Canada

May 19th, 2024

We boarded the Rocky Mountaineer and set out to Kamloops.  It was another day of taking in the sights while eating and drinking.   There were beautiful lakes, rivers, waterfalls and wildlife.  Whenever there anyone spotted wildlife, they would call it out.   We saw a lot of eagles and long horn sheep.

When we first sat down, I thought we lucked out, our seats were right in front.  After a few hours, I realized that we weren’t so lucky.  There was a travel group towards the back who kept coming up to the front and crowding around the front windows to get their pictures.

We went through Kicking Horse and the spiral Tunnels.   The original track had a grade of 4.5% and the first train to attempt the “Big Hill” derailed.  The solution was to build spiral tunnels after a system used in Switzerland.  Although it was an interesting experience, major portions of the spirals were underground.  The attendants would ask, “which way do you think we were turning?” and none of us had a clue! Continue reading →

May 19th, 2024

We were picked up at our hotel and taken to the Lake Louise Train station where we had coffee while we waited for our train. The train station is worth stopping at if you are in the area, it is filled with antiques and old pictures and also serves as a restaurant.   The dining options in Lake Louise were somewhat limited, had i known this was also a restaurant, I probably would have dined there.

The train station was built in 1909 and recently restored.  I found myself imagining what it would have been like to travel before we had jets and highways.  As I looked at the antique Dictaphones and typewriters, I wondered how many young people would know what these were.  I overheard someone say on how they had to take typing in high school and how much they hated it.

Knowing that Lake Louise was the playground for the rich and famous, I wondered which dignitaries and Hollywood stars passed through these walls.

Continue reading →

May 17th-18th, 2024

I had read that Lake Louise is probably the most photographed lake in Canada – I can see why.  the majority of the lake is surrounded by snowcapped mountains and glaciers. Due to the elevation, the lake does not thaw out until June.  I would love to come back and see it in the summer and I would love to come back and see it in the winter when you can go ice skating on it.

The Chateau Fairmont, our hotel, was the only hotel on the lake. The hotel has an elegant and old feel. The restaurant with large arched windows looking out on to the lake. The hotel has a very interesting history that started back in 1890.  It became a popular filming location and Hollywood hotspot.  John Barrymore, Betty Grable, Carmen Miranda, Mary Pickford, Douglas Fairbanks, Alfred Hitchcock, Marilyn Monroe, and Superman himself, Christopher Reeve passed through its doors.

When I inquired about the town and what there was to do, I was told that there was not much of a town, a gas station, grocery story and a few hotels with restaurants.   This was a place to hike, relax, and eat. Continue reading →