We overnighted in Calgary before heading to the Rockies.
Hoping for a clear day, not just because we wanted the roof down, but because apparently seeing the Rockies rise majestically out of the Earth from a distance adds to their inspiring allure. Unfortunately fine rain reduced visibility from afar although no where near enough to force the roof up. As there were no foothills, when you enter the Rockies from Calgary, you enter the Rockies proper. And the great thing about the view from a convertible is that it's completely unimpeded - you see everything.
If you scoured the dictionary from aardvark to Zurich you might find sufficient superlatives to describe the Rockies. Alas I have neither the vocabulary nor the penmenship to do this justice. But a picture says a thousand words, so if you can't get there yourself, try these.
This shot was taken atop the actual moraine which created the lake and gave it its name - Lake Moraine. It's another 30mins drive from the more famous Lake Louise, but well worth the time because, personally I think it's the more spectacular.
Exiting the Rockies from Jasper we headed to Edmonton for a sticky beak around the West Edmonton Mall. It may no longer be the largest in the world and it may be showing its age, but with an indoor wave pool, pirate themed bumper boat pool and ice rink, it's still very cool. You can't help but think it would be a great place to go as a family during the winter time when it's minus 30 degrees outside.
This shot shows a whole flotilla of kids on yellow tubes awaiting the next set of waves in the wave pool. Behind them is the waterslide tower with its own pools off to the right.
A funny thing happened to me in one of the restrooms here. I was washing my hands and there was a little boy about six years old doing likewise. He was furiously pumping the soap dispenser into his right hand. Once full, he added his left hand and went on making himself a small lake of pearly pink surfactant. Most amused, it was about this time I asked him if he thought he had enough, to which he replied:
"Mom said to use lots of soap!"
"Well I think she'll be happy with that lot son."
"Well I think she'll be happy with that lot son."
I smiled and left him to his bubble bath. You just gotta love kids, their logical innocence is an inexhaustible source of delight.
Soon after this episode, I was indirectly confronted with a far more serious yet heartening example of love and compassion from a child. Just a few days ago eleven year old Aashar Mahood was orphaned when his grandfather, parents and two sisters were killed in a head on collision in British Columbia. Rather than being stricken with grief as could be expected, he told the Edmonton Sun he wanted people to remember his family as loving, caring people who would help anyone. One wonders how much grief the world could have been spared in Ireland and the middle east if such mature compassion was prevalent in its leaders and clergy.
