We live in a pretty amazing world where I can use some of the world’s most advanced technology – the Internet, YouTube, wifi – to watch a video clip about one of the world’s most primitive societies.
As summer comes to an end, I thought this video was appropriate for a Secular Sunday post (and yes, it’s a Christian making fun of atheists for a change!)
The gist of the guy’s bit is what kids would learn at an Atheist Summer Camp and the irony is that Shea and I frequently lament that basically every summer camp in Saskatchewan is connected to one church or another and we *can’t* find a secular one.
I think it’s been eight years since we were last in Calgary which happened to be a weekend visit which combined a 50th Wedding Anniversary for a Calgary-based aunt and uncle and a 50th birthday party (featuring an appearance by The King!) for a Calgary cousin.
Here’s a picture of my dad with eight of his nine siblings who made it to the parties
One of the reasons you travel with children is the opportunity to learn about and experience the world in the way they can’t from a classroom or even books.
Here’s a few examples:
5. On the way into Calgary, her brother is “helpfully” giving her a history lesson. “A long time ago, there was a farmer who had a cow named Gary. And when they were trying to think of a name for the city, they decided naming it after a cow was as good as anything so they called the city Cow Gary.”
4. Once we corrected this interesting interpretation of Calgary’s name, Sasha ended up mispronouncing it most of the week anyhow – calling it “Cal-a-gary” – which we didn’t bother to correct because frankly, it was pretty cute.
3. This is technically something she first said in Regina but she said it in Calgary too so I’m counting it – when she saw all the skyscrapers, Sasha said “Look at all the sky highers!”
2. On the drive out, we noticed a lot of campers on the highway. So Sasha and I ended up having a game where we’d get a point for every camper we spotted coming towards us on the other side of the highway. She was winning 8-5 as I kept telling her to look out the window when I’d see an interesting “cow” or “lake” which just happened to be visible at the same time as an RV was passing. But then I couldn’t let the opportunity pass when I saw an RV lot outside Medicine Hat. “One hundred points!” I blurted excitedly. When Sasha saw what I was looking at, she said “Dad! I forgot to tell you – the game was over a few minutes ago.” 🙂
1. At the zoo, we come around a corner and see a couple zebras in front of us. “Zebras are real?!?” Sasha asks with a mix of wonder and excitement. Turns out that even though she’d seen photos and videos featuring zebras (live ones, not just cartoons), she somehow put “Zebras” in the same category as “Unicorns” in her brain! 🙂
It’s hard to pick a favourite part of our quick trip to Calgary – seeing the pandas at the Calgary Zoo (though gorillas and hippos will always be my favourites), driving past so many of our old haunts (even tried to buzz a neighbour whose name is still on the board at our former condo twenty years later but no one home!), an amazing Korean fusion meal at Anju on 17th Ave, surprising the kids with a visit to Calaway Park amusement park.
But our day in Banff was unreal – managing to arrive just in time to qualify for the “Family Before 10am Discount” which got both kids free rides up the gondola, exploring the four storey building on top of a mountain plus the long walkway that takes you to the highest point of the mountain. Just contemplating what must’ve gone into erecting a four storey building on *top* of a mountain plus that walkway then keeping all of that stocked, supplied and in a good state of repair.
Absolutely fascinating.
Then, back into town for a rooftop patio lunch and wandering through the tourist-filled streets (yes, that’s us too) buying a couple souvenirs including the requisite fudge. Then, back up the mountain again but not all the way to the top, only part way for a mid-afternoon dip in the Banff Hot Springs which were perfect – great weather, managing to snag some deck side Adirondack chairs, interesting conversations with other tourists from around the world.
Anyhow, here’s a short video I found that captures some of what we saw on the gondola ride to the top of Sulphur Mountain:
One of the best things about traveling is the people you meet.
I met a young guy from Scotland at the Banff Hot Spring and during our conversation, mentioned my grandmother was born in Campbeltown, Scotland.
He asked if I knew this old folk song and I admitted that I didn’t (though I quickly filed it away as an idea for my next Music Monday selection!)
We talked about how surprised he was to see the amount of people/activities celebrating Scottish heritage in Canada and how that doesn’t even happen in his home country. I tried to provide my own song recommendation – “The Old Sod” by Spirit of the West – but he happened to know this song/band due to the influence of a cousin Vancouver!
One hundred and ten seems like a bit of an unusual anniversary to commemorate but anyhow, 
