'Tis the season 2

More beautiful window displays...I'm just glad I don't have to put them up or take them down! It must have taken hours!

'Tis the Season...

...to decorate! I love the shadows that the baubles in this shop window display created.

Moose in the Snow

It was so cold that I could barely press the shutter...the camera shake is probably due to my shivering...and the moose was some distance away...but it's a moose! Taken in the Rocky Mountain foothills that surround Calgary.

Not exactly Christmas wrapping!

When it gets really cold (as it does here in Calgary) this is how you keep your precious plants safe through the winter.

When icicles hang by the wall...

As Shakespeare should have said...
"...then you know it's cold!"

Horse in The Snow

We've had a lot of snow and some very cold temperatures recently(-39c over the weekend).
But if it means you can take pictures like these then it's worth it!

Ski rentals - we're ready

The ski hills are opening soon

who let that plane in? Petro can building

Chinook Skies

We had a strong Chinook centered over Calgary today...so it's warm! The skies were amazing with the Chinook arch stretched across the city.

Giant Snowball

Luge sled - not very comfy

Skeleton in Training

Checking the Sled - Romanian team

Bobsled start

So for anyone who ever wanted to know...this is what the top of a bobsled run looks like when it's not an important race, no-one is cheering and only your coach is watching! It's cold, windy and decidedly unglamorous!

Skeletons After Halloween?!

Okay! I know it's not the greatest shot but these guys are traveling fast! It's hard to catch them! Most of my shots were of feet leaving the frame!

This is a member of the Canadian Junior Development team (I think) training for the skeleton at Canada Olympic Park. It was busy up there this weekend! Lots of teams are beginning to arrive to practice for the Vancouver Olympics in February 2010.
In case you're not sure of the distinctions, luge is feet first, skeleton head first and both take place on the bobsled track.

I'll post more pictures in the next few days. Training for the Olympics is not as glamorous as you might think!

The Olympic Flame is crossing Canada

Thought you might have heard that the Olympic Flame made it to Canada at the end of last week and is now at the very beginning of it's epic journey across one of the biggest countries on earth. This picture was taken in the Olympic Museum at Canada Olympic Park in Calgary where several past torches are displayed.This one is from the summer Olympics in Seoul.

The Olympic Flame arrived in Victoria, British Columbia on Friday, October 29th. Victoria is the starting point of the torch relay across Canada. This relay will be the longest in Olympic history. It will cover more than 45,000 kilometres of the country including Baffin Island in the far north before ending in Vancouver for the opening ceremonies of the Games on February 12th 2010.
You can follow the torch relay here:

http://www.vancouver2010.com/more-2010-information/olympic-torch-relay/olympic-torch-relay-interactive-map/

Monk

I met this monk up by the ski jump tower at Canada Olympic Park. He spoke no English but was happy to have me take his picture. I guess he was just another tourist taking in the sights of Calgary. And that's the suburbs of Calgary you can you can see in the background.

Halloween in the Fish Store

I met these delightful guys in our local pet store...they were friendly helpful and cheerful and really getting into the spirit of Halloween!

Halloween Parties

I meet these students at the university getting ready for a halloween party.
They were applying some very elaborate make-up...and the girls were having fun making up the guys!

Hauling

We have some big trucks in Canada - stuff has to be hauled a long way. This one looks like it's seen better days but it's still going strong.

E

Took this shot through the window of a cafe in Kensington. The trees are almost bare of leaves now. It's nice to sit inside out of the cold!

A classic view

I went out to the Rockies today - bit of a break from the city.
Here's the classic view of Lake Louise, not on the usual sunny day but on a cold, grey late October afternoon when the sky was spitting snow.

Fix it in Chinatown

A range of Chinese medicine and remedies is on display in this store in Calgary's Chinatown. This tiny store is crammed full of products. I just wish I knew what they all did - it looks like you could fix almost any problem.
Click on the picture to enlarge it and see the beautiful boxes in more detail.

Shadows of the past

The 'Alberta Mavericks' display at the Glenbow has some great ideas and effects among the exhibits. All are low-key, not obvious, but when you spot them they are very aesthetically satisfying. This display concerns the early Northwest Mounted police. Extracts from two letters are read on surround sound whilst the shadows of the speakers are projected as if inside a tent.
I liked it.

Don't think you'd want to ride him!

Went down to the Glenbow Museum to see the "Giant Baby" exhibition this weekend. You can't take photos of that exhibit but I loved this horse made out of 3km of barbed wire in the Alberta Mavericks exhibition...but I don't think you'd want to ride him!

Snowing again

Taken at 10.00 am this morning. Yes...it's snow...again!

Snowy Tree

Well I guess I can still get excited about how beautiful snow makes everything when it's the first snowfall of the year. But talk to me in March...I may have had enough of snow by then!

