EDMONTON, Canada – Spending almost every summer of my childhood in the Carpathians, I developed a strong love for mountains - and a strong aversion to extreme sports. As an adult, I’ve made visiting mountain ranges a sort of hobby.
I was excited to visit the mountains of Armenia – the tall, rust-colored cliffs of the snowcapped Caucasus Mountains stretching off to the horizon made me gasp with wonder. But later, after I’d visited the Kyrgyzstan Mountains and Swiss Alps, I started to get the feeling I’d seen it all, as far as mountains go.
But a friend of mine liked to joke that I’ve never seen “real mountains” – the Canadian Rockies. So I started planning a trip to Canada.
I have to admit they were right. The stunning scenery of snow-dusted peaks, when it first came into view from my airplane window, was enough to make me forget about the exhausting 20-hour trip.
My vacation started in Edmonton, the capital of Alberta and home to 877,926 people – many of whom are of Ukrainian origin. In the 2006 census, 144,620 of Edmonton’s citizens identified as ethnic Ukrainians – one of the largest Ukrainian urban communities in Canada.
Better known for the local attractions of the West Edmonton Mall – the largest shopping mall in North America – as well as NHL hockey, this vibrant city, its central district crowded with dozens of skyscrapers, has a lot to offer visitors.
My favorites are Strathcona, the historic district in south-central Edmonton, where you can’t turn without seeing an art gallery or a vintage bookstore. It’s also the home of Edmonton’s independent theater, with some nine theater companies operating in the neighborhood.
The Tellus World of Science, with its IMAX theater, planetarium and observatory (tickets go for $15) and the Art Gallery of Alberta (admission $10) in downtown Edmonton are also must-sees.
As the weather was quite chilly, it was important to warm-up from time to time, which we usually did at one of the local diners. It’s also a chance to try some national food as it comes with poutine, a savory dish of French fries and cheese curds topped with beef gravy (starts from $6). This is best washed down with root beer.
Calgary was the next stop on our way to the mountains.
Even if your time is limited, it’s worth checking out the Calgary Tower in the heart of the city. It’s a 191-metre observation tower with a glass floor on the north side of the observation deck. If you don’t get too dizzy up there, you can visit the upscale Sky 360 revolving restaurant – good for a romantic date or a family dinner. Admission costs $14.
In Calgary, I was also lucky to get to see the Skate Canada sectionals, presented by the Alberta Figure Skating Foundation.
For many of the participants, figure skating is more than a sport – it’s a way of life. One of the qualified athletes, 15-year-old Canadian figure skater Triena Robinson, recalled her dad encouraging her to take up skating at the age of two, saying: “Go on the ice and learn how to skate, because we live in Canada, and that’s what we do!”
So, when in Canada, be ready to get your skates on. If you don’t know how to skate, just ask a Canadian to teach you – it’s what they do, after all.
Our ultimate destination now was just 128 kilometers west of Calgary. Approaching the territory of Canada’s first national park – the Banff National Park – is a breathtaking experience, as you approach the massive, majestic Rocky Mountains range towering over the plains.
To explore the park, the best choice is to stay in the town of Banff – a mountain resort that looks like the coziest place imaginable to spend Christmas holidays with loved ones. There’s a huge number of restaurants and gift shops, but I’d suggest focusing on one – the Spirit of Christmas gift shop on 133 Banff Ave.
The shores of Lake Louise are one of the most visited spots in the Banff National Park. (Photo: Brad LaFoy)
The variety of wildlife to be seen in the park is another bonus. You’re likely to spot a deer or an elk grazing along the roads and highways during the day. The picturesque Lake Louise with its bright blue glacial waters, located some 90 kilometers to the northwest of Banff, is one of the most visited and treasured areas in Canada. It offers scenic views of surrounding mountain peaks and a variety of hiking tours.
Strolling along the shores of the frozen lake, you get a sense of how wonderful winter can be.
Kyiv Post staff writer Olena Goncharova can be reached at [email protected].
