Since Ben's parents were sweet enough to send us a camcorder for Christmas, we decided to capture some footage of our drive from Banff into Lake Louise, where we spent a day skiing right after Christmas. Video proved to be a great way to capture the beauty of the Rockies! This is 4 1/2 minutes of mountain vistas with a bit of chatter from Ben and I, so perhaps not the most exciting video ever, but the views are worth taking a look!
The video is also posted on YouTube - it might be a bit larger/easier to view - just click the link below!
Rocky Mountains YouTube Video
12/28/08
Christmas!
I hope everybody had a fabulous Christmas! Ben and I were sad to be so far from our families and friends, but we made the best of the situation by heading to Banff for a few nights and soaking in the amazing Rocky Mountains. I apologize in advance for the length of this blog - but we want our families to feel like they are able to experience a bit of our Rocky Mountain Christmas!
DAY 1, Christmas Eve:
Ben and I arrived at our cozy hotel in the afternoon - the drive from Calgary, which only takes about 90 minutes, was stunning, with bright sunshine showing off the snow-capped mountains. Our loft style hotel room (Charlton's Cedar Court) had a fireplace which we immediately turned on, and we set up all of our presents in front of it to make things feel festive.
We had made dinner reservations at The Maple Leaf, which specializes in high quality Canadian cuisine. We met up with our friend Almu and her boyfriend, who were also in Banff for the holidays, and the dinner was absolutely amazing. I loved my wild British Columbia salmon (maple glazed, of course), and everybody else ordered the organic bison tenderloin. So much for vegetarianism - I had to try a bite of the bison, and it was incredible. Just melts in your mouth, and not gamy at all! A love affair also began that night with a fabulous Australian wine - Love Grass - we polished off two bottles during our leisurely three-hour dinner.
After arriving home and talking to our families, we followed the Danish tradition of opening most of our presents on Christmas Eve. We LOVED all of our goodies, from the fabulous treats from Denmark (Marimekko placemats, Georg Jensen candleholders, Orrefors whiskey tumblers, oh my!!), to the video camera (perfect for filming the mountains!) from Chattanooga, to the stylish and warm sweaters and scarves (we've barely taken them off), the book I've been lusting after, and the deliciously scented bubble bath, from Nashville. THANK YOU, everybody!!
DAY 2, Christmas Day:
Christmas was a wonderfully lazy day. We headed to the Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel, which is like a castle in the mountains, and staked out a window seat in one of the hotel's dining areas. We lingered over lattes, then lunch, and enjoyed the mountain vistas before exploring the gorgeous old hotel's grounds and Christmas decorations.
And what Christmas would be complete without Mexican food and margaritas for dinner?! Truly, the food at Magpie and Stump's Mexican Cantina was the best Mexican we've had since leaving Nashville!! Since most of the city was shut down, after dinner we returned to our hotel to sit by the fire and watch a movie in bed. :)
DAY 3, Day after Christmas:
After a hearty breakfast at Melissa's, the favorite local breakfast spot, we packed up and drove 3o minutes to the Lake Louise ski area, which was not only a beautiful setting, but also offered up several really fun green runs for us beginners. We managed to get in a full day on the hills, with a break in between for hot chocolate with brandy. Yum!
We finished our evening off with comfort food at a local pub, and as luck had it, the Wheatmonkeys, an area band, were performing. We had to stick around to see what a band with that sort of name sounded like! As it turned out, they were high-energy and tons of fun, so we danced our booties off late into the night!
DAY 4, Final Day:
Following our wild night, Ben and I were moving a bit slowly, so we opted to stroll around the quaint town of Banff and shop the after-Christmas sales.
We were sad to leave this little hamlet in the mountains, but were happy to see Bosco again! The doggy daycare took great care of him, taking him and all of the other big dogs to the park to run around each day. (They sent this photo of him in action.) Ever since returning home and opening his Christmas presents, he has been passed out asleep!
