Blogs from Calgary, Alberta, Canada, North America - page 12

Distance driven today: 268 miles / 431 km Cumulative distance driven: 2,212 miles / 3,560 km Today’s trip: Jasper, Alberta, Canada to Calgary, Alberta, Canada Hours driving in pouring rain: 1 Glaciers driven by: 17 Today’s trip was pretty straight forward and overall enjoyable. I drove through the southern part of the Canadian Rockies, covering Jasper and Banff national park. Both parks are literally, filled with glaciers, which are clearly visible along the road. The first five or so glaciers I drove by were spectacular to watch. Enormous chunks of ice, hanging from massive pieces of granite slabs along road 93 in Alberta, made for very spectacular scenery in the morning. But once I had driven by the tenth or so glacier, it all became very predictable, and the sense of excitement vanished. Isn’t it funny ... read more

Had dinner with a very good friend tonight. Over the past three years we've had dinner at least once per year, whenever I visit this city. It's getting to be a tradition! We went to the same Thai restaurant - good rice noodles in a spicy soup. Then, to avoid a parking fine, we drove around the block and had a cup of fancy tea at the same coffee house. Another good tradition! My friend wishes you well.... read more

A man on the plane suggested that the charter boating companies are a good spend: 4 hours for $400 and you get two fish. Me, I see that as $200 per fish. So, I asked him more about his experience. Ultimately, I have to get a boat - at least 19 feet, with Yamaha salt-proof engine and a kicker. "But if you don't know how to back up with a trailer, you might as well forget it!" Ho ho! I can do that!... read more

Geo: 51.0451, -114.063A more adventurous, and slightly more exotic version of Hawaii - after two weeks of traipsing around Costa Rica, I can't think of a more apt descriptor of this country. It's perhaps a bit of a backhanded compliment, but one that isn't intentional - really, it's the truth, since the two places share so many similarities. Beaches, coffee plantations, tropical rainforests, volcanoes ... both are tropical paradises, with all that brings to the table.Even the activities offered by both are nearly the same - diving, horseback riding, snorkeling, surfing, zip lining ... while I'd still give the nod to Costa Rica in terms of the overall quality, value, and variety of these activities, you can really have a nearly identical vacation in either locale. I'd even go so far as to suggest that you ... read more

Every new experience comes with that exciting feeling of seeing, smelling, tasting, touching, and hearing something for the first time. For example, the first time I get to touch powdered snow and feel it just dismantle in my hand, placing my foot in a large powder of snow and that weird feeling your foot go through this crunchy surface, expecting it to be more solid. The last week I have had a few first time experiences and it all started when I decided to go visit downtown in Calgary. My first stop was the Stampede grounds and the Saddledome as I was pretty keen to sus out what all the fuss is about these two venues. It was quite interesting walking through a near by garden covered with snow, walking along a near iced up river, ... read more