Oh Canada

Oh Canada
Oh Canada Eh :)

Monday, April 15, 2013

Day 3

Calgary to Medicine Hat 294km

I'd like to start by saying that this was intentionally a short drive. We usually plan a day off during our cross country drives (yes...I know....I use the plural form because we are old timers at this. In case you were wondering...this is our FIFTH time.) ....but this time decided to have a few short days and change some of the destinations to allow for it. 

Before I go on about the drive today, I would like to reminisce about a morning in Calgary 6yrs ago. Picture it......Day three (again) and we have woken up and packed the car. Oh, and my sister-in-law has joined us for that road trip from Vancouver to Halifax. (MISS YOU ANITA!!!!)  So....before the drive begins every morning, we always make sure there is a coffee of some kind in hand. This hotel was the Westin (same one as this round) and there happened to be a Starbucks in the lobby. I LOVE Starbucks. So...I was put in charge of coffee orders....I got back to the car and handed out the coffees. We were about 5 min out of the city and Shawn sipped his....oh lord help us the noise he made......apparently his coffee was NOT to order and was only a steamed vanilla milk. Ooops. So in my mind...I'm thinking ok....well...we will need to stop soon for a caffeine hit for Shawn. But nope.....he totally blamed me for this mix up. Um....I ordered what you asked for. I can't control that that is not what they gave me. Needless to say....a huge fight ensued (sorry Anita) and the rest of the day was done.  In fact the next two days were less then pleasant. To this day I would like to stand by my point that one should always sip their coffee before departing any establishment to ensure it is what they asked for. 

So....what I am trying to say is that this time....the morning in Calgary in the SAME hotel with the same Starbucks, we were anxious to see how the day would start. Good news.....our coffee orders were made as requested.  Thank goodness. Oh, and I made Shawn go get them. 



Moving on from my rather long winded rant...sorry about that....but to this day I feel verklemt just thinking about it!

Heading towards Medicine Hat.....hmmmm....not much to report....very much an introduction to the Prairies. Long, straight and boring. Lots of trains....very long trains. Tried to count, but got bored so I just stopped cause I couldn't be bothered. 


This is why I couldn't be bothered......it really made me sleepy.

Have you ever wondered why it is named Medicine Hat? I know you have lost sleep over it. Here it is....Medicine Hat trivia. You can thank me when this comes up in Trivial Pursuit.

 The name "Medicine Hat" is the English translation of 'Saamis' (SA-MUS) – the Blackfoot word for the eagle tail feather headdress worn by medicine men – or 'Medicine Hat'.

Did you also know that Historically, Medicine Hat has been known for its large natural gas fields, being immortalised by Rudyard Kipling as having "all hell for a basement"

Ok....we pulled into the Holiday Inn Express and proceeded to relax and have a beverage. 


I won't bother you with posting the link to the hotel....it's rather self explanatory. But it was nice and new, so not bad really.


We did however eat at a particularly yummy spot. We have become slaves to Trip Advisor. They haven't steered us wrong yet. So if you are ever in Medicine Hat we would highly recommend the Thai Orchid Room.


http://www.thaiorchidroom.ca


Ok, well that was fun!? Tomorrow.....on to Regina. Yes....for our American friends.....REGINA is the name. It is not mis-spelled ;)



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