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Greetings from the hot and humid Canadian West!
Last time we wrote we were leaving Thunder Bay (Ontario) for Winnipeg (Manitoba) and have since travelled to Regina (Saskatchewan) and are now here in Calgary (Alberta). Really zipping through the provinces! The further west we've been coming the hotter it's got too.
Spent 3 days in Winnipeg which was a really nice city. There is an historical area called The Forks down by the river and we spent a lot of time there eating and drinking in the sun. Also did a river boat trip and learnt a bit about the place. This was also the place where we got into true backpacker mode and met fellow travellers! We met several German girls. a Swiss-German girl and believe it or not a couple from Halifax! We were all doing the same route travelling West so we also met up with them in Regina and here in Calgary.
Regina was the hottest place we have been to so far. It averaged 35 degrees C every day but felt much much hotter due to the humidity. I like it hot! But it was nice to discover a huge outdoor pool in the park right next to our hostel and it was free entry from 6.30pm so we all went for an evening swim, was brilliant and nice to cool off!
The highlight in Regina though was visiting the RCMP training academy. That's the Royal Canadian Mounted Police aka 'Mounties!'. It was really really good and very interesting. The training for all Canadian Mounties is done here so it's a huge complex. I got my photo taken with a couple of Mounties! We watched a parade in the sweltering heat, they must have been boiling in their famous red uniforms! Then we went had a tour round the complex and learnt about the history of the Mounties and what it takes to become one. It's all military style run so very strict! Then we went into the museum which was very interesting and I got to try on the Mountie uniform, brill! Phil tried to put one on too but it was all too small for him, shame. Maybe his belly is too big, too much beer gone Due South............!
11 hour bus journey the next day and we arrived in Calgary, Cowboy country! Also the oil and beef capital of Canada! Rob and Cris (couple from Halifax) were already here so we met them in the hostel and all went out for a huge juicy steak, yum, yum, yum.
We really like Calgary, it is a modern city situated on a lovely river in the middle of the prairies at the foothills of the Rockies. Along our way several Canadians have said to us "the west is the best" and so far we are impressed. Obviously not been to Vancouver yet (which is said to be beautiful) but so far I think Calgary is my fave Canadian city. It is very clean, very well organised with lots of pedestrian areas and parks and a great island in the river overlooking downtown.
We have been up the Calgary Tower which is not as tall as the CN tower but equally as good. Phil thought it was even better though as this one also has a glass floor but is surrounded by windows so it really feels like you are walking out into nothing. I found it much scarier than the CN tower one but still did it. It was also very good because our ticket was valid all day so we went up in the day then back in the evening for sunset.
Today we visited Fort Calgary, the birth place of the city. It was the first fort that the Mounted Police built when they headed west back in the 1800's. It started off as a small wooden fort, and thanks to cattle then oil, Calgary has grown and grown. It was also very interesting, really doing our cultural bit and learning about Canada's past! As it was an outpost of the Mounties we could try on uniforms again! Phil did this time, photo's to follow........
One more thing.....added another animal to our North American wildlife list.....a ground squirrel aka a gopher! saw several bouncing about on the grass, were cute and funny.
We go to Banff tomorrow, into the Rockie Mountains! Have both really been looking forward to this part of our trip, 2 weeks surrounded with beautiful, stunning scenery. have several trips planned too so will let you know what we get up to.
Hope you are all well and surviving the wet weather!
love us two X
No film reference this time, but did you spot Phil's TV one?!
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