#11: Alberta Bound

The drive from Saskatoon to Edmonton is only five hours, and the route is one we should know well.  This is home turf, and we check off familiar locations:  Lloydminster, Vegreville, Elk Island Park.  We are almost there.  Then, in a downpour on the outskirts of town, we miss the turn-off that would eventually get us to my sister-in-law Betty's house.  Cue Samantha, our stern GPS nanny, who leads us on a meandering path through parts of the city we vaguely remember.

I am fascinated to return to a place that is so much a part of my history.  The outline is still there, but the details have changed, and Bruce and I exclaim over the differences (Wow, look at that huge new housing development!) as we unquestioningly follow orders to Turn right on Whitemud Drive!  (We do not always slavishly obey Samantha, but this time we recognized that she seemed to know her way quite well.)

Toni's American Bungalow style wooden house. 

Yet, in spite of the changes, and the fact that we have not lived there since 1971 (except for a sabbatical year in 1984), Edmonton still feels like home.  It has to do with the familiar clear, dry air, the distinctive domestic architecture that depends almost entirely on wood and stucco, and a northern landscape dominated by fir, pine and poplar. I especially love the North Saskatchewan River valley, and all its various bridges   No doubt about it -- Edmonton is a pretty city.

Love that river valley!

But we weren't here for the scenery, or even to visit the West Edmonton Mall, still a major tourist destination after more that 25 years.   We were there for the people: Bruce's sisters, his cousin and aunt, and some dear friends who have known us all our adult lives.  We stayed with both sisters in turn-- first Betty, then Toni-- and we made forays across town to visit everyone else.

 With Betty and Toni, we explored some of the "new" Edmonton.  First, Betty and her husband Don took us to Churchill Square, a downtown gathering spot flanked by buildings of civic importance -- the library, city hall and the Art Gallery of Alberta.  Betty pointed out the nearby water feature which recently caught the fancy of Toronto mayor Rob Ford. (I wonder if Dundas Square will be getting one of these soon?)

Churchill Square is more elegant than I remember!

A few days later, Toni, Bruce and I went to the  Royal Alberta Museum, a natural history museum which makes great use of an extensive specimen collections in quite magnificent dioramas that depict provincial flora and fauna.  No dinosaurs lurk among the exhibits  (The Royal Tyrrell Museum in Drumheller is dinosaur central), but for bears, moose, mountain goats, wolves, coyotes and every other creature you might hope to encounter as you explore Alberta, the RAM is the place to go.     

On the roof of the Art Gallery of Alberta

The Royal Alberta Museum building would be nothing without the landscaping!

   

Everyone has their picture taken with Mr. Lunch Bucket