Thinking of staying close to home this summer? Hoping to explore Alberta?

Join us for Travel Day 2013 and find out about great Alberta staycations.

Saturday, May 4

10:00 am - 4:00 pm

John Dutton Theatre

Central Library, 2nd Floor

616 Macleod Trail SE

Travel Alberta the Budget Way (10 – 11 a.m.)

Find out about free and inexpensive ways to enjoy travelling around Alberta.

Day Trips from Calgary (11 a.m. – 12 p.m.)

Learn about the amazing landscapes, communities and history of South-Central Alberta, all within a two-hour drive of Calgary! Presented by Day Trips from Calgary author, Bill Corbett.

Brown Bag Lunch and Travel Film (12 – 1 p.m.)

Bring your own bag lunch and watch Long Horizons, a documentary on the intriguing prairie landscapes of Alberta and Saskatchewan.

West on One – History along the Highway (1 – 2 p.m.)

Discover fascinating facts and stories behind the scenery as you travel the Trans-Canada Highway from Calgary to Lake Louise. Presented by author Kathryn Manry.

I Love Parks (2 – 3 p.m.)

Learn about the many parks you can visit close to Calgary, why they are important and the many activities you can enjoy in them. Presented by the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society.

The Hiking Lifestyle (3 – 4 p.m.)

Check out beginner and intermediate level hikes found in Kananaskis country and learn bear and other safety tips to ensure hiking can become a lifestyle for the rest of your life. Presented by Julie Walker, Guide, Full Circle Adventures.

Please register in person, online or by phone at 403-260-2620.

Off to Sea to See What We Can See

Given that we exhausted Grandma by moving hotels so much during our last trip to Italy, we decided to let the hotel do the walking and try out our first cruise. Mom, Dad, Grandma and Simon were heading to sea on our first cruise, so everyone picked a favourite city that they wanted to visit. Then we checked the cities against the routes, and settled on a 12 day trip on Norwegian Cruise Line through the Mediterranean Sea.

The starting port was Barcelona. As we explored the city at night, I remembered the novel The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon which we had read in my book club. The gothic tale had presented the city itself as a character, and it made sense as we walked through the medieval section with its stone sculptures. We grabbed some fresh squeezed juice in the Boquiera Market and gawked at the whole sheep heads for sale in the butchers. We broke in our shoes gawking at the amazing buildings.

After a couple days, we boarded our floating hotel, the Norwegian Spirit. Grandma stuck a big gift ribbon to the door so we could all find our way back home. Then we headed straight to the drop in buffet and the ice cream machine. The pool came next, and then a visit to the library. Full of food and words, we fell asleep in our bunks, and woke the next day in France. Ca va bien!

The best resource to take on a Mediterranean cruise is Rick Steve’s Mediterranean Cruise Ports. He’s got a cheat sheet to tell you when you should pay for an extra shore tour, and when it’s better to muddle through on your own. We took the ship tours when there was so much to see or transportation was tricky. Rick Steve’s popularity with North Americans is immense. If he recommends a place, it will be full of people carrying copies of his books. Comparing notes on your Rick Steve’s influenced tour is a great way to meet fellow travelers.

In Rome, we looked for street cats and gelato. The city brought back memories of another book club read: The Imperfectionists by Tom Rachman. They are linked short stories about a group of people working at a failing English language newspaper. Simon liked looking around Vatican City because we had a tour guide who pointed out interesting facts.

Athens, Greece was hot, hot, hot, especially on top of the Acropolis with all that marble and no shade. Simon busied himself taking photos of all the stray dogs and cats. We were thankful for Rick Riordan’s kids book Percy Jackson and the Olympians because Simon was familiar with all the Greek gods.

The cruise swung over to Turkey, and then back to Venice, Italy. It was here that we experienced the ultimate travel story, the one that you will be telling for fifty years! It was our last night, and my husband and I had decided to take a romantic gondola ride. Knowing how much Grandma loved Venice, I decided that it would be greedy not to share the experience, so we included Simon and Grandma in the plan.