DAY 1, Christmas Eve:
Ben and I arrived at our cozy hotel in the afternoon - the drive from Calgary, which only takes about 90 minutes, was stunning, with bright sunshine showing off the snow-capped mountains. Our loft style hotel room (Charlton's Cedar Court) had a fireplace which we immediately turned on, and we set up all of our presents in front of it to make things feel festive.
We had made dinner reservations at The Maple Leaf, which specializes in high quality Canadian cuisine. We met up with our friend Almu and her boyfriend, who were also in Banff for the holidays, and the dinner was absolutely amazing. I loved my wild British Columbia salmon (maple glazed, of course), and everybody else ordered the organic bison tenderloin. So much for vegetarianism - I had to try a bite of the bison, and it was incredible. Just melts in your mouth, and not gamy at all! A love affair also began that night with a fabulous Australian wine - Love Grass - we polished off two bottles during our leisurely three-hour dinner.
After arriving home and talking to our families, we followed the Danish tradition of opening most of our presents on Christmas Eve. We LOVED all of our goodies, from the fabulous treats from Denmark (Marimekko placemats, Georg Jensen candleholders, Orrefors whiskey tumblers, oh my!!), to the video camera (perfect for filming the mountains!) from Chattanooga, to the stylish and warm sweaters and scarves (we've barely taken them off), the book I've been lusting after, and the deliciously scented bubble bath, from Nashville. THANK YOU, everybody!!
DAY 2, Christmas Day:
Christmas was a wonderfully lazy day. We headed to the Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel, which is like a castle in the mountains, and staked out a window seat in one of the hotel's dining areas. We lingered over lattes, then lunch, and enjoyed the mountain vistas before exploring the gorgeous old hotel's grounds and Christmas decorations.
And what Christmas would be complete without Mexican food and margaritas for dinner?! Truly, the food at Magpie and Stump's Mexican Cantina was the best Mexican we've had since leaving Nashville!! Since most of the city was shut down, after dinner we returned to our hotel to sit by the fire and watch a movie in bed. :)
DAY 3, Day after Christmas:
After a hearty breakfast at Melissa's, the favorite local breakfast spot, we packed up and drove 3o minutes to the Lake Louise ski area, which was not only a beautiful setting, but also offered up several really fun green runs for us beginners. We managed to get in a full day on the hills, with a break in between for hot chocolate with brandy. Yum!
We finished our evening off with comfort food at a local pub, and as luck had it, the Wheatmonkeys, an area band, were performing. We had to stick around to see what a band with that sort of name sounded like! As it turned out, they were high-energy and tons of fun, so we danced our booties off late into the night!
DAY 4, Final Day:
Following our wild night, Ben and I were moving a bit slowly, so we opted to stroll around the quaint town of Banff and shop the after-Christmas sales.
We were sad to leave this little hamlet in the mountains, but were happy to see Bosco again! The doggy daycare took great care of him, taking him and all of the other big dogs to the park to run around each day. (They sent this photo of him in action.) Ever since returning home and opening his Christmas presents, he has been passed out asleep!
12/15/08
Cold New Frontiers
Temperatures plummeted this weekend, with Saturday and Sunday hovering between 26 and 30 below Celsius (-20 F). The horror!! To say I was shocked by the cold would be an understatement. It was much more emotionally challenging than I would have thought. Coming from such a temperate climate, there is something that feels restrictive to me about the extreme cold. I miss wearing dresses and high heels and not spending 30 minutes layering up just to step outside!
After a rigorous routine of putting on layer after layer of clothes, Ben and I headed out yesterday morning to get coffee at a little spot several blocks away. When I stepped outside and took a deep breath, the cold, dry blast hit the back of my throat so hard that I coughed. The ten-minute walk felt like an eternity. I think the worst part of this sort of cold is being grazed by a gust of wind on your bare face - ski masks are probably helpful in this situation!
When we walked into the coffee shop, we noticed that the inside of the door was covered in a thick layer of frost. Similarly, on Saturday we drove to the movie theater only to return a few hours later to find that the inside of the car had almost as much frost as the outside. I've never seen anything like it. The craziest thing is that life actually goes on here at 30 below. I am sticking to my belief that there is something unnatural about humans living an environment as inhospitable as this one!
