Cranbrook, BC - A fleeting May visit!

I had a few days off and decided that I better go and visit my cousin in Cranbrook (5hrs away) before they head to Victoria, BC(14 hrs away!)

After work I caught the Greyhound to Cranbrook, taking about 6 hours to get there!  It was a longish trip and I didn't see too much as it was dark but I got the sence we were near the Mountains as there was great big dark shapes out side the window and we stopped suddenly few times for a DEER!!  

Arrived at 5:30 to a lovely family hug by Janthea, my cousin on Mum's side!  We had actually at the family reunion in Echuca only a few months before so it was like we had only seen each other a few months ago!! 

Their house (which they have sold) was like out of a movie!  It was beautiful!  I could only imagine what it would have been like in the snow or at Christmas!!  I was put to bed as it was so early in the morning and we had a lot of ground to cover in the day!



After breakfast (and an quick Happy Mothers Day as it was Mothers Day in Canada!) we headed to their Lake house on Moyie Lake.  I could imagine all the boats and fishing that could have been done!  Again it was just out of a movie!  the Trees and the lake, fireplace and it was so quiet!  It was very picturesque.  I loved it.  I got the lowdown about the area and the "shacks" that were there.  


We ended up at the Moyie Pub having fish and chips and a pint.  (only because it was Mothers Day!)  It was a great little pub.  Lots of character and bottles and animals hanging on the wall!!  It was interesting to have a look at all the wonderful collections that they had.  I think that someone actually put a car in the front of the pub a few years earlier so it apparently lost some of its charm but it was still pretty cute! 

Janthea, Me and the biggest horned animal I have seen! 

We headed back towards Kimberley, having a nice old chat in the car.  (A car that has seat warmers I might add!) The scenery was lovely, all green and Mountains and sun! Kimberley has some of the best ski slopes I have been told - so we headed there and had a little look, headed around the town (which as lovely painted fire hydrants.) but because it was a Sunday and the ski season was over the place was just dead!!  There was no one around at all!  All the better for me I thought!!

Cute little fella!

the view from the Mission

Stunning.. 

Janthea and I headed to our next stop - St Eugene Golf Resort.  This place is a old Mission that was revamped into a high class golf course resort and casino. The old building is just stunning, reminds me of All Saints Winery in Victoria, but it as rather large Mountains surrounding it! 

This one I had to enlarge - just lovely view! 

Dinner and then bed - it was a action packed day and it was great to catch up with Janthea.  She even had old letters that my Nanna and my Mum had sent her when Todd was born - Mum and I have a lot to talk about when I see her next!!!!  It was great and sad to read some of them.  The best part was that I learnt more about my family - cousins that I have met twice and heard storied about but you don't really get to know people until you spend some quality time with them! 

I was lucky enough to catch the Greyhound back home on Monday morning which ment that we went though the mountains - past Banff which gave me a taste of things to come.... stay tuned!!!

the Rockies!

Canada - The first days..

Calgary City

Calgary Tower

Calgary - Wow what a place!  When I landed on the 26th of April it was snowing - yes I said snowing!!  The plane landed IN SNOW!!  I couldn't believe it!  I was not equipped for the snow! 

I landed - took me two hours to get through immigration and then it was in!  Ha!! They can't get rid of me now!!

First night and I was out in the snow - was lucky enough to met my cousins best friend and her mates.  It was such a great night out! I have not looked back since! 

The Bear, the Beever and The Bee!!  hehe

Calgary put on a great show for me for the first few days.. the sky was clear enough to see the rockies from the Calgary Tower.  I walked around and explored the town. It was strange being in a new city but it felt like home.. I was walking on air the first few days (still am!)

Um..there is no floor

I walked around and was just taking some photos.  Everything here is very cowboy related (the nightclub/casino Cowboys) and Stampede related.  There are more "trucks" here than I could ever hope for and whenever I start to feel sorry for myself Calgary reminds me that I am here - in Canada - where anything is possible and is a wonderful place.  The saying here is "If you don't like the weather, wait 5 mins and it will change"  That is what I feel like, if i start to feel like I am missing home or I am just missing being able to call my oldest friends and say - hey, come for a beer, this place puts something in front of me so I stop and realize  how lucky I am!! 

Enough of the soppy stuff!  I visited the Calgary Tower which stands 191M tall - it is a free standing building and has one of the fastest elevators that I have been on!!  They have a restaurant there (think I may need to visit that when people start to visit me, hint hint!!)But the coolest thing was the glass floor.  I didn't realize that it was there till i was on top of it!  I must admit I did walk backwards pretty quick!! Once I got used to the idea I was okay (ish!!)

Random art (all horse related!)

The streets of Calgary

After organising all the "official" stuff so I can work (like a phone and a bed and a place to live!) I started to work at Flight Centre Sunridge Mall on the 1st of May!  It is funny, I knew that Flight Centre was a "cult" or sorts - all the people that I have met in Australia - the Flighties - have been all the same.  Friendly, bubbly, enthusiastic, they work hard and play hard.  It is the same in Canada, just with a different accent!! They accepted me and pulled me into their family in the same week that I was there.  I feel like I have been there for ages!  It is very different in terms of the destinations (Mexico?? you visit mexico??  I thought it was just Margaritas and drugs there!!) and the systems (Candada is about 2 years behind Aussie Flight Centre Systems!) but it is great!

So - what adventures Can I get up to here I wonder.. TBA!!