August 16, 2014
Dear Lillianne -
Today was the last day of our northern adventures, and we feel that we have returned to Edmonton with a new life perspective and appreciation for the beauty that life has to offer. We will finish our blogging with a list of our top ten reasons to travel up north as these experiences have been indelibly etched into our brains and beings.
After a full week of travel, we were all relieved to have an opportunity to sleep in a bit on this final morning. Fort Garry Hotel is definitely a comfortable stay, and we further enjoyed the incredible breakfast that was cooked right before our eyes. I (Ania) had a giggle when ordering some omelettes for Chris and myself because I wanted them fully loaded, and the chefs triple checked that they heard right before actually cooking them up. While we truly enjoyed our meals up north, it was great to come back to some more greens as well as the diversity of choice that we are accustomed to (urban habits are hard to shed).
As our flight was not until 3:30 that afternoon, we checked out of our rooms and stored our bags so that we could do some exploring in town. During our first stop in Winnipeg our driver had recommended that we visit the historically significant area known as "The Forks", which was a short walk from the hotel. Not knowing much about the area, we decided to give it a try.
On the way over we stopped off at the Train Station Museum and enjoyed the enormous, dome structure. We then took the opportunity to take photos of the not yet opened Human Rights Museum that had some truly unique architecture. A short walk further brought us to a park in which hundreds of people were gathered to communally practice yoga (Sami was oddly drawn to this) and then we reached some interesting monuments. A bit further toward the river we came across a spectacular park designed to represent the history of the area from Native nomadic style living to early settlers to modern day living. Sami enjoyed the spray park and ran around to explore every possible item. It was a great afternoon, as well as the perfect way to tire him out before the last leg of our journey.
Before heading back to the hotel, we stopped off at a neat little corner cafe that had a surprisingly eclectic menu. Elizabeth ended up choosing some pizza slices and a nanaimo bar, Chris had a London fog and strudel, Sami had some fruit, yogurt, and smoothie, and I (Ania) had some fruit and a smoothie. Great find. We then picked up our luggage and had a pleasant ride to the airport. Our driver Don was not only knowledgeable about, but very proud of his city. He drives a number of local philanthropists who make significant dollar contributions to bettering the community, and was happy to tell us all about them.
At the airport there were some issues with the machines intended to speed up the check-in process (I tried two but one shut down mid-way through processing and the other one only printed our boarding passes, not our luggage tags). The atmosphere was clearly tense and desperate as I had a number of fellow travelers approach me asking for direction and advice. Being in the same position as they were, I did what I could to help them; mostly people were comforted by being heard and acknowledged. Traveling can certainly be stressful.
We made it through security and to the gate in good time, and we were, after our initial flight debacle, thrilled to be returning home without a hitch. Or so we thought. Our flight was overbooked and after about an hour of announced enticements to have people volunteer to take a later flight home, we were finally able to return to Edmonton. Baggage pickup and the drive home were smooth, and after a week of unforgettable experiences, we are happy to be home and revel in memories of spectacular adventures made possible by both The Children's Wish Foundation and the countless volunteers and donors that make such trips possible for families like ours. At the end of the day, this trip had allowed us to spend quality family time regrouping and being reminded that experiences - when we let them - allow us to become better versions of ourselves.
ACES' Top Ten Reason to Travel Up North
10. Unique wildlife in their natural habitats, including polar bears, beluga whales, and Arctic tern
9. Picturesque landscapes, accented by a vast blue sky; vital features essential to survival
8. It is possible to experience all four seasons in a single day (dress in layers!)
7. Uninhibited view of aurora borealis and the night sky
6. The arctic "trees" that aren't even a foot tall (in Arviat), contrasted to the mix of boreal forest and tundra in Churchill
5. Inuit feasts
4. Large insects - it is easier to spot and swat them!
3. Laid back atmosphere - everything will be done in due time
2. Activities such as throat singing, drumming, dog-sledding, kayaking, snorkelling, whale boating, helicopter tour, etc.
1. The People: a true embodiment of life-giving social values such as kindness, sharing, and unity
And so we end our blog; we hope you have enjoyed hearing about our experiences. We will make photo and hyperlink additions soon.
With love and gratitude,
Ania, Chris, Elizabeth, and Sami
No comments:
Post a Comment