To cope with the cold, we'll keep right on with the skiing and snowboarding - speaking of which, Ben and I both purchased our own equipment! We can't wait until it warms up a wee bit (ie, 16 below instead of 30 below) this weekend so that we can hit the slopes again.
Other than battling the cold, we also attended KPMG's Christmas party, which was a blast, on Friday night. We had heard that when it gets this cold, it is virtually impossible to get a cab in Calgary, and boy was that the truth. So Ben and I were left to walk the 5 blocks to the party. I slipped on my clunky black boots, tucked my stilettos into a big handbag, and cracked a joke about whether the party would have a boot check in addition to the coat check. Astonishingly, there WAS a boot check! Who knew?!
After a rigorous routine of putting on layer after layer of clothes, Ben and I headed out yesterday morning to get coffee at a little spot several blocks away. When I stepped outside and took a deep breath, the cold, dry blast hit the back of my throat so hard that I coughed. The ten-minute walk felt like an eternity. I think the worst part of this sort of cold is being grazed by a gust of wind on your bare face - ski masks are probably helpful in this situation!
When we walked into the coffee shop, we noticed that the inside of the door was covered in a thick layer of frost. Similarly, on Saturday we drove to the movie theater only to return a few hours later to find that the inside of the car had almost as much frost as the outside. I've never seen anything like it. The craziest thing is that life actually goes on here at 30 below. I am sticking to my belief that there is something unnatural about humans living an environment as inhospitable as this one!To cope with the cold, we'll keep right on with the skiing and snowboarding - speaking of which, Ben and I both purchased our own equipment! We can't wait until it warms up a wee bit (ie, 16 below instead of 30 below) this weekend so that we can hit the slopes again.
Other than battling the cold, we also attended KPMG's Christmas party, which was a blast, on Friday night. We had heard that when it gets this cold, it is virtually impossible to get a cab in Calgary, and boy was that the truth. So Ben and I were left to walk the 5 blocks to the party. I slipped on my clunky black boots, tucked my stilettos into a big handbag, and cracked a joke about whether the party would have a boot check in addition to the coat check. Astonishingly, there WAS a boot check! Who knew?!
12/10/08
Success on the Ski Hill!
So we went back to Sunshine Village this Sunday, in spite of the throbbing bruises still reminding me of last week's snowboarding adventure! I made a last minute decision to try skiing this time instead, and boy was it the right choice. The photo below is the lodge at the end of the day, as the sun was going down.
Almudeena was my personal coach and did a fantastic job of showing me the basics and getting me slowly down the mountain. By the end of the day, I had made it down the hill five times and only fallen twice - what a better sense of accomplishment than previously! From the ski lift, Alicia snapped this pic of me on the hill - I'm in the red.
Ben, on the other hand, is looking great on the snowboard. However, while I was taking a break, he and the gals tried to find a new green (easy) run and accidentally ended up on a black (ie, really steep and bumpy) hill. Eeek! I did not envy them having to slide all the way down on their backs!! Of course Alicia, being the pro she is, went back on her own and conquered that slope on her snowboard. But here's a look at Ben doing his thing!
All of these pics are courtesy of Alicia - I have never seen so much snow at one time, it was just gorgeous! We're heading out tonight to buy our very own snowboard and skis - I'm so excited. The last pic is of Alicia, me and Ben riding the Gondola up to actual ski area. It takes about 20 minutes from the parking lot, so you are up pretty high! (I blamed any of my skiing inadequacies on the altitude!)
Almudeena was my personal coach and did a fantastic job of showing me the basics and getting me slowly down the mountain. By the end of the day, I had made it down the hill five times and only fallen twice - what a better sense of accomplishment than previously! From the ski lift, Alicia snapped this pic of me on the hill - I'm in the red.
