#9: S'toon Stop

Who holidays in Saskatoon?

We got asked this question a lot when we were planning our trip.

Ninth Street Band B--such a pretty garden!

I've thought it over, and I have decided those most likely to visit the Paris of the Prairies for holiday fun are folks from neighbouring communities.  In fact our fellow guests at the 9th Street Bed and Breakfast were all from small towns in Saskatchewan and Alberta. They were in S'toon to shop on Broadway, go to the art gallery (aka The Mendel), walk along the picturesque South Saskatchewan River, and eat in some truly fabulous ethnic restaurants.  Prairie people know that Saskatoon has a lot to offer.    Other travellers who find themselves in 'Toon town by accident have no idea this town of 220,000 has so much going for it.

The river valley is a great place to check out all the pretty bridges!

And we did all those things, too.  But we belong to the another category of visitor -- former Prairie residents who just happen to have a daughter living in a tiny adorable bungalow near Caswell Hill.  So our primary reason to visit was personal.  There were lots of hugs and many shared meals.  I also did some gardening, and Bruce put together one of those flat-pack drawer systems with a hundred little screws that do not quite line up. (This was a labour of paternal love that took the entire afternoon  and cost the workman a blister.  That Jenny's partner Patrick assembled the wardrobe part of this unit in a couple of hours after a full day's work impressed us no end.)

I am always delighted to check out the action at Jenny's place of work,  the Children's Department at the Saskatoon Public Library. This time we were able to observe first hand the transformation of the Winnie the Pooh mural (circa 1973), into more contemporary wall art.  Those who miss the old Pooh and Eeyore will love this new version!

Pooh gets a more Canadian setting thanks to Jim's artistry