My sister Rolie touched down at the Calgary International Airport at about 1:30 on Friday afternoon. She’d been traveling for 30 hours, coming from Saudi Arabia via Amsterdam, but no problem, she wanted to go directly to the Mountain Equipment Co-op because, well, she’s a traveller, and she needed to top up her supplies.
After two hours of checking out tents, bike carriers and various articles of clothing, we headed for Starbucks and a caffeine boost. I finally got her home after seven, and she crashed about eight.
She was ready to go again early the next morning. We headed for Banff National Park where our first stop was the Bow Falls.
Of course, we got our picture taken, like all the other tourists. She wants to come back to this spot sometime, and canoe from here to Canmore. It’s doable. A popular beginner trip.
From Bow Falls, we walked to the Banff Springs Hotel where we had reservations for their famous brunch. We ate for two hours, sampling just about everything. Here are a few of the offerings.
Then it was on to the Sulphur Mountain Gondola for a trip up the mountain and a stroll along the boardwalk to the Cosmic Ray Station. Sounds like the set for a great fantasy, right?
Since we were so high, there was snow, and Rolie was excited to see snow. (No snow in Saudi Arabia.) We sat up there for a long time drinking hot chocolate and catching up.
Then we headed down the gondola and Rolie paid for the standard tourist picture of us suspended over the Rockies. We cruised Banff Avenue for a couple hours, picked up a few souvenirs, and then even though it was only 5 degrees Celsius , we sat outside for lattes and people watching.
A perfect October day in the mountains.
Have you seen snow lately?
What a fun day! And no, not much snow here yet. Maybe some time this winter…
That sounds like such a nice time with your sister 🙂
I haven’t seen snow in a long time. I plan to this year, though!
No snow in Calgary yet either, just in the mountains.
I hope you each get some of the fluffy stuff this winter, just so long as you’re not having to drive on it!
Oh your photo’s of the lunch at the Banff Springs Hotel made my mouth water. I’ll have to go there sometime. It sounds like your having a great visit with your sister. I hope the rest of her vacation is as much fun as your day in Banff.
Thanks Maggie!
The rest of the vacation continued in Regina where we both went to visit our 85 year old Aunt Net. Lots of talk and drinking tea and playing euchre. I even won once 🙂