5:15 am arrived in Vancouver and had a MacD's breakfast.
Looked at the map and worked out a route of how to get to the hostel. Took the Skytrain (a subway style train, 20 feet above the ground) to Granville station and walked it from there, a bit further down Granville Street to HI Vancouver.
Later that day after a sleep, due to early arrival, I agreed to meet up with a friend downtown. Went for a walk around Stanley Park and the Lagoon.
Friday, 29 April 2011
Wednesday, 27 April 2011
Drumheller
Drumheller and Badlands
In Drumheller, visited the Tyrell Dinosaur and fossil museum (You know what it is like with these museums: After you have spent about 20 minutes going around them, you feel you have to buy the guide book and, after getting back home, you feel you should spend the rest of your life studying them!!!)for two hours, as this is all the time we could spend due to the hire car having to go back.
Had steak and chips at a restaurant near the hostel. All i can say is locals!!!!
Wicked hostel. That is what it was called!
In Drumheller, visited the Tyrell Dinosaur and fossil museum (You know what it is like with these museums: After you have spent about 20 minutes going around them, you feel you have to buy the guide book and, after getting back home, you feel you should spend the rest of your life studying them!!!)for two hours, as this is all the time we could spend due to the hire car having to go back.
Had steak and chips at a restaurant near the hostel. All i can say is locals!!!!
Wicked hostel. That is what it was called!
Tuesday, 26 April 2011
Banff and Lake Louise
Banff by way of lake louise
Lake Louise was a slight disappointment as it was frozen given the wintery weather. went for a sneak peak inside the Chateau Lake Louise.
Spent about 20 minutes deciding that walking out too far onto the lake was actually a silly thing to do even though there were other people doing it,.
stopped off at canmore for a a&w meal
Kananakis Village
Lake Louise was a slight disappointment as it was frozen given the wintery weather. went for a sneak peak inside the Chateau Lake Louise.
Spent about 20 minutes deciding that walking out too far onto the lake was actually a silly thing to do even though there were other people doing it,.
stopped off at canmore for a a&w meal
Kananakis Village
Monday, 25 April 2011
Calgary
Went to explore Calgary site seeing point at the top of a large wooden staircase from the opposite side of the river. Good views all round. to compare Calgary to Perth's (Australia) skyline foot print, would be a fair thing to do.
Made our (me and the German girl) way down to the Centre of Calgary via a path through a city park.
Had a fantastic meal at a thai fast food restaurant. fine noodles with lamb pieces wrapped around a ginger/lemongrass fusion. with a chicken stick.
after becoming restless and having seen the extent of Calgary's city centre,
hired a car from Thrifty for the following days travels.
Made our (me and the German girl) way down to the Centre of Calgary via a path through a city park.
Had a fantastic meal at a thai fast food restaurant. fine noodles with lamb pieces wrapped around a ginger/lemongrass fusion. with a chicken stick.
after becoming restless and having seen the extent of Calgary's city centre,
hired a car from Thrifty for the following days travels.
Wednesday, 20 April 2011
Prairie, Prairie Quite Contrary.
Left Winnipeg this morning on a 10AM Greyhound.
Stopped at a diner in a small town called Brandon for lunch before pressing on.
Parts of the Canadian province of Manitoba I am venturing through are on flood alert - water levels to rise imminently, as in the next day or so. The flood defence efforts are evident and two rows of large sand bags the size of small rubbish skips line the higher risk, river bank zones.
Writing this from a coach that has wifi and internet access, right out in the prairie landscape.
To describe the landscape: largely flat, dull-looking, scrub-land as far as the horizon, with a very sparse scattering of dwellings and tree clusters. The occasional industrial-sized farm, lets you know people work out here. Remnants of snow dot the lower lying land and also, patch the edge of fields. Where water has failed to drain away, ponds are left. It has been like this out, the window for at least 6 hours now!
On-route to Saskatoon.
Stopped at a diner in a small town called Brandon for lunch before pressing on.
Parts of the Canadian province of Manitoba I am venturing through are on flood alert - water levels to rise imminently, as in the next day or so. The flood defence efforts are evident and two rows of large sand bags the size of small rubbish skips line the higher risk, river bank zones.
Writing this from a coach that has wifi and internet access, right out in the prairie landscape.
To describe the landscape: largely flat, dull-looking, scrub-land as far as the horizon, with a very sparse scattering of dwellings and tree clusters. The occasional industrial-sized farm, lets you know people work out here. Remnants of snow dot the lower lying land and also, patch the edge of fields. Where water has failed to drain away, ponds are left. It has been like this out, the window for at least 6 hours now!
On-route to Saskatoon.
Tuesday, 19 April 2011
Winnipeg and West..
The Hostelling International hostel in Winnipeg, behind a shopping centre, is rather plain but adequate.
After settling into the hostel, It became apparent that there was a charity music event being held later in the evening, to help raise funds for the Japan earthquake. This was held at the Winnipeg Cultural Centre and was country music at its best. The main feature was a typical country style, rock and roll six piece band. (three guitarists: lead, rhythm and bass, a drummer, a keyboardist and a steel guitarist (playing a lap steel). The band were joined by a female vocalist who sang just like Dolly Parton!
Winnipeg is about the size of Harrogate - Like being stuck in the eighties though. The Lo bar next to the Winnipeg Hi hostel, had some interesting youth within! Fashion was rather mod-like (jeans with home-made turn-ups, trendy? you decide)
After settling into the hostel, It became apparent that there was a charity music event being held later in the evening, to help raise funds for the Japan earthquake. This was held at the Winnipeg Cultural Centre and was country music at its best. The main feature was a typical country style, rock and roll six piece band. (three guitarists: lead, rhythm and bass, a drummer, a keyboardist and a steel guitarist (playing a lap steel). The band were joined by a female vocalist who sang just like Dolly Parton!
Winnipeg is about the size of Harrogate - Like being stuck in the eighties though. The Lo bar next to the Winnipeg Hi hostel, had some interesting youth within! Fashion was rather mod-like (jeans with home-made turn-ups, trendy? you decide)
Winnipeg, Manitoba
Here starts the first leg of my westerly, trip across Canada. After a prairie-filled, Tim Hortons-fuelled bus trip, the Greyhound bus dropped us off in Winnipeg.
Arriving in Winnipeg, I was alert to an announcement offering an alternate drop-off location, downtown. The airport location where the actual Greyhound station is, is far from central. Made sure to collect luggage because they assume you will be getting off. This is a good idea of their's and an opportunity i took.
Suprisingly, without tiredness, I got on a '55' bus going to the Hostelling International hostel where i am now. I am now sorting out a route to the Winnipeg mint, where they press all the regular Canadian circulation coinage.
I'm now 6 hours behind UK time as Winnipeg is in Manitoba.
Later that day, went to see the Manitoba Legislative building and the ruin of Fort Garry. Didn't get to the mint.
Arriving in Winnipeg, I was alert to an announcement offering an alternate drop-off location, downtown. The airport location where the actual Greyhound station is, is far from central. Made sure to collect luggage because they assume you will be getting off. This is a good idea of their's and an opportunity i took.
Suprisingly, without tiredness, I got on a '55' bus going to the Hostelling International hostel where i am now. I am now sorting out a route to the Winnipeg mint, where they press all the regular Canadian circulation coinage.
I'm now 6 hours behind UK time as Winnipeg is in Manitoba.
Later that day, went to see the Manitoba Legislative building and the ruin of Fort Garry. Didn't get to the mint.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)
