The flight is around 1 hour 15 minutes; a nice easy one! On arrival into Calgary it's a short walk to the baggage area and an even shorter wait. Great, this means I can make the 2.30pm shuttle instead of waiting an extra hour to 3.30pm which I had booked. Bag dropped off; now for food.
Walking back to the shuttle place I find a familiar face (Greg) walking towards me :); not exactly unexpected given so many of us are flying in today for Lois and Nick's wedding.
We depart dead on time at 2.30pm, I have a spare seat next to me then within seconds of the driver leaving the lady from the office knocks on the door to add one more passenger. Man it's just not going my way with spare seats.
It's an easy 1.45 hour trip to Banff; the scenery is amazing! I'm the last stop, but boy it's worth it as the hotel is up on the mountains. Wow!
After checking in, admiring my amazing view I drop my bags then head down to Banff town centre for a quick look see. It's still such a beautiful day, loving the day lights saving.
I have a chilled time in my room before heading to the hotel bar to meet up with Leonora, Ange and Melody. The whole day lights saving is really throwing me, it's feels like early evening but it's 8.30pm. Crazy to get my head around it!
Lois, Nick, Alek and family arrive late - we girls then sit and chat for a few hours. So much for a semi early night! Sleep is definitely needed.
Canada Day (1 July 2015) I manage a wee sleep in, although not really one when I was still wide awake at 1am!! I head to the gym and run for 40 minutes; while I'm happy to run downhill to Banff town the thought of running back uphill does NOT appear!
Breakfast is a chilled affair - nice to actually eat with people after my time alone in Vancouver.
Early afternoon we head down to Banff town for the Canada Day celebrations. Some of us choose to watch the parade from the comfort of our seats with a beer in hand.
Thursday, 2 July it's a slow start to the day! But it doesn't last long as we are off to Lake Louise for the day.
Lake Louise is about 45 minutes’ drive from Banff, with the stunning scenery I would have been happy if it was a 4 hour drive. On arrival it becomes very obvious that we weren’t the only ones that planned a day trip here.
After admiring the beautiful Lake Louise a few of us head off on a hike (3.5km up) to Lake Agnes tea house. While walking uphill isn’t my most favourite thing in the world to do the scenery around us made it easier to continue. On reaching the tea house we joined a long line to get a cool lemonade, very refreshing after the hike.
Back down at Lake Louise those of us left enjoyed an early dinner, or perhaps it was a late lunch before returning back to Banff. Lake Louise is a stunning place and in the winter months I’m sure would be amazing with the snow everywhere.
Friday, 4 July I wake feeling a million dollars better than I did yesterday morning! After a chilled breakfast it’s a relaxing day at the hotel. Perfect!
Lois and Nic hosted a wine tasting late afternoon for the wedding party and others involved in the wedding - as the MC (eeks alive) that includes me. We have the hotels sommelier come and teach us about the 4 different types of wine, then it turns into a drink whatever you want time.
I need to take it easy as the big day is tomorrow. Nic hosts drinks in the bar for the rest of the wedding guests; us girls head to Lois’ room for a few hours before Greg brings Nic back and the drinking starts! The bride needs her beauty sleep so we are “kicked out”. Ange and I are dragged to town by Greg…..finally home at 2.40am. Great night!
Saturday morning (wedding day) I wake up feeling the complete opposite of yesterday morning. Can we postpone the wedding by one day please??!! While last night was a HUGE amount of fun I’m definitely paying for it now. I have a couple of hours before I need to get ready, time to write my MC speech.
The wedding ceremony was outside, amazing backdrop with the mountains right there, followed up with cocktail reception on the terrace. The drinks were not going down well at all and I was fading fast. But given I’m the MC it’s not appropriate for me to return to my room and sleep for the rest of the day. Time for a bloody mary….to sort me out and calm my nerves.
The reception was lovely, and once my piece was all over I was onto the dance floor. Another very late night.
Sunday, 5 July for some crazy reason I woke at 7am (after getting into bed at 3.15am) feeling absolutely awful! More shut eye is needed before I have to get up to finish packing and face the day. The packing really should have done yesterday!
Breakfast thankfully is a chilled affair, with everyone chatting about the awesome day yesterday.
The majority of the wedding guests are all leaving today so there are people everywhere Sean, Greg and I leave before 1pm, it’s been an incredible 4 days! But my body needs a break. Calgary here I come.
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