Ben, on the other hand, is looking great on the snowboard. However, while I was taking a break, he and the gals tried to find a new green (easy) run and accidentally ended up on a black (ie, really steep and bumpy) hill. Eeek! I did not envy them having to slide all the way down on their backs!! Of course Alicia, being the pro she is, went back on her own and conquered that slope on her snowboard. But here's a look at Ben doing his thing!
All of these pics are courtesy of Alicia - I have never seen so much snow at one time, it was just gorgeous! We're heading out tonight to buy our very own snowboard and skis - I'm so excited. The last pic is of Alicia, me and Ben riding the Gondola up to actual ski area. It takes about 20 minutes from the parking lot, so you are up pretty high! (I blamed any of my skiing inadequacies on the altitude!)
12/4/08
Haircut!
This is not officially Calgary related, but I finally took the plunge and cut my hair short again, and it feels great. It was kind of a shot in the dark to find a salon, but I love the spot I found and am trying to send Ben there as well.
Our relocation coordinator had commented when we first moved here that Alberta has lots of skilled hairdressers. I thought it was kind of a weird comment, and wondered how one could measure such a thing, but so far she seems to be correct!
In other news, Ben and I put up our cute (fake) little Christmas tree this week, and enjoyed an intense game of Scrabble the other night ... and we're looking forward to heading back to the Rockies this weekend, this time with our resident snowboarding expert, Alicia, to help us conquer that mountain!
Our relocation coordinator had commented when we first moved here that Alberta has lots of skilled hairdressers. I thought it was kind of a weird comment, and wondered how one could measure such a thing, but so far she seems to be correct!
In other news, Ben and I put up our cute (fake) little Christmas tree this week, and enjoyed an intense game of Scrabble the other night ... and we're looking forward to heading back to the Rockies this weekend, this time with our resident snowboarding expert, Alicia, to help us conquer that mountain!
12/1/08
A Few Photos
Although we didn't take our camera onto the slopes yesterday (see previous post for details of our snowboarding trip!) we did snap some photos of us all geared up in the parking lot, and also of the amazing drive in as we saw the sunrise over the mountains. I love that the Rockies look different every time you see them. Some days they are crisp against a clear azure sky, others they are a moody, dusky gray, and on mornings like yesterday, they look like prisms, lit from within and reflecting the pink clouds. Gorgeous!!
Snowboarding: Harder than it looks!
Ben and I finally took the plunge yesterday and headed out to the Rockies for our very first snowboarding lesson. Having hit the ski hills just once when I was 14, I was feeling pretty intimidated by the masses of people at the mountain who clearly felt right at home cruising around with their skis or snowboards. Here's a look at one of the lifts at Sunshine Village, where we went (we're hoping to get a waterproof camera to take our own shots next time!):
After only a few minutes of learning the basics, I suddenly found myself in a chair lift going up a very high slope, and panic set in. I would have to get back down somehow, and the only device I had was this massive snowboard dangling from my foot. Ben managed to calm me down, and next thing I knew I was sliding off of the lift chair and toppling over in the snow. "Move to the side," my instructor was shouting. I scooted on my butt away from the danger zone and then made my way slowly to the top of the hill we were expected to get down.
Ben and the other girl in our class went first without too much trouble, but then it was my turn. It was a slow and painful descent down the mountain, as I could hardly make it two feet without tipping over. The instructor ended up snowboarding in front of me and holding my hands for most of the way down. I wish I could have seen myself! Ben said he would look up and see me fall over face-first when I was not even moving on the snowboard!
About 3/4 of the way down the hill, I was so frustrated that I unsnapped my board and walked the rest of the way - luckily, it was time for our lunch break by then. With a bit of food and a beer in me, I decided to give the hill a second chance, and things slowly got better. Sure, the instructor taught Ben and the other gal more advanced moves like turning and spinning while making me do balancing exercises, but I was just happy that by the end of the day, I had managed to go for about 5 seconds at a time without falling.
