Canadian Rockies Trip Day 1 - Depart for Calgary (Sunday, June 16th, 2019)

Canadian Rockies Trip Day 1 - Depart for Calgary (Sunday, June 16th, 2019)

We departed on Sunday 6/16 for Calgary for our week long trip to the Canadian Rockies. We were traveling with my parents this time. Our boarding time with Air Canada AC553 was at 09:55 am out of terminal 6 at LAX.

MM waiting to board our flight at terminal 6 while enjoying an early lunch

We flew the A319-100 to Calgary. This is the same platform we flew from Guangzhou to Kathmandu.  The high pitch ramp up noise of the CFM56 engine sounded familiar to us. We took off to a somewhat hazy day in Los Angeles. The flight path took us through the Sierra Nevada Mountain Range, cutting through Nevada, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, and finally to the Alberta province. The flight was only somewhat bumpy when we flew over the Canadian Rockies. I woke my father up to open the window when we were over the Canadian Rockies to take some photos. We got a glimpse of the ice capped mountains that we will be heading into in the next few days. 

Flight path of AC553

Air Canada Airbus A319-100

Air Canada beverage cart

Air Canada Cup

Flying over the Rockies

Calgary under cloud shadow

The flight took just over three hours and we landed smoothly in Calgary. Calgary International Airport has been recently renovated. It looks modern but inviting. MM got to take a picture with the captain before we disembarked our flight. We got through immigration and met our airport transport at the departure lobby. 

MM in the A319 cockpit

Walking through the Canada Air Terminal with Trans Canada Airline Plane in view

 

Yes we are in Canada

...and I am not awake yet

Going through the Immigration Kiosk

Picking up our luggage near the big colorful Canada Sign

Our two hour scenic drive from Calgary to Banff, picture taken near Canmore outside of Banff

Limestone Sediment Rocks with 40-60 degree slant, typical rock formation in the area

Many unnamed glaciers can be seen along the way

We arrived at our hotel - Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel shortly after 5:00 pm local time. We decided to dine at a German Restaurant - Waldhaus (House in the Woods or Wood House) on the hotel vicinity. The Waldhaus is definitely a more touristy restaurant catered towards more senior tour groups. We saw many groups of gray-haired travelers around us. It has a very subdued vibe but decent food. We ordered the fondue and a few other dishes. After dinner, Joanne and I went for a short walk along the Bow River and Bow Falls just behind the Waldhaus restaurant to stretch our legs a bit. We walked back to the hotel just after 10:00 pm and the sky was still bright. We called it a day shortly after 10:30 pm.

Welcome treat arranged by our trek company - Fresh Tracks Canada

View from our room at Fairmont Banff Springs

Short walk to the German restaurant Waldhaus behind the hotel

Parents on the short walk to the restaurant

Waldhaus - "House in the Woods"


Inside the traditional dining hall


Cross Coat of Arms on red patch - perhaps symbolizing the region of Rhineland and its cuisine?

Cheese fondue

Appetizer salad


Pretzel and small bread


The Beef Short Rib Sauerbraten


The Veal Schnitzel


Haus Made Sausage


Dessert - Sorbet


Chocolate Fondue with fruit


Short walk behind the Waldhaus Restaurant towards Bow Falls

Bow Falls

Collection area just after the fall


Walking up the path by the fall


Fairmont Banff Springs seen from a vantage point at Bow Falls


Bow River


Footbridge crossing the Bow River


Joanne at the footbridge


Sunset near the footbridge


Looking towards the town from the footbridge at sunset

On the path above Bow Falls


The rushing water of Bow Falls


Bow Falls, 9:59 pm



Back onto the hotel vicinity, 10:08 pm


Calling it a night, 10:31 pm

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