Welcome To Calgary

 

The plane touched down and off we went into the frozen expanse of Calgary's airport. It's larger now and the new terminal seems a bit less friendly than the original but whatever, it works, and some 30 minutes and a taxi later there I was in Inglewood, right off of downtown. Hippies? Use the backdoor, without exception.

a typical Calgarian kitchen scene

Entering appropriately through the front door, the fun began, beginning and ending, curiously, at the Swan pub. Nice. It was good to be back in the land of the ice and snow and I like this part of Calgary, with its shops and eateries and downtowny vibe on a UK meets US tip.

Colonel McLeod

The next day was all about strolling around town, which isn't hard because the city center's only 20 minutes walk away. March over the bridge from Inglewood to Fort Calgary, admiring the Bow river to your right, with its excellent fly fishing, salute the the statue of Colonel McLeod, then walk with purpose through East Village towards the hideous new city library and find yourself on Stephen Avenue.

Stephen Ave

All good, but gasp in dismay at the Hyatt's bar, why, you fools, did you remove the BISON HEAD from above the fireplace? Walk away in disgust from that place. Also wonder at hideously overpriced steak houses as you mourn the loss of the Arctyrx/Mountain Adventure shop. Huh, I guess COVD got you while sparing the unpleasant Patagonia store. 

Just look at this hideous concrete portrait of tyranny

So yes, the scamdemic claimed a few victims in this High Street and there you have it, but think of all the money others made; rejoice for your rulers. Speaking of which, on your return take time to walk through the brutalist concrete nightmare that is Calgary's Town Hall.

 

Is that a Bofors gun sitting idle?

Then, safely back in Inglewood, detour by Crown Surplus. What a neat little store, complete with artillery in the yard. And there you have it, what a lot of fun to be back in Calgary, I like it here.

More on this exciting adventure as it unfolds,

LSP

Calgary

Golden Void

It's that time of year again, the time to pack up the carry on and brave the unpleasantness of air travel and head to the frozen North. To the oil and gas boom-town that is Calgary. Being a creature of tradition I checked into the downtown Hyatt, where they put me on successively higher floors with each visit. 

Living in a High Rise

I've reached the 19th Floor, which says something about the benefits of hotel seniority and affords a good view of downtown along with a glimpse of the Rockies. It's close to the pool and steam room too. Sweat out those toxins, LSP!

I like the Hyatt, obviously, or I wouldn't stay there, and I enjoy strolling down prosperous Stephen Avenue, with its pubs, restaurants and shops. 

Seventh Second of Forever

Local legend has it that you can walk down Stephen Avenue in the summer with a stack of resumes, handing them out as you pass along, and by the time you've reached the end of the road you'll have a job. A reasonably well paid one too, but before you get too excited, remember that Calgary's expensive, so you'll need that extra cash.

Quark Strangeness and Harm

Speaking of which, I wasted no time getting out of dodgy Greenbacks and into a good position with Canadian Dollars. These, despite being part made of transparent plastic (?) are still worth something.

Hall of the Mountain Grill

More from the Frontier as the news comes in.

Rule Britannia,

LSP