I was so sore from the weird leg muscles I used and the numerous spills that I decided to head to the lodge early for some hot chocolate while Ben finished the lesson. I woke up today feeling like somebody hit me all over with a baseball bat, and needing a pillow to sit on due to the massive bruise on my rear, but damned if I am stopping now!!
Snowboarding is one of the hardest things I have done in a long time, and I would love to say that I have mastered it. So I fully intend to go back next weekend, and many more times during the snow season, and keep on trying until I can get down a hill on my own!
After only a few minutes of learning the basics, I suddenly found myself in a chair lift going up a very high slope, and panic set in. I would have to get back down somehow, and the only device I had was this massive snowboard dangling from my foot. Ben managed to calm me down, and next thing I knew I was sliding off of the lift chair and toppling over in the snow. "Move to the side," my instructor was shouting. I scooted on my butt away from the danger zone and then made my way slowly to the top of the hill we were expected to get down.
Ben and the other girl in our class went first without too much trouble, but then it was my turn. It was a slow and painful descent down the mountain, as I could hardly make it two feet without tipping over. The instructor ended up snowboarding in front of me and holding my hands for most of the way down. I wish I could have seen myself! Ben said he would look up and see me fall over face-first when I was not even moving on the snowboard!
About 3/4 of the way down the hill, I was so frustrated that I unsnapped my board and walked the rest of the way - luckily, it was time for our lunch break by then. With a bit of food and a beer in me, I decided to give the hill a second chance, and things slowly got better. Sure, the instructor taught Ben and the other gal more advanced moves like turning and spinning while making me do balancing exercises, but I was just happy that by the end of the day, I had managed to go for about 5 seconds at a time without falling.
I was so sore from the weird leg muscles I used and the numerous spills that I decided to head to the lodge early for some hot chocolate while Ben finished the lesson. I woke up today feeling like somebody hit me all over with a baseball bat, and needing a pillow to sit on due to the massive bruise on my rear, but damned if I am stopping now!!
Snowboarding is one of the hardest things I have done in a long time, and I would love to say that I have mastered it. So I fully intend to go back next weekend, and many more times during the snow season, and keep on trying until I can get down a hill on my own!
11/28/08
After Much Ado...
I have been promising for a while to post photos of our apartment. Since I spent yesterday cleaning up and decorating for tonight's Thanksgiving dinner party, it seemed like a good time to finally snap some photos! Granted, we need some more wall decorations, but I am really happy with it so far.
What a nice change to go from 1700 square feet of unruly house to under 900 square feet of neat and organized apartment! I love that I can clean the whole place in just a few hours. Anyway, I am off to finish up the cooking for tonight. With this being my first Thanksgiving to cook on my own (for 8 people), I figure I better get an early start!!
Hope you enjoy this sneak peak into our new place ;) And I hope that everybody had a fabulous Thanksgiving!!
What a nice change to go from 1700 square feet of unruly house to under 900 square feet of neat and organized apartment! I love that I can clean the whole place in just a few hours. Anyway, I am off to finish up the cooking for tonight. With this being my first Thanksgiving to cook on my own (for 8 people), I figure I better get an early start!!
Hope you enjoy this sneak peak into our new place ;) And I hope that everybody had a fabulous Thanksgiving!!
11/21/08
Cold: The Great Equalizer
One thing that I love about cold weather is that no matter who you are - rich or poor, fat or thin, guy or girl - once bundled up to walk around in below freezing weather, everybody looks the same. Anybody in a mismatched hat and gloves might appear homeless. A homeless person with a newly-found leather jacket could be mistaken for a tenant of my apartment. The cold simply brings us all to the same level, as nobody can escape it and we all must stay warm. (Except Bosco, who seems to thrive in the snow!)
Case in point: I took Bosco for a long walk through the park yesterday (which was the coldest day since we arrived here), only to realize once I got home that I had dropped my mailbox keys somewhere along the way. Though it seemed futile (and it was), I retraced my steps, ambling through the park and along the riverside, hunched over and moving slowly, searching for the keys.
