She Works Hard for the Money

Greetings friends, family, followers...Mum! It's been awhile, but I've been working hard. I got a second job this week at a certain famous international clothing retailer in town and now plan on working my bum off until my work visa ends in January. As a clarification from my last post, I personally do not partake in the partying aspect of Banfflife. My joke is that if they were to take a sample from everyone in town, I'd be the only one left working.

So while I've been missing in action, I've also been taking part in the positive advantages of living in town. When you work for the larger hotels in town they'll have you do the Banff Ambassador program as part of your orientation, which is a free program available to all residents of Banff. You get the rundown on Banff history and wildlife awareness, and then afterwards you take the Discover Banff & Its Wildlife tour for $5. In return for participating in the program you get the Banff National Park Passport to enjoy all Banff has to offer for free or a discounted rate.

You made it!

One of the offers in the passport is a 2 for 1 soup & sandwich combo at the Plain of Six Glaciers Tea House in Lake Louise. The tea house was built in the 1920s and has no electricity or running water. To get there the hike is about 4 hours return. Supplies are brought to the tea house by a helicopter at the beginning of the season and additional supplies are carried up by horseback.

Hiking the Plain of Six Glaciers

The hike there and back is easy, it's straight forward, it's just the increase in elevation that makes it hard to catch your breath. The views are gorgeous, you just have to beware of some parts of the trails as the horses sometimes leave some big presents behind. The only part that was difficult was where one of the trails had been washed out and you either had to queue up to jump stone to stone one at a time or go barefoot through glacier water. Brr. 

2 for 1 Sandwich and Soup

I had the organic cheese sandwich. The sandwich was simple, lettuce, cheese, and fresh baked bread that crumbled under the touch, but it was delicious is in simplicity. The soup was hearty and filling after the long hike up also. 

And now dear readers I must go get ready for my 7th day of work in my 11 day work week, at least it's not another 12 hour day. That will be tomorrow! Until next time! 

Living in Banff

Banff would already be unique on its own as it is known for being a ski/snowboarding town, but add to that, that this is also a national park, and it is a whole other ballpark. Life is different here in many aspects, here are the top 10 reasons why:

1. In and Out: Who your best friend is today, will probably be gone tomorrow. People are very transient in town. Most of the workers love snowboarding or on break from school and seasonal workers, or on 1 year visas and eventually want spend the rest of North American time exploring both Canada and the U.S.A. It makes for an atmosphere of quick bonding, but also a bit of loneliness when your friends keep leaving you. 

2. Mode of Transportation: More people will have a bicycle than anything else due to affordability, and because as transient foreign workers it seems pointless to buy a car. Bikes are a faster mode of transportation around town most of the time due to the fact tourists coming in will block the roads for ages.

3. Commuters: Don't worry about your fellow commuter in the early morning being someone tired and cranky who is trying to drink coffee and apply makeup in the car next to yours. You will catch deer just walking through the middle of town in the early hours, or just hanging out in someone's yard. Just stroll by and say good morning. 

On my way to work in December of last year

4. Wildlife: While the deer may seem gentle as you stroll by them, they, like the rest of the animals in town are wildlife, emphasis on wild. It's important to be cautious if you see or learn of a bear warning or cougar sighting in town. The cougars although rare, are dangerous and out to kill. The bears are mostly just there to protect their young, and where people go wrong is they don't exercise caution or head warnings and provoke the bears. You hear stories around town of people asking what time the animals are let out, or tourist trying to put their baby on a deer. These animals are not in cages and not domesticated. It is an honor to live among them and we need to respect it. 

5. Racks: In the summertime you will have bike racks outside of most shops, in winter time these are replaced with snowboard/ski racks. 

6. Rules: As in no rules. Maybe it's because we're all kids, or kids at heart, on our own with no family or ties to the outside world in our bubble. Combine that with a heavy drinking culture and, well, life is just different. There is a lot that goes on here that wouldn't be okay anywhere else, but it's just part of life in Banff here.

7. Air Conditioning: Is limited and valued. Most houses will not have it, and hotels will only be allowed a certain amount as this is a national park and it is important to maintain air quality. If you're hot during summer, go get a popsicle. 

8. Food Prices: Food is priced for the tourist, not for the locals. Sometimes it is cheaper to go out for a meal, rather than get all the ingredients for cooking up something. Mr. Noodle is the best friend for a lot of people as you can find these dehydrated noodles with no nutritional value at Safeway, on sale for $0.40 a package.

9. Water: No one buys bottled water here because our tap water comes from a glacier. You can't get much fresher than that!  

10. The Views: Probably the best part of living in a national park are the views you wake up to. Not too shabby. Not too shabby at all. 

At the top of Sulphur Mountain

Overlooking town from Mt. Norquay

View from the bridge.