for a bit, and then played an old board game classic, British Rails, while she was sleeping. Syd won (of course) but it was good times and brought back great memories of the cottage. That night, we chilled with Edmund when he got home and taught him our new card game, backpacker.
The next day, we took full advantage of the chinook and departed for Banff National Park with Neen and Kayla. It was a 1.5hr drive through the most picturesque mountains and parkland to the ski town of banff.
The town was really cute, and reminded us a little bit of Mont Tremblant ski town.
It was a tad on the commercial side (with an HBC, a lululemon, a Roots store, and a McDonalds), but we were able to find a really cool irish pub called the Paddock Pub where we chose sweet digs beside the fireplace (though its not like we had much competition seeing as the bar was empty!). We just got a few bites to share (we couldn't pass up taco tuesday), and enjoyed a nice pub experience, while getting to know the waitress who travels on yearly trips as her career at the moment!
That night when we got back we chilled again, and then spent today resting up for our long journey, and taking a stop in Calgary downtown for lunch before our flight. What we were most surprised and annoyed about is that all the pubs in downtown calgary would not let us in because we had Kayla with us - no minors allowed! I had never heard anything so ridiculous! Ah well, Milestones it was.
Now, we're sitting in the lounge in Vancouver after a brief but nice flight here, and we descended above clouds and mountains during a salmon-coloured sunset. The picture totally doesn't do it justice, but I'll remember it always. ;o)
To Auckland and beyond!!!
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