The boat ride was lovely. Massimo the gondolier was chatty, and steered us through the smaller canals onto the Grand Canal. There he got into a heated argument with another gondolier on the main canal, shouting out Italian insults and slapping his butt. We found it inappropriate but amusing, and Simon made a little video of the drama, learning some new Italian vocabulary.

As we neared the return dock, we heard a motor approaching rapidly. Grandma and Simon were facing forward, and could see the approaching motorboat, but we didn’t realize what was happening until we felt the shudder of impact. The motorboat reversed and struck us again, throwing Massimo into the lagoon, and rocking the gondola until it almost tipped.

It was the other gondolier, returning to continue the argument. As we drifted away in the smashed boat, the gondolier was hitting Massimo in the water with an oar. Grandma’s Italian kicked in, and she shouted “Polizia”. We looked up to see a crowd of tourists on a picturesque bridge, all with cameras pointed in our direction.

The water ambulance came, and Massimo’s assailant retreated. We pulled ourselves along the wall to a dock. The Polizia however, did not arrive for 30 minutes. Our guess? It was the night Italy was in the World Cup finals, so they had better things to do. Their reaction to the incident? They called it “a little argument among friends”! They didn’t even want to take our statement until but we insisted.

Heading home, we found a TV carried out into the street. Tourists and locals sat together eating gelato and watching the game. We joined in and ate one for the road.

Would we cruise again? Probably not, as I like to stay in places longer to get a real sense of them. But it was an interesting culture to try, and certainly removed all the hassles of food and shelter. We got to compare cultures easily by seeing them back to back. We have good memories of chatting with the crew staff. The cruise show magicians were skilled, and the drop in buffet meals meant that everyone could find something to eat quickly.

Would we cruise in a gondola again? I might, but Grandma’s a non swimmer, and she’s sworn off them forever. Basta!

What's New in Swinging London

Back to London we headed, as it’s one of our favourite places. I loved all the incredible museums, and my husband loved that they’re free! Grandma loved that there are Pret a Manger restaurants everywhere for tasty takeout sandwiches. Simon loved the planes in the Imperial War Museum.

There have been some good new upper elementary novels published since last we visited. The London Eye Mystery by is about a brother and sister who are trying to figure out how their cousin disappears on the London Eye observation wheel. The Cheshire Cheese Cat: A Dickens of a Tale is about a cat who befriends a mouse at the historic pub.

The big news in London this summer is the Queen’s 60 years in power (we bought a corgi stuffy in her honour) and the summer Olympics. But for us, the best new development was the opening of the Harry Potter studios for touring. (See the previous Early Boarding post for some photos). I also enjoyed a London Walks Harry Potter tour- they have a huge selection of walks to choose from. The nice thing is that you don’t have to book in advance, but just show up at the one you’re interested in. London Walks hires actors as tour guides, so they’re entertaining speakers.

Since eating is our number one shared interest, let’s start with the food. Our favourite restaurant experience was Dans Le Noir, in which you eat dinner in complete pitch black. This is designed so that you concentrate on your other senses, and to provide employment for the blind waiters. First you pick one of four set menus: vegetarian, meat lovers, seafood or chef’s surprise. You are led into a dark restaurant by putting your hand on your waiter’s shoulder. Then you are given a three course meal, but not told what you are eating. The darkness concentrates your attention to the taste and sound, and also makes the group really bond as you feel around for the water glasses. Simon was a bit shocked that the chicken he was enjoying turned out to be a pigeon!

Our other favourite meal was an expensive but enchanting Alice in Wonderland tea at the Sanderson Hotel in Marylebone. A three tiered tea tray delivered a small “drink me” bottle with 3 layers of flavours, a red “eat me” heart shaped cake, a hot/cold lollipop, an ice cream lollipop, scones, and colourful sandwiches with the crusts cut off.

Now that we’re full, we can continue to the non edible highlights. The Wallace Collection is a former house with a large collection of armor, including tiny pistols. It was just the right size for a visit, and not as overwhelming as the incredible amount of objects in the British Museum. The Museum of London was also remarkable, a chronological collection of artifacts pleasingly displayed.

There are newspaper articles about all the foxes in London. They’re considered a nuisance, but for Simon spotting a wild red fox in Regent’s Park was cool. I also rode a horse from a cobbled mews into Hyde Park with the Hyde Park Stables. The horses were quite bombproof, not even flinching when skateboarders zip by.

