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Calgary Trip Day 2: Thursday
Aug. 23rd, 2018 11:59 pmWoke up at 7 so we could get breakfast at the hotel. Across the room a very large scruffy bear probably around our age in a cowboy hat carried on a speaker phone conversation, apparently on business, with more than occasional swearing. I snagged a table next to a very cute dude in a green T-shirt and another fellow, but they left by the time we sat down.
We caught the hotel shuttle to the airport, driven by another fellow in a turban (gold this time). When we arrived we headed downstairs to the arrivals level, bought day passes, and just barely caught the airport bus downtown. Our first stop was Calgary Tower, where the view was limited by all the smoke in the air. We did get some nice pictures through the glass floor though.
From there we headed to the nearby Stephen Ave. Mall, where we spotted a few pubs including the Bear and Kilt and the James Joyce Irish Pub; we stayed at the latter for lunch. I had a Guinness so Gary could have a taste, and then we each had a delicious Irish apple cider. For our meal Gary had an apple-bacon-pecan salad and I had beef and Guinness pie.
Next stop was the Bankers Hall shopping centre for stamps and then a trek through the combined malls to the C-train station, with a bathroom break on the way. We took the Red Line two stops northwest and walked back south to the Bow River to cross the Peace Bridge, a unique pedestrian bridge, and hang out in Prince's Island Park. There was a curious vehicle making the rounds, which was powered by maybe 20 people seated at pedals. I also noticed the squirrels are black rather than gray.
From the park we hopped on a local mini-bus to Pin Bar, south of downtown, where we had dinner (I had a Reuben sandwich and Gary a salad with chicken) and played a few games of pinball. As we got ready to leave I noticed the cute bear bartender who was featured on the news coverage of the signs posted in the place telling people not to be hateful in this bar. We caught the 3 bus, transferred to the 300, and finally got the hotel shuttle. We got back early in the evening and didn't have the energy to do much beyond chilling in front of the TV.
We caught the hotel shuttle to the airport, driven by another fellow in a turban (gold this time). When we arrived we headed downstairs to the arrivals level, bought day passes, and just barely caught the airport bus downtown. Our first stop was Calgary Tower, where the view was limited by all the smoke in the air. We did get some nice pictures through the glass floor though.
From there we headed to the nearby Stephen Ave. Mall, where we spotted a few pubs including the Bear and Kilt and the James Joyce Irish Pub; we stayed at the latter for lunch. I had a Guinness so Gary could have a taste, and then we each had a delicious Irish apple cider. For our meal Gary had an apple-bacon-pecan salad and I had beef and Guinness pie.
Next stop was the Bankers Hall shopping centre for stamps and then a trek through the combined malls to the C-train station, with a bathroom break on the way. We took the Red Line two stops northwest and walked back south to the Bow River to cross the Peace Bridge, a unique pedestrian bridge, and hang out in Prince's Island Park. There was a curious vehicle making the rounds, which was powered by maybe 20 people seated at pedals. I also noticed the squirrels are black rather than gray.
From the park we hopped on a local mini-bus to Pin Bar, south of downtown, where we had dinner (I had a Reuben sandwich and Gary a salad with chicken) and played a few games of pinball. As we got ready to leave I noticed the cute bear bartender who was featured on the news coverage of the signs posted in the place telling people not to be hateful in this bar. We caught the 3 bus, transferred to the 300, and finally got the hotel shuttle. We got back early in the evening and didn't have the energy to do much beyond chilling in front of the TV.