Oh, Canada!

We were both looking forward to getting to Canada and to some urban life. First stop: Calgary.

Of course, we still were drawn to the outdoors. We immediately found a huge park to visit, Nose Hill.

We then explored downtown and the active 17th Ave. area – full of people getting off work, heading to meet friends for a bite to eat or a drink to sip. We went to The Coup (photo below) – this all vegetarian, organic restaurant. It’s an enormous treat to go out to eat these days.

I had a Yerba mate iced tea with local honey and mint and this big bowl of rice noodles, peanut sauce, and broccoli. We then went to the Hop In Brew Pub, so Niall could try a local beer. That was a really sweet place too, it used to be an old house.

I was thrilled when we came across this overflowing bookstore, Fair’s Fair Books.

I bought Natalie Goldberg’s A Long, Quiet Highway. I read it within a few days – couldn’t put it down – it’s about writing and meditation, finding a sense of home, and Goldberg’s relationship with her late, great Zen teacher. I cherish books that make my heart burst and connect so deeply. Goldberg’s Writing Down the Bones did the same thing for me.

Prince’s Island Park was one of those wonderful urban parks on the water.

There was a talented violinist playing. His music floated through the air as city-dwellers got their daily exercise, teenagers passed the time teasing each other, and lovers walked hand-in-hand.

 

We found out about magpies (photo below) in Calgary. They woke us up our first morning with all their yakking on a nearby treetop. We found them beautiful, with their striking black and white feathers and tails that go on forever.

Niall has a great talent and patience for research. He found some neighborhood with the best view of the city. There were lovely houses with big windows that overlooked this cityscape – imagine waking up to this everyday…

 

More photos from the bridge over Bow River at  the Prince’s Island Park below – simply a perfect city park. Nothing like viewing a city from a park.