I spent a couple days in Calgary before going out to Lake Louise for the wedding. I'm not sure what I was expecting from the city, but it was less exciting than I had hoped. I think had I had a vehicle or more time to venture out of the city, I would have gotten a better vibe from the city. I especially would have liked to visit Canada Olympic Park and the Royal Tyrell Museum. I also happened to go in between seasons, as I couldn't even visit Heritage Park.
I did visit the Calgary Tower because I love a good view. It was nice to get my bearings and understand that the city is a place where Calgarians work and then see way in the distance all of the great areas where they
would go out to play. As a fan of the winter Olympics, I was happiest spotting as many 1988 Olympic venues as I could. I was supremely jealous of the kiddies that were skating on the outdoor rink in the Olympic Plaza. 
Obviously, I have to go back to attend the Stampede. I don't completely understand what happens, but I'm sure that I would love it.
I was happy to have the chance to go to the Calgary Zoo. I looooove animals.
One of the elephant's had a cap on his tusk. I'd never seen that before. Apparently they capped it so that he wouldn't break it.
After a couple days in Calgary and enjoying being on a much needed vacation, we drove out to Lake Louise. It was a lovely drive. It hadn't crossed my mind that I missed the sight of mountains, but during that drive, I got a little homesick for Switzerland. Homesick, yet excited that soon I would be back in the mountains and hopefully having a chance to go on the slopes. This trip was also my first time in a National Park. I don't even think that I've been in a Provincial Park before. How embarassing. After detouring through British Columbia (ooops), we arrived to Lake Louise. Un-real. I mean, seriously:
Excited didn't even describe it. And the massive outdoor rink? Heaven. It took me awhile to realize that the entire surface was a frozen over lake. For real. This was crazy-town.
This trip provided another first. High tea. And at the Fairmont of all places. The bar has been set quite high. The view wasn't bad either. This was the vacation that I was desperately needing and I was loving every moment.
It was a lovely service with yummy snacks. I could have eaten scones all afternoon. Kindly, our waiter (from the UK, I would quickly find out that almost everyone in the area was an ex-pat taking advantage of the mountainous terrain) let me test out a couple different teas. I can't wait to go for afternoon tea again.
We drove back a bit to Banff. The main drag was Zermatt-esque, or Whistler-esque. The streets were just a little bit wider, but it's that architecture which reminds me of mountain towns. In Banff, we
went up the gondola to look around (ahem, site of my dramatic accident) and then headed to the hot springs before dinner. I can't believe that it's been three years since seeing views like this on a regular basis.
Over the next couple of days, sandwiching the wedding, we discovered Lake Louise. Although I ended up with a bum ankle, the trip was a dream. I have to go back to get my real skating
session on the lake (I could do backspins, but that was about it). I would also bring more sensible shoes to go hiking (I haven't worn sneakers for over a year now). I wonder if they have ice climbing? I was happy to have the chance to get into the mountains and one some skis again. It was a much 
needed release and sense of freedom. (Notice the two pictures from opposite ends - looking towards the slopes and looking from the slopes.) I need to head out east at some point. I've been thinking about lobster recently. Some east coast lobster. Canada's great.
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