The last little bit of the trip

I think I have some energy back to tackle the last of the trip pictures. Monday afternoon, which I guess was two weeks ago now, after lunch in the Castle Pantry, we were off for our second scary ride. Monica wanted to take the gondola ride up Sulpher Mountain, so that's what we did. Lee and I took it in 78, only to land in a snow storm. We met some big horn sheep, and hot chocolate, and rode down the mountain, only to look up and see that the cloud that snowed on us went someplace else. I don't like little baskets that are suspended on a string, but anything to make the memories rich for Monica. $29.00 Canadian each to scare my socks off. It was another adventure in "Please, God, let me live long enough to die of cancer."
This is a view of the Bow Valley from the top. Our hotel is in the foreground and the town of Banff is to the left.

Here's another one, showing the hotel, the golf course, and the Bow River, working its way through the valley and one of the Bow Valley going on forever.

Then there's one coming down the mountain showing the skinny little threads that got us there and back.

I took a picture of where we went just to prove to myself that I'd lived through it.

In my job as tour guide, here is Mt. Rundel and some other assorted scenery.

Here we have a little of the landscaping around the hotel.

That night, we had dinner in the Wald Haus. It was the golf clubhouse the first time Lee and I went to Banff. It has been replaced with something grander, so it became a restaurant. It is down a long flight of stairs from the hotel. We gave ourselves plenty of time to get there--enough time that we went on down to take the obligatory picture of the Bow Falls and the Bow River.

Here's a shot of the weather vane on top of the Wald Haus--taken after dinner at nine something at night.

Tuesday was Spa Day--no pictures, but glorious. Monica just wanted a facial, so that's what she got. I was sort of restricted in what I could have, because of the chemo and my skin's reaction to it. I managed a Body Quench, something called Feet First, and a Tranquillow facial, which is a back facial followed by a face facial. All of it was wonderful. We had dinner at the Castello, which is the hotel's Italian restaurant, then watched Finding Nemo.

Wednesday was get away day, which--at least when you're at a Spa with me--starts with a pedicure and a manicure and a good long rest in the lounge to let them all dry. Once we were sure it was save, we packed up and left for our return to city life and Calgary. Calgary was the best hotel room--I used a suite upgrade and we had a full suite--bedroom and living room, and a bathroom for each of us. Each hotel honored my birthday fortnight in its own special way. I only got a picture of the one in the suite in Calgary.

It was strange to be back in the city after two weeks in the parks. We hadn't had to deal with traffic or traffic noises either. Our last day was something Monica had been looking forward to--not because it was the last day, but because it was THE MALL and shopping. I thought she could visit plenty of malls at home, but I guess I just didn't get it. We'd taken a walk after dinner the night before, to get the lay of the land were we were. I could tell that just wasn't going to cut it. So I took the advice of people who knew the city better than I, and took Monica to the Chinook Mall. I couldn't have scored a better hit. We shopped. "We" (read that Grandma most of the time) bought perfume, make up, nail polish, earrings, and the show stopper, a Juicy Couture pink purse. Then we went to see Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. Life just couldn't get any better.

Friday brought us home, back to the land of reality. I don't know quite what to do with myself, because I have NO major trip planned. It is the first time in years that I haven't been planning something. Guess I'll have to fix that soon.

So I really am back to reality. I had chemo last week. I saw my primary care today--she'd still tweaking my meds. She also told me that my beloved Dr. Kubin died while I was gone. I googled him when I got back to the house and read the obituary. He died the day after my birthday, one week short of his 76th birthday. I feel blessed to have had him in my life and taking care of me, even though it was only for a short time.

So that's it, that's my latest real journey. I'm almost unpacked and merrily going through the souvenirs. I want to go again. And I would happily go with the same companion.

xxooxx