Canada rocks! TRAVEL.Byline: By MARGARET O'REILLY Travel correspondent IT'S been described as the most spectacular train journey in the world and standing on the observation deck Ob`ser`va´tion deck 1. A room or platform at a high point in a tall building with a broad view of the surrounding area. It is often an outdoor platform, but is sometimes indoors in a room with large windows to accommodate viewing. of the Rocky Mountaineer Rocky Mountaineer Vacations (RMV) offers and operates numerous sightseeing railway routes in Canada. Founded in 1990, Rocky Mountaineer Vacations offers what are widely considered the most spectacular train trips in the world. it was easy to see why the Canadian Rockies The Canadian Rockies comprise the Canadian segment of the North American Rocky Mountains range. The southern end in Alberta and British Columbia borders Idaho and Montana of the USA. The northern end is at the Liard Plain in British Columbia. have such a reputation. We sped past pale blue Adj. 1. pale blue - of a light shade of blue light-blue chromatic - being or having or characterized by hue glaciers, plunging waterfalls and jaw-dropping canyons as minute by minute the landscape changed. We travelled from snow-covered mountain peaks, through bear and moose country to desert-like landscapes, home to coyotes and rattlesnakes. And what better way to see it all but from the luxury of the Rocky Mountaineer train's gold leaf carriage where the glass domed roof allows passengers to enjoy every moment and gourmet food is served in the downstairs dining car. But for me the most thrilling part was standing outside on the observation deck, with the wind and the scenery taking my breath away. Being in the open with the sound and movement of the train over the tracks brought the whole panorama to life. It seemed that travelling couldn't get much better. On the first day of our two-day rail trip from Jasper to Vancouver we were in the last carriage giving us uninterrupted views from the back of the train. Although it's a journey I've wanted to do for years I was still rather worried that two days of mountains and fir trees might become monotonous. But instead I found I didn't want to miss a minute as the landscape changed dramatically and around every corner there was another picture perfect scene or interesting wildlife to spot such as bald headed eagles and ospreys. Every so often there was a cry of "bear to the right" as one of our fellow travellers spotted a bear and on one occasion we were rewarded with the sight of a mother and two cubs, tempted out of the woods by a dandelion-strewn meadow. They love the yellow flowers so much they can sometimes be seen staggering from the effects of eating too many of them. We saw the famous Hell's Gate rapids and the Pyramid Falls, a mighty torrent of water visible only from the train track. But the biggest surprise of the train journey was entering the semi-arid desert area with spectacular rock formations in greens and purples. We had left Jasper wrapped in warm coats and arrived in Kamloops, for an overnight stop, with the temperature nudging 30degC (86degF). Kamloops, home to our hotel for the night, is a staging post-type of town where the local horseback patrol turned out to greet us. While the train was the obvious highlight of our trip across the Rockies there were many other great places we reached by coach. They included a trip by specially designed snow coach on to the Athabasca Glacier The Athabasca Glacier is one of the six principal toes of the Columbia Icefield, located in the Canadian Rockies. Due to the warming climate, the glacier has receded more than 1.5 km in the past 125 years and lost over half of its volume. , a half-mile depth of glassy blue ice and a rafting trip down the Athabasca River Athabasca River River, west-central Canada. A tributary of the Mackenzie River in Alberta, it rises in the Rocky Mountains in Jasper National Park and flows northeast and north 765 mi (1,231 km) into Lake Athabasca. , a fun way to arrive in the town of Jasper even if it did mean getting dressed up in what looked like yellow bin-liners. We took a gondola ride up Sulphur Mountain Sulphur Mountain is a mountain in Banff National Park overlooking the town of Banff, Alberta, canada. The mountain was named in 1916 for the hot springs on its lower slopes.[1] The springs have been developed into swimming and hot pools. for spectacular views over Banff before driving to the vast Lake Louise Lake Louise can mean: Canada
