Canada!

We had an early flight to Calgary for the start of an 8 day bus tour with Caravan!  I purchased first class tickets because though it was a Delta flight it was a code share and we were actually flying on a WestJet plane.  It sounded as if it was small so I didn’t take a chance. 

We made our way to the reserved parking lot, checked in with Westjet and had a lovely flight complete with breakfast!  I can’t tell you the last time I had a meal on a plane. 

There was a few things to do to enter Canada but I had all my documents in order and we had no problem. We called for the Hilton Garden Inn shuttle.  Despite it being just noon, they had our room ready. We were having a 7 pm meet and greet with our tour director and other passengers.  Tom and Eileen arrived and we had dinner in the hotel because it was pouring rain. 

We had to have our bags out early the next morning and after our included breakfast we were heading to Head Smashed In Buffalo Jump.

I had never heard of this practice in any Indian tribe but there was a specific event where buffaloes were funneled into a small lane and stampeded over a cliff killing at least 300 animals at one time, enough to feed the tribe for a year!  You learn something new all the time.

We continued on to Glacier National Park which is joined with the Canadian Waterton Park to form the largest national peace park.

We took a boat ride to the border that is in the middle of the lake.

Some of the beautiful scenery we passed. 

We took a gear jammer up to the top of the mountain to Logan Pass.  A recent snow had covered the peaks that had just lost the last of the snow! 

We had to go through Customs a few times while in that area.

We spent the next two nights in Pincher Creek.   

Nothing Much Going On

 I have not had to return to PT, my shoulder has been fine. Ted continues with his. He has 12 total to complete.  

We eventually got all unpacked from Aruba, laundry done, bills paid, attended church, played cards and celebrated Memorial Day with 6 folks joining us to eat Ted’s smoked pulled pork!  It was very tasty, lean and tender. 

My push for organization included going through my jewelry one day. I ended up with one quart bag in the garbage, 2 bags in the Paralyzed Vet bags. Two organized jewelry boxes. 

A nephew is visiting this week to golf in an Invitational here where we live.  He is gone each day, fed at the club so he is no problem at all, we hardly know he is here.

Ted continues his PT and is making progress on his balance and has been noted as being very strong!  Last night he went to stay with our 92 year old neighbor.  His wife was hospitalized and they needed someone from 7:30 pm until his son arrived from NC to stay with him.  He is good about doing things like that.  

We are less than 3 weeks away from heading to Calgary.  I have to fill out an ArrCA form for both of us but no more than 3 days before departure.  Aruba was within 7 days.  Travel continues to get more complicated!  

Life seems to be lots of TV, eating, PT, doctor appointments, playing cards and funerals!  Not much to write about.  But …

I finally found a cruise that interested me.  My father had said to me that we would be jaded by the time we retired because we would have been everywhere. Well there are lots of places I haven’t been but I have been to 48 states and just as many countries.  But we have not been to the Baltic region.   So a 12 day cruise starting in Stockholm, Sweden and ending in LaHavre, France caught my eye.  It goes to 10 countries and I have been to half of them.  

Kristin wanted to go because Larry cannot travel yet so we ended up booking the Owner’s Suite with a  king size private suite with full bath, a fold out couch with half bath, 3 balconies, a dining table, a butler and concierge service.  Five specialty dining dinners are included, room service, stocked bar, early on and off, reserved seating at evening entertainment and 5 hours of WiFi each.  I upgraded the air offered by NCL, not $7000 first class but the next rows behind them with more space.  Kelly, Pat, Kara and Bill decided to join us to celebrate my 80th birthday!

We fly to Amsterdam and then on to Stockholm.  We are arriving Monday afternoon but do not sail until Wednesday.  We end outside Paris and will spend two nights in Paris.  Like Aruba, we have to apply for a UK ETA entry permit!  Aruba was $20, England was $22.66. I have to fill out the ArrCA for Canada this week 72 within hours of arrival.  Not sure if there is a charge.  Imagine if we collected $20 from all those millions that poured over our borders.

That’s about it,  I will write when we arrive back from Canada!