Banff (AB) – Calgary (AB) | 130 km
Only 120 km separate Banff from Calgary, which seems negligible to us now! We make a short stop in Canmore (AB), a charming village just outside Banff National Park, before heading into the metropolis of Calgary.
The weather is beautiful, but above all, very hot. Once again, the heat is often harder to combat than the cold, and today is no exception. I even have to take off my jacket to get some relief, which is quite rare for me as I always fear seeing my skin get acquainted with the asphalt; I have no doubt who the loser would be in such a scenario.
We drop our gear off at my friend Nigel’s place while he is at work, then head toward the downtown core.
We are greeted by countless homeless people and, frankly, we are quite disappointed with the place in general. We spend the rest of the day walking the streets anyway, not really knowing where to go. We ask a few people where to find a lively neighborhood with shops, bars, and restaurants. The answer is invariably the same: “You’re in Calgary… There is no street like that here!”
Ouch…
We then meet up with Anne-Marie, a longtime friend from high school. We hadn’t seen each other in over 25 years! Yet, within minutes, we were as comfortable as in the good old days. We head together to Melrose, a resto-bar on 17th Avenue. What a culture shock: huge pickup trucks are king here!
Nigel joins us later for a superb, lively evening filled with memories and fascinating conversation.
No, please ma’am, keep your shirt on!
