Kelly's Quotidian

I officially love Canada. Vancouver is a wonderful city. Sitting in an outdoor cafe you can hear a string of languages from Arabic, Cantonese to German! Stanley Park is absolutely gorgeous. Rather than the boredom which can ensue for locals concerning tourist traps, they seem to adore and cherish it like a treasure. When I rented my bike to tour the peninsula that is Vancouver proper, I was asked on multiple occasions if I needed assistance. Canadians are sweet people-even the maintenance men. On the day of my bike excursion, I decided to use the hot tub in the Hotel Listel where two friends of mine got married (the reason for the trip). It was located in a room that I had to take stairs down into-a bit removed, isolated. When I got down to the room it was clear I had interrupted the maintenance dude’s work out (there was a small gym set-up as well). Feeling a little self-conscious about the bikini I was wearing I waited for him to disappear, which he did for a bit. But then he came back and started a conversation with me that trailed from the recession in the States to oil, Reaganomics, de-regulating the media, pot being “tolerated” if discreet in Canada, to the local topless beach. He made sure to mention that he’d be at the topless beach that night as it was a full moon and sure to be full of revelers:-) He also let me know that there was no pressure to go topless. I didn’t realize that I might have been hit on until I told my friend about the conversation later that day:-) Too funny.

After the wedding and its attending functions (reception, brunch) we head off for Bamf National Park . We drove to Kamloops, stayed a night, and then pushed on to Lake Louise. Lake Louise is absolutely beautiful. I could just stare at it for hours. There’s such a peace in that place, even with the bajillion people walking around. While sitting on the benches we fulfilled a quota of 2 offers to take pictures for foreigners per person. From Lake Louise we set out for the Columbia Ice Fields. The Icefields Parkway is the most spectacular places I’ve ever been in my life. I couldn’t help but have my eyeballs stuck to the window with “wow” coming out of my mouth every 2 minutes!

I’ve traveled with others several times now and must say that the group dynamic of this trip was outstanding. We drove over 1200 miles in 5 days and there was nary a tantrum to be found. I must say that I truly appreciated how safe I felt with our drivers (Fred and Kate) and Ally was a wonderful travel companion. The feeling of the group was very loving and patient-2 ingredients to any good travel experience:-) I learned how to loose at a card game called Golf!

I owe a world of thanks to my Canada Peeps and must give an official congratulations to Isabel and Ruth!