Cowtown

Winter Woollens Packed

Sun Feb12th

Calgary from 5000'

Friday 10th we arrived in Calgary, aka Cowtown.  The largest city in Alberta (not the capital which is Edmonton) and in the middle of Canada's largest beef producing area.  

The journey out worked well.  The ferry was on time, little traffic through Vancouver, a quick stopover to drop off a tray table for Seb's high chair in Kitsilano, then on to the airport.    The flight, just over an hour, offered clear views of Vancouver at dusk and patterns of an illuminated Calgary on arrival. 

Vancouver Departure

According to Calgary tourist sites, Alberta as a whole has the largest cattle herd in Canada. Although now a cosmopolitan city, it retains a solid core cowboy culture.  The summer Calgary Stampede which takes place in July, is one of the biggest rodeos in the world, attracting around 1mn visitors.  Think agricultural show (Bath & West show circa 140,000) with lots of horses, a parade, stage shows, dog contests, chuckwagon racing, concerts, agricultural competitions, and First Nations exhibits.  

We don't anticipate seeing much more of the city, or the cows after the weekend.  Saturday was spent exploring (but we barely scratched the surface).  Fred had x-rays on Sunday morning, new hip is installed Monday, back to the hotel Tuesday, fly home Thursday.

So first impressions of the city.  It gets cold in Calgary.  The river is frozen apart from occasional gaps of fast flowing water.  The waterfowl are having a tough time.  The parks are snow covered and roads are strewn with icy lumps of snow plowed remnants.  Winter is not over and it's due to snow again on Tuesday with a high of -5c.

Despite it's cowboy history, Calgary is a modern city with some inspiring modern architecture alongside older buildings.  We ventured up the Calgary Tower which has a 360 degree view of the city.  The Rockies on one side and prairies on the other.  I decided not to stand on the glass deck with the 30-storey drop sheer below.  Fred had no such fear.  I've no idea why I am happy upside down in a light aircraft at 3000ft, but absolutely hate the idea of standing on a glass deck!  Weird or what.

In our stroll around town Fred had a chance to check out prosthetic options for her new hip.  She decided this one was distinctly agricultural in design with a tractor seat forming part of the joint.  She's decided to stick with the more modern version offered by the orthopaedic surgeon!

Heading over to City Hall and the Studio Bell & National Music Centre on Saturday, we passed the new Calgary council offices, the City Library and the outdoor ice rink.

Saturday was a day for demonstrations and we counted four or five medium sized groups queuing to demonstrate in front of the new City Hall.  A Christian group, an Iran group (we weren't quite sure if they were for or against the current regime),  a Trans group and an anti-pharmaceuticals group.  There was also the odd soap-box orator.  Police and Peace Officers (not sure I understand the difference) were in evidence and skaters just carried on a few yards away on the outdoor ice rink.

City Hall demos

A mixed bag of views, perspectives and issues. The demonstrators were almost matched in numbers by the police and 'peace officers'.  There was no public presence; the City Hall offices were not working as it was a weekend and the media were also uninterested.  You wonder why they bother.

The Calgary Library is an inspiring design of curves, wood and concrete.  The nearby car park, looks nothing like your average concrete multi-storey.

The ice rink had a number of people 'practising' with wheeled walkers (Zimmer frames).  As Fred will have one of these after the op, she wondered if she might get in a few circuits of the ice rink before we head back...that's a joke!

Sunday morning, after the X-rays at a specialist centre south of the city, we headed to the Zoo.  I haven't been to one for years, but it was recommended.  Grizzly bears - hibernating.  Black Bears - hibernating.  Cougars - huddled in a corner, if not hibernating they were staying away from prying eyes.  

I decided I still don't like zoos.  Having seen African wildlife in the wild and most Canadian wildlife in a few close encounters, the cages and small enclosures seemed very claustrophobic.  The two Grey Wolves were pacing back and forth across the front of their cages which didn't appear normal.  Canada is not short of space and larger more spacious enclosures could be achieved.  The Zoo boasts strong environmental and research credentials, it just didn't feel like it while we were there.  If there was a highlight it was the baby gorilla with it's mother that had clearly been born in captivity.

We are staying at the Fairmont Palliser which was opened in June 1914.  A few years before Bush House was completed in London where I spent a large part of my career.  There are some similarities and if any reader worked in Bush House, you will see the resemblance of the post 'boxes' that were also beside the lifts.  Bush House was designed by New York Architects Corbet Woodall for Irving T Bush of the Bush Telegraph Company "To the Friendship of English Speaking Peoples" which is carved into the stonework above the Bush House entrance arch. Fond memories.

The Palliser as it was known then was designed by Lawrence Gotch and W S Maxwell, both Canadian architects and was based on the Chicago School of design.  Bush was a more neo-classical design.  Whilst two different design concepts there are many similarities.

 

Post box on each landing

Some more pictures of the city and it's fabulous architecture below.

Similar design to Bush House

    

Inspiring architecture

Art meets architecture

Reflections

A frozen Bow River in the centre of town

More reflections

Skeleton art

Curved designs

Artwork

Curved design at a distance

Public library

Concrete and wood

National Music Centre and museum

Multi-storey car park

Calgary Tower next to the Fairmont Palliser

Makes my toes curl!

Fred's anatomy lesson ahead of Monday

Component Horse