Well, I’m back from Alberta. It was a great trip. Everything at work in Calgary went well and I got to see my friends again, which was delightful. More importantly, my cousin’s wedding last night was wonderful – very relaxed, very friendly, and very fun. I am so glad my parents and I were able to be there for it.
Driving around the countryside, I was also reminded of how stunningly beautiful Alberta can be. I may have hated it during the frozen, snow-covered winters, during the blizzard-stricken springs, and through many hail-pounding summer storms, but when the sun is out and the temperature up, it’s fabulous. My cousin lives in a largely argicultural area and the drive up there from the city through the surrounding farmland was beautiful. It wasn’t enough to make me want to move back but I might have to consider visiting more often.
Now to ready myself for Wednesday’s departure for Europe! I’ll be around for the next few days (madly attempting to write reviews so you’ll have something to read while I’m travelling and catching up on old comments) but they are going to be busy ones, between work, packing, blogging and visiting with family who arrive in town on Monday. I’ll have definitely earned this vacation!
The Captive Reader 
Love the photos of Alberta.Wide open spaces. Enjoy your holiday. I hope you write about it. I am struggling a bit here in Chile on our holiday now with the language and the enormous amount of homeless dogs. Quite confronting with so much poverty but also so much beauty. That was travel is about. Seeing the rest of the world. All the best, Pam
Alberta looks lovely through the eyes of you camera, and your words. Safe travel.
Busy times! Have a good time in Europe.
So beautiful. Where are you going in Europe? Coming to visit us in London now that the Olympics are over and the place is mostly back to normal, except with added Paralympic goodwill?
Alberta looks amazing – all that flat open space and sky. Have a good time in Europe.
I have a dear friend, she was my bridesmaid, who lives in Alberta and all I have heard descriptions of the fierce winter weather and the very hot summers. But no photos of the landscape which is what I longed to see … not from books but from her own camera. Now you’ve done this for me and I agree – those vast spaces look wonderful (although I agree I have hot or cold weather, but we’ve had some pretty nippy winters here in the UK in recent years, too.)
There really is something about those wide open spaces, isn’t there? I think they strike a certain chord with those of us from sprawling countries.
Have fun in Europe and travel safely! Can’t wait to read those recaps.
Big Sky Country. Love it. I hadn’t realized that this was in some of Canada. The pics are very reminiscent of here in northwest Texas… Probably cooler (temp-wise) though… Enjoy your travels!