A kindly-looking man with no front teeth and a badge around his neck approached me to ask if I was okay. Not realizing his assumption, I explained that I was looking for my keys, but thanks for checking. He then told me he was part of a homeless coalition and that they just checked on everybody who was wandering aimlessly. Yup, he thought I was homeless!!
I knew I was not exactly stylish in my leggings layered under thick hiking socks and hiking boots, topped off with my puffy ski jacket, but I didn't realize that I might look homeless in my attempt to stay warm! I couldn't help but laugh at myself.
In his defense (and mine!), homelessness is really a huge problem here. I thought Nashville was bad, but it is even more extreme in Calgary. We have learned to leave our glass bottles in a separate pile by the dumpster, as somebody will always snag them to cash in - often before we have even walked back inside. I can't imagine how these people survive the winters here, or why they don't move farther south, but so it is. The gap between rich and poor in this city is at an all-time high, and it is the one major downfall I've noticed here so far.
In spite of the embarrassing notion that I might look homeless, the walk was beautiful! It has been snowing off and on all week, and the snow has yet to melt. I still am not used to waking up and looking out the window to white rooftops and powder-coated pine trees. It's quite enchanting - until you walk outside and are hit with that icy blast!! Here are a few photos of my meanderings through the park:
Case in point: I took Bosco for a long walk through the park yesterday (which was the coldest day since we arrived here), only to realize once I got home that I had dropped my mailbox keys somewhere along the way. Though it seemed futile (and it was), I retraced my steps, ambling through the park and along the riverside, hunched over and moving slowly, searching for the keys.A kindly-looking man with no front teeth and a badge around his neck approached me to ask if I was okay. Not realizing his assumption, I explained that I was looking for my keys, but thanks for checking. He then told me he was part of a homeless coalition and that they just checked on everybody who was wandering aimlessly. Yup, he thought I was homeless!!
I knew I was not exactly stylish in my leggings layered under thick hiking socks and hiking boots, topped off with my puffy ski jacket, but I didn't realize that I might look homeless in my attempt to stay warm! I couldn't help but laugh at myself.
In his defense (and mine!), homelessness is really a huge problem here. I thought Nashville was bad, but it is even more extreme in Calgary. We have learned to leave our glass bottles in a separate pile by the dumpster, as somebody will always snag them to cash in - often before we have even walked back inside. I can't imagine how these people survive the winters here, or why they don't move farther south, but so it is. The gap between rich and poor in this city is at an all-time high, and it is the one major downfall I've noticed here so far.
In spite of the embarrassing notion that I might look homeless, the walk was beautiful! It has been snowing off and on all week, and the snow has yet to melt. I still am not used to waking up and looking out the window to white rooftops and powder-coated pine trees. It's quite enchanting - until you walk outside and are hit with that icy blast!! Here are a few photos of my meanderings through the park:
11/17/08
Homage to North 16th Street
As of last Friday, our house is, well ... not ours anymore. It's been an emotional journey, from making the decision to sell, to working like dogs for a month straight to get it ready, to negotiations, and finally to letting go and moving on. (Note the before and after shots!! We gave that place some love over the years!)
I have no regrets about the choice we made to move forward with our lives and let go of our house. We could never have fully relaxed and immersed ourselves in the Calgary experience if we still had bills and worries looming back in Nashville. And with a 100-year-old house, there would always be worries!
But still it was bittersweet to say goodbye to our first home, our sweet old Victorian lady in funky little East Nashville. We had lots of good times there - the house just has great vibes and I think anybody who visited picked up on that. It's weird and also very gratifying to know that another young couple, much like Ben and I, will be able to make North 16th Street their home. I doubt we'll ever meet them, but I wish them as much happiness as we had there!
That house survived a massive fire that hit the neighborhood in the early 1900s, the horrible tornado that took down much of East Nashville and who knows what else. Even the trees in the back yard were left undamaged, old and strong.
So here's to the good times (fab parties, first Christmases, new career paths, reading on the back deck and all that good stuff) and to the rich future the house has ahead of it. Cheers!
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