A short boat ride between the Tate Britain and Tate Modern galleries gives you a good view of the incredible buildings both old and new along the Thames. It’s free to drop in and see Damian Hirst’s jeweled skull at the Tate Modern.

Artist Dennis Severs bought a house in the East End and furnished it with historical objects. He also furnished it with a story, told by the objects, and decorated as if the inhabitants just let. An apple sits with a bite out of it. Toys are left on the floor where children have abandoned them. You are to walk in quiet, piecing together your impressions. This was a bit expensive, and perplexing to Simon, but we were deeply moved by the imaginative exercise.

For an adult evening out, my husband and I dressed up in our 20s outfits to dance at the Candlelight Club. This is a moveable pop up club whose secret location is emailed to you just before the event. You find the address by looking for a door with a candle in it (plus following the stream of women in flapper dresses!) There were vintage martinis and a band playing music from the 1920s. No electricity as it’s all lit by candles. Although we were among the oldest people there, it was all very fun, and we snapped some photos of my husband with a Catherine Middleton lookalike hired for the party. What a strange job she has.

My coworker asked where I learned about these interesting things to do. Why, in a book at the library in fact! It’s Time Out London, and there’s even an ebook version to take with you on your tablet.

hpThe Making of Harry Potter

I can’t get enough of Harry Potter! We were fortunate to be in London, England just as the studios where the Harry Potter movies were filmed were opened as a tourist attraction. The Warner Brothers Studio Tour: The Making of Harry Potter is an easy short day trip from London.

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Leavesden Studios are in a huge warehouse. The prepurchased tickets are for a timed entry, which prevents overcrowding. You can buy them online at http://www.wbstudiotour.co.uk

Transportation from London to Leavesden took 1 1/2 hours, and it was easy to find our way. First we took the subway to Euston Train Station, where I bought a pasty to set the mood, and then we took a train to Watford Junction. It’s easy to spot the direct connecting bus when you leave the station as it’s a double decker covered in photos from the movie.

As you wait for your timed entry, you can take a peek in the cupboard under the stairs. After a short movie and guided tour of the Great Hall, visitors wander at their own pace through the sets. This allows a chance to wonder at the incredible thought and detail that were put into the set. It was lovely to have the time to reflect on the detail that flashed by on the screen, such as Dolores Umbridge’s jewelry or the painted portraits.

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The major sets are there, such as the Gryffindor Common Room, Dumbledore’s Office, and the Night Bus. You learn interesting tidbits, like that the boys’ beds were made for them at the beginning of the series, so by the end of the filming, the actors’ legs would stretch way over the ends. I loved the Weasley’s house interior with its crooked walls and furniture. There were knitting needles magically stitching a sweater and if you waved a wand, the knife would chop carrots. You can walk down the Diagon Alley set towards the Weasley’s joke shop.

There’s a lineup to buy a photoshopped picture of yourself flying on a broom and snacks in the courtyard half way through. Otherwise, the timed tickets make sure that the sets are not overcrowded. Other highlights include a section on special effects, displays of costumes, and a display cabinet full of paper props, like O.W.L exams.

There is one last beautiful surprise at the end before you hit that gift shop packed with Chocolate Frogs, Every Flavour Bertie Botts and Fizzing Whizbees. We lingered for 3 hours.

Until you get to London, you will want to read Harry Potter Page to Screen : the Complete Filmmaking Journey. It’s a huge book on the making of the movies. The library also has the Harry Potter stories read by the incomparable Jim Dale in the Overdrive collection. You can download them to your iPod to listen to while you clean your house, a compensation for the absence of Mrs. Weasley’s housecleaning magic!

Our favourite places to stay and books about them!

There’s a great new series of books by Lonely Planet publishers. The City Series books include tidbits of information, displayed collage style, and interspersed with pictures. The difference from a Dorling Kindersley type book is the humorous tone and the inclusion of cartoons. Simon and I read Rome: Everything You Ever Wanted to Know by Klay Lamprell. Other cities covered are Paris, London, and New York. There is also a large almanac volume called The Travel Book: Cool Stuff to Know About Every Country in the World, which Simon devoured over a weekend.