In Calgary we saw the site of the Calgary Stampede The Calgary Stampede, which bills itself as The Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth, is a large, non-profit festival, exhibition, and rodeo held in Calgary, Alberta for 10 days in the second week of every July. where horse racing horse racing, trials of speed involving two or more horses. It includes races among harnessed horses with one of two particular gaits, among saddled Thoroughbreds (or, less frequently, quarterhorses) on a flat track, or among saddled horses over a turf course with takes place every day of the year, but during the stampede there are rodeos, chuckwagon racing and free pancake breakfasts. We saw the cliffs over which the First Nations people drove buffalo to their deaths and discovered what to do if approached by a hungry bear (curl up in a foetal foe·tal adj. Chiefly British Variant of fetal. Adj. 1. foetal - of or relating to a fetus; "fetal development" fetal position and cover the back of your neck it seems they go for that bit first!). Finally we arrived in Vancouver, a stunning city with its own beach. It's a city where striking skyscrapers rub up alongside old Gas Town with its steam-powered clock and historic buildings. There are rooftop gardens on super-smart blocks of flats and the attractive Stanley Park complete with aquarium and miniature train, totem poles and carriage rides. A cable car trip up Grouse grouse, common name for a game bird of the colder parts of the Northern Hemisphere. There are about 18 species. Grouse are henlike terrestrial birds, protectively plumaged in shades of red, brown, and gray. Mountain provided spectacular aerial views and at the top we were able to walk around in the sunshine in T-shirts along paths cut through 10 feet of snow. There was also a chance to try snow shoeing or take a helicopter ride. Vancouver proved to be a great end to a remarkable trip and one where you will get any number of different experiences depending on the time you go. We travelled in mid-May when there was still plenty of snow on the mountains and many lakes were still frozen, providing a dramatic backdrop. Travel in August and you'll be able to see the salmon leaping in lines close to the riverbanks or visit in the autumn when many of the trees turn to gold. Whenever you go, the Rockies are guaranteed to leave you with a kaleidoscope of wonderful memories. features@examiner.co.uk 'Every so often there was a cry of 'bear to the right" Travel FACTS Margaret O'Reilly travelled with Saga. An 11 night Rocky Mountaineer tour costs from pounds 1,699 per person based on April 19, 2009 departure. A similar 15 night trip including an Alaskan cruise aboard the Norwegian Suncosts from pounds 2,549 per person (including the pounds 50 early booking discount for booking by July 31, 2008). Based on May 3, 2009 departure, flying from London Heathrow to Calgary and returning from Vancouver with the scheduled services of British Airways British Airways in full British Airways PLC International passenger airline based in London. In 1936 British Airways Ltd. was founded through the merger of three smaller airlines. . World Traveller Plus upgrades, Club World and First are available for an extra charge, please call for details. Included UK travel service flights are available at no extra charge from: Aberdeen, Belfast, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Manchester and Newcastle, subject to your international carrier. Price Includes: Accommodation and all breakfasts, two lunches and three dinners, and all meals during the seven-night cruise; Insurance and cancellation cover. Saga's UK travel service, where customers can choose from private door to door chauffeur service to airport (within 75 miles), airport car parking, travel by coach orUK domestic flights. Return scheduled flights, airport taxes, fees and charges. Excursions as described in the itinerary. Porterage por·ter·age n. 1. The carrying of burdens or goods as done by porters. 2. The charge for this activity. Noun 1. at all hotels and aboard Norwegian Sun Norwegian Sun is a cruise ship operated by Norwegian Cruise Line. She entered service in 2001 in a dual christening ceremony at the Port of Miami with the Norwegian Star. She was constructed at the Lloyd Werft Shipyard in Bremerhaven, Germany. . The services of a Saga tour manager. Highlights include: Two days aboard the Rocky Mountaineer train 'the most spectacular train trip in the world'; A journey along the Icefields Parkway; Lake Louise and a ride by sno-coach on the Athabasca Glacier; Aride on a mountain gondola to the summit of Sulphur Mountain, Banff. CAPTION(S): HIGH POINT: The Rocky Mountaineer train in the Canadian Rockies at Morant's Curve, near Lake Louise, Alberta Lake Louise is a hamlet located in the Canadian province of Alberta in Banff National Park. It is named for the nearby Lake Louise, which in turn was named after the Princess Louise Caroline Alberta (1848-1939), the fourth daughter of Queen Victoria, and the wife of Sir John |
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