Banff

June 29:  Banff & Calgary

Today was the final day of our land extension and it started as we checked out of "the castle" - The Fairmont Banff Springs.  The photos we took today on our tour shows the "postcard photo" you find online.  You'd never know that the resort actually sits on a street on the one end of town as the photo makes it seem like it's in the middle of the park.  Another luxurious stay (the driver today quoted one passenger an overnight price of $400 or more per night!). 

Today's tour, following the sensational outing yesterday was a bit of a disappointment as we spent the first half hour picking up guests from other locations, then drove through town where we places were pointed out to us that we could "visit later."  Unfortunately this tour had been booked for us as an end tour - we cannot visit any of these spots following the tour!  When we finally set out on what had been billed as a 4 1/2 hour tour we had about twenty minutes before our 9 am appointment with the Banff Gondola.  As we headed out we crossed the one and only motor vehicle bridge and there, walking down the middle of the Bow River was an Elk!  It's more difficult to see him in the photo below (even in the blow-up section) than he was to see live, but he's there! 

I had told Kim emphatically that I was fully supportive of her riding the gondola, but I do NOT do those kind of things well.  In 2009 we'd been on an Alaskan Cruisetour and we were Alyeska, Alaska and rode a gondola to a restaurant/overlook.  I did NOT like or feel comfortable on the ride, but the top lookout - which was just a rail which you could stand at and overlook the scenery was really frightening for me.  So I was certain I did NOT want to do this.  But this morning as we approached the gondola station I told Kim I was willing to try.  I

t was helpful that only four people were in a car and the two with us were our new-found British friends Brian and Jill.  And as Kim said, no one would ever know if our eyes were closed!  Further, it was only an eight minute ride.  Who can't do that I reasoned.  Well, the ride up, for about six of the eight was absolutely no problem for me as I watched and gazed around, even shooting some video.  But the last two minutes I don't mind saying I was ready to get off.  Kim saw very little of the trip up!  Once at the "station" that's when I really started to get a panic attack.  The walkway to the edge was only about eight feet wide and was divided into two paths for guests exiting the cars and those returning.  I hugged the wall.  But when we reached the observation platform I was done.  Kim was now perfectly at ease and walked out on the boardwalk along the mountaintop for a while; I remained at the back of the platform seated on a step trying to make conversation with a few people who also did not want to walk the mountain top.  That was the longest 5-10 minutes I can remember in a long time as the longer I waited for Kim the more "panic" seemed to wash over me.  When she returned I could hardly talk to her, but once the car was a minute into the descent I was ok again and "enjoyed" the return to reality!  Horray for us however, and as our newly-purchased T-shirts say, "The Banff Gondola - I MADE IT To The Top!" 

We left here shortly thereafter and stopped at a waterfall, the Bow River Falls.  By now it was about 11:30 and we had two brief (15 min) photo stops.  We took a group of about a dozen out to another lake for a boat ride and they were told the bus would come back for them.  We did see some Elk grazing by the side of the road and they were good enough to hang around for about ten minutes for pictures.

Then the bus made the rounds of a couple hotels for drop offs and took us to the bus station for a transfer.  We had been led to believe we'd have over an hour and a half for lunch in town, but there was only 30 minutes and the tour crew seemed to think that having a "bite of lunch" at the Tim Horton's was good enough for us before driving to Calgary (about two hours plus).  The fast food lunch was as good as it got and then four different small groups boarded the bus to Calgary. 

We arrived and dropped everyone off, with our group being the last ones.  We said our goodbyes to everyone and were particularly happy with two couples we'd spent time with - one a French couple who spoke very little English and we became their "go-to" interpreters.  As we walked into the lobby of the hotel we were greeted by a concierge who had folders for each couple pre-arranged with room keys and information and told us not to worry our luggage would be up shortly.  Good for them, we were all very pleased.  We came down soon after arrival - it was now after 5 pm and we asked about our transfer, our EARLY transfer, to the airport and a dinner recommendation.  We will be in the lobby for a cab at 4 am, to open the airport at 5 am.  Fortunately, as with my trip to Toronto last fall, the customs procedure will be completed here as we exit Calgary so when we land for our connection in Houston we won't have to worry about missing the connection, etc. 

We went to a highly touted restaurant just a block away and had a farewell toast and a delicious meal.  Kim had the Butcher Steak with chimichuri (bottom right) with green beans (bottom left).  I had the Bison brisket with boar bacon & sour cream (top left) with creamed corn (top right).  We enjoyed wine with dinner and topped off the meal with Oreo Gelato-Ice Cream pie with Oreo Crumb shell.  A super ending to a great adventure!

Thanks again to the best cruise specialist/travel agent in the world, Nancy Nelson of DreamVacations (877/348-1776 - nnelson@dreamvactions.com) who coordinated our trip to the tiniest detail.  A highly recommended resource for your travels!

Banff Tour Highlights