10 facts about Calgary as perceived by yours truly

So I've been in my new humble abode for a little over a month and I'm still getting my bearings. However, I've learned a few things about Calgary.

Deerfoot, on a Saturday afternoon. 

1. Never be in a rush to get anywhere. I live in the south end of the city and so, if I want to get anywhere, I pretty much have to take this one highway, called Deerfoot Trail. On weekends, it looks like your basic highway. On weekdays, during rush hour, it's a bloodbath of who can fit in the free space between cars first. The speed limit might be 100km/h, but don't expect to go over 20km/h on a weekday morning. Btw, rush hour starts at 6:30am. No traffic, it takes me 30 min to get to work. With traffic, over 45 min. That means I'm out the door by 7am. Good thing I'm a morning person!

 2. Gorgeous sunsets. I'm a sunset addict and boy do I get my fill here! There's almost always a little bit of clouds so the colours are amazing!

Not quite sunset, but beautiful all the same!

3. Don't expect to have a yard. Or off street parking for that matter. Basically, there is space for one person wide between houses. Most people end up parking on the street or, if you live in the right neighbourhood, you have a dirt road that passes behind two rows of houses and you can park behind your house. Like my house (well, my landlord's house).

4. Cats like to hide beneath patios and stalk you. Ok, this might not be a Calgary thing. It might just be a my apartment thing. Still, it never happened to me back in Fredericton. I also didn't have a cat in Fredericton, so that may be why.

5. No front licence plate. You got me, this is an Alberta thing, not a Calgary thing. Still, I'm teaching Calgarian a lesson in French Canadian history. Not that they are particularly clueless. I just like flashing my acadian roots whenever I can. 

Yup, this is on the front of my car baby!

That's right, you better not moose with me!

6. I still love moose, despite being in horse/cow country. It should not be a surprise that BC, my boyfriend, followed me to Calgary. Before you freakout, I don't actually have a romantic relationship with an inanimate object. We've just been sleeping together for the past 12 years, no biggy.

Isn't he just a cutie? Who couldn't love him?

7. Apparently, habs fans exist here too. Two words: Oh joy... 

8. Dark clouds rush in real quick. 

And can bring hail. Golfball size hail. Hopefully
my car will never have to suffer a bashing at hail's expense. 

Not too visible on this day. 

 9. Rockies. You can pretty much see the Rockies from anywhere. Depending on the air quality, they are more visible or not.

















10. This city is so freaking huge that there's a surprise at every corner!
I found this amazing path about a ten minute walk from my place that follows the Bow River. And here I was thinking there wasn't enough green space in this city!

Unlike the St. John River, this water looks clean. 

Meet Alaphonso (my phone autocorrected his name to Also hobos. This happened
when I was texting my friend Bernando, who is obsess with hobos. Coincidence, I think not)
Basically, we had a torrential love affair that lasted about 10 seconds.
Bet you're freaked out now, what with me having a moose boyfriend
and cheating on him with a garden snake.   

On an unrelated subject, I bought new shoes.

Till next time!