Day 15: Calgary

The former venues of the 1988 Winter Olympics are located near the campsite. Today they are used for both winter and summer sports. I booked tickets for the downhill carts in advance. We arrived early and stroll around the complex. We visit part of the bobsleigh track and René tells us about the Jamaican bobsled team that crashed in the last curve. Shortly after 10 o'clock, we armed with helmets and board the chairlift to be taken up. Then we receive instructions and zoom down the road. David rides with René, Erik and I ride alone. It's fun, even though holding the handlebars becomes tiring after a while. Regina waits for us at the finish line, she doesn't want to ride. Then we repeat the whole thing twice. I booked a family package with a photo. Afterwards, we have a snack for lunch and drive to the edge of the city with access to public transportation. We park our car, buy tickets for the metro, and then take the 9 stations to downtown Calgary. The city is green, efforts are made to keep the streets wide and clean. We quickly reach the city center and start our sightseeing tour. First stop is on the 4th floor of a shopping center. The Devonian Gardens is a green oasis with small ponds with koi fish and exotic plants. There is also a small playground and the children use the time to play. Afterwards, we look for a tobacco shop, but don't find one. A police convoy passes us with at least 30 cars and many motorcycles. David is so excited that we visit the nearest fire station to avoid the theater. We are welcomed very friendly and exchange information. The fire chief jokes that he is married to a German woman and she always calls him a dummy, now he is asking what the meaning is, his wife says it's Honey. Finally, he clarifies the joke. The children receive learning programs and René is given a shirt and a patch as a gift. Now we walk to Olympic Plaza and Stephen Avenue. The city is lively despite it being Sunday. Today is the last day of the Stampede Festival, the largest rodeo festival in the world. It lasts for 10 days. A ticket for the evening costs $198. We take a short break and decide to visit the Calgary Tower. The Calgary Tower is a 190.8-meter-high observation tower located in the center of downtown. Without waiting, we take the elevator to the top and enjoy the view in the sunshine. There are special points where the floor is made of glass. Only David and I can step onto the glass platform without any problems. We take photos and observe the city from above, including the festival grounds. Then we begin the return journey with the metro. We reach the campsite exhausted around 6 p.m. Now we quickly cook dinner and relax.