Like most kids, Simon loves looking at old photos of himself, and repeating favourite family travel stories. We were reminiscing about the coolest places that we’ve slept. Number one on my list is a retired caboose outside of Kamloops. When Simon was 5 and train crazy, we drove out for a railroad vacation. We visited the spiral tunnels, the driving of the last spike near Cragellachie, the Revelstoke Railway Museum, and Beardale Miniatureland near Revelstoke. Hostelling International Shuswap Lake has 3 cabooses, so I rented all 6 berths in one so we could have the run of the place (and being a hostel, it was still cheaper than a hotel) There were llamas, a firepit, some canoes, and a tasty communal pancake breakfast.

In Italy, some religious orders offer rooms for hire. We met a lovely Benedictine nun in San Gimignano. She rented rooms to support the other nuns who were cloistered. It’s called Monastero di San Girolamo. She was a helpful hostess, and we felt we were friends after a week. When we left, she said, “I’ll see you again.” When we questioned her about that, she said she meant in heaven of course.

There’s a Zen Buddhist centre in an apartment building in Paris called Maison Zen, and if they don’t have students, you can rent an apartment. There are steep stairs, goldfish in a garden pond, and lovely watercolours by the owner on the walls. The key appeal of this memory is the time my friend Gail took Simon out to find breakfast. They brought back Pain au Chocolat pastries from three nearby bakeries in the name of comparison tasting.

Renting an apartment in an historic part of town allows you to live like the locals and really get a sense of a place. I love waking up early and walking around before the other tourists arrive en masse. Favourite neighbourhoods in which I pretended to be a local were Greenwich Village in New York, Mont St. Michel in northern France, and quiet Cannaregio in Venice. In Venice there was a fruit and vegetable market just outside the door so we could buy fresh basil to make brushetta. There was also a fresh seafood market, and Simon was relieved when a couple of live snails escaped back into the water.

Closer to home, we stayed in a sod house at Hummingbird Haven by Cochrane. The Great Canadian Barn Dance near Pincher Creek is also an interesting place to go for a weekend if you ever had a hankering to play the washboard.

Staying in campgrounds is always memorable because you are right there in a beautiful location, and it’s so wonderful to have a walk just before you go to sleep. One of our favourite places was Joshua Tree National Monument in California. I loved the black shapes of the boulders in the dusk. The National Park Service in the U.S. has many great campgrounds. Phantom Ranch at the bottom of the Grand Canyon was built in the 1920s. Everything that goes into the ranch must come down the river, or be carried by mules. They had a very calm and steady mule who always carried the eggs. Other great national parks we recommend are the little cabins in the Okefenokee swamp in Stephen C. Foster State Park in Georgia, USA and the Cinnamon Bay Campground in St. Johns, US Virgin Islands.

My favourite place NOT to stay? The ice hotel near Quebec City! It was great to visit during the day, but looking at the great blocks of ice that made up the beds convinced me that a room at the Quebec City hostel was a better choice! We do like staying in hostels, partly for the expense, but also because it’s easy to meet people and chat with other travelers. Simon often found other kids to play with, and we sometimes hooked up for joint sight seeing.

Rounding out our favourites list is the Nickelodeon Hotel and the Sheraton Vistana condos, both in Orlando, Florida. The former has water slides, game shows in which guests are slimed, and the lifeguards throw cream pies at the kids who run on the pool deck as a joke. The latter are quiet timeshares that rent out when they aren’t full. Because we’re often in hostels, Simon liked the luxury of a jetted tub and multiple pools to choose from. There were also feral cats to feed the leftover bits of those monstrous huge turkey legs they sell in DisneyWorld.

I grew up reading about kids having all kinds of adventures. I personally blame my travel bug on The Bobbsey Twins and National Geographic’s World magazine. It’s Tintin, Asterix, and The Good Times Travel Agency who captured Simon’s imagination. We recommend The Good Times Travel Agency graphix series by Linda Bailey and Bill Slavin. Three siblings travel to ancient China, Greece, the Ice Age and Middle Ages in a fun comic format. Now those kids have slept in some wild places!