Lost in the Snow

It snowed today...lots! Not what we really wanted to see this early in October.
Oh well!
I was walking in Confederation Park in the Northwest of the city when I saw this lost and found poster. I'm pretty sure this cute tropical bird won't be happy if she's still lost and out in the snow.

Street Art Sunday - Smooch

I found this artwork on the side of a wall in the beltline district. This is an area of downtown Calgary that over many years became run down and is now being extensively redeveloped. Skyscrapers are being built, trees are being planted along broad walkways but right now the area is pretty raw.
There are a few, a very few, original buildings standing in an oasis of temporary parking lots and this mural was on the side of one of them. A row of stores that housed an art co-operative, a tattoo parlour and two hair-dressing salons.
I saw one guy was in the chair getting his arm tattooed, three hairdressers chatting at the end of a long day and this couple engaged in long smooch.

Is that a Saddle?

I know this isn't the greatest photo - it was dark and I only had my old point and shoot - but this is the Pengrowth Saddledome, home of the Calgary Flames.
It's called the Saddledome becasue it was designed in the shape of a saddle...Calgary being Cowboy country and all that.
And yes...there is a guy in a cowboy hat in the picture. Lots of people wear them in Calgary - even when it's not Stampede time.

Kipper!

The fans of the Calgary Flames are known as "The C of Red"
...because looking out over the crowd in the Saddledome on a game night, all you see are red jerseys
...a sea of red.
And Kipper is our goal tender - that's his face behind the mask on the banner.
His real name is Mikka Kiprusoff but to everyone in Calgary, he's known as Kipper.

Going to the Game

It was a cold night. We have had some snow. It's not sticking yet but it won't be long before it is.
But cold nights are good for hockey games and last nights game against the Montreal Canadians was a great one...for the Calgary Flames anyway.
Flames won 4-3.

I shot this on the way to the Saddledome...it's that big grey building supposedly designed to look like a saddle!
This is cowboy country you know!
And to prove it...there's a guy in a cowboy hat going to the game.

Whispering Grasses

This is the artwork on one of the bridges that crosses a four lane highway to allow pedestrian access to Nose Hill Park. The bridge is called "Whispering grasses" and was named by local school children. I think the art work represents the rivers and geology of the Calgary area.

Last of the Warm Days

This week has seen Fall's final fling. Colder days are on the way but I took advantage of the warm autumn sun to walk up on Nose Hill and take a shot of the city. Snow is forecast for the week ahead. Brrr!

Diner Deluxe

This is a fabulous old-fashioned diner on Edmonton Trail. Diner Deluxe serves wonderful breakfasts and has amazing lamps everywhere! They're always busy but if you're ever in Calgary it's worth going out of your way to try.

Back to the future?

I had breakfast in a great little diner on Edmonton Trail this morning...and I was going to post a picture...but then I saw these fabulous boots a little store next door and I couldn't resist posting this shot instead.
I've yet to see anyone in Calgary walking round in this kind of footwear but who knows! At least it would keep your feet above the first snowfall of the season - which looks like it may not be long in coming. Temperatures are dropping...fast!

Mirror, mirror on the...ceiling?

The mirrored ceiling in the foyer of the University of Calgary's Student Union might be a bit dated in terms of interior design...but it's lots of fun for taking photo's.

I'm back!...and I'm hot!

At least I was hot last week! We had record breaking temperatures here in Calgary. It is NEVER 33c in Calgary at the end of September but all last week we broke records set in 1881 or there abouts.

Why was I gone so long? Camera on the fritz (brought a new one) and computer on the fritz (got it rebooted) so I'm back.

Working Wednesday - Keeping Calgary Clean

Working Wednesday - Firefighters

Working Wednesday #5

This bunch of firefighters looked like they were regrouping after a call-out... perhaps one of those calls where they check out an alarm but there's no fire to fight. They look relaxed and cheerful in the spring sunshine.
I'm sure they didn't get much of a break however but soon had another call-out to go to. Calgary is a growing city and all the emergency services are kept busy. Just afew weeks ago the fire service was dealing with a rash of traffic accidents after a run of cold snowy and icy days that made our roads treacherous.
So thanks to all the hard-working firefighters in this city and other cities around the world. The work they do is very much appreciated!

The old Cecil Hotel

Working Wednesday - the busker and the bottle picker

Rail Crossing at Dusk

Beautiful Urban Decay

Street Art Sunday - Chinese Cone thing

Choosing cheese

Soccer

Soccer season is just about winding up for the summer here in Calgary. The last few games are being played and soon everyone will vanish for the long summer vacation.
Like most countries in the world, Canadians love their soccer and many kids play on teams but our season here is VERY short. Outdoor soccer begins in mid- April...but many games are cancelled due to snow and it's always a frantic scramble to get all scheduled games in before the end of June when our summer vacation begins.
And if it's not too cold...then it's too hot! This team were warming up in the shade on a 28c day!

Skyline