Summer in the Rockies.

I never thought I would miss the Calgary Summers, and to tell you the truth, I still don't.  What I do miss are the beautiful and majestic mountains that oversee us, bringing us their magnificence in a way that is completely understated and yet strangely powerful.

Escaping to them brings a sense of calm, and a sense of fulfillment, allowing oneself to enjoy the quiet peacefulness that being away from the city brings.  Mind you if you never stray far from the highway, and are only on a hair brained trip to the next big city centre, you will probably find that these are just large obstacles that would be so much nicer if they weren't in your way.  But take a step off the beaten path, and you will discover all that they offer.

From Canmore, in it's little town feel, sitting just over an hour from Calgary, and outside the National Park, with it's amazing pubs like the Rose and Crown, and quaint outdoor art galleries on the weekends, to Banff, with it's tourist pull and large 'Chinaman's Peak' overseeing it.  (This peak has been a PC nightmare, and has been re-named, but for those localites that live and breathe the air here, it will forever be known as just this.  Nothing else.)  Banff has been slightly overrun by the chains, but still maintains it's small town charm with places like the rock and gem store and the candy store which is a must do whenever in town.

Following the road further out, we get into the heart of the rockies.  From Jasper and Lake Louise, to further reaching places just over the border.  Far enough away to be a holiday, but close enough that you don't need all month to enjoy.  

I know that my travels will be taking me further into the rockies before the snow starts to fly, and brings me back to the city reality, but let's pray for an indian summer, and miles of open road in front of us.

Barcelona

Recently, I returned from a whirlwind holiday to Barcelona.  I don't know if I can ultimately call it a holiday, as I was there to attend a conference, but it was an amazing glimpse into a completely different world.  In North America, we are blessed to be able to speak English, no matter where we go, whether it is in Canada, America, or even Mexico.  

In Europe, you can be speaking Portuguese in Portugal, Spanish in Spain, and French in France.  And that's all in one day.  In Canada, we can travel for days, weeks or even months and still not get out of Canada.  In Europe or the United Kingdom, you can hop on a train and be in a different country in less than two hours.  

And that's not even mentioning the other differences we will encounter.  In Barcelona, the standard fare for breakfast was bacon, eggs and chips.  (That's fries for those of you not versed in the British word for fries.)  But don't think that obesity is an epidemic over there.  With Bicycles for rent by the hour, day or week, you don't need a car to get around this city.  And driving is not for the faint of heart, with one way streets with only inches to spare.  As they used to say in London, an inch in between vehicles and another one can sneak in.

While I was blessed to visit the other sights, which I will touch on, in another blog to come, the differences are what makes traveling such a blessing.  Learning what we admire about our own country, by experiencing others.  What better way to discover a new way of appreciating all that is outside our own doorsteps.