So, it's Stampede time here in Calgary. It's the one week when everyone in the city can wear obnoxiously large belt buckles, cowboy boots and cowboy hats. It's a great time to be working downtown because you are swamped with pancakes and parades.
From my office window I could see the parade travelling down 8th Avenue to the Stampede grounds. My camera phone doesn't do very well from that distance, but I snapped a shot of a marching band that looks very similar to the one my sister was in when we were kids. She played the flute in the Round-up Band and we were all very proud. My little brother once borrowed her band jacket and wore it to elementary school without permission. I think everyone thought it was too funny to really get mad at him. Imagine a little boy with an oversized blue jacket that said "Flute" on one sleeve and a girl's name on the other.
A few days later, I met a friend for a pancake breakfast right outside our building and we were surprised by the sudden appearance of a parade of Native Canadians. They came out of nowhere on horses and in two military jeeps, their police escort picking a path through the pancake lovers. This is the view of the scene from my office a little while later, when the parade came back the other direction. You can see a number of fire trucks that were there for the breakfast, because it was a fundraiser for burn victims.
They were letting kids go up in the bucket truck with little red fire hats on. The bucket could reach up 3 or 4 stories, which was pretty impressive.
I also ended up with tickets to see the rodeo, because somebody in the office couldn't make it. I didn't have a good cowboy hat to keep the sun off, but it was fun all the same.
When we came out of the rodeo, we saw this group of guys wearing minmal clothing and drinking maximum booze. They were pretty lively, so I thought I'd snap a picture for the blog.
They were very excited to pose for the photo and show off their legs. After I took my photo, several tourists jumped in to take pictures with the group. I think one lady got more attention than she bargained for.
From my office window I could see the parade travelling down 8th Avenue to the Stampede grounds. My camera phone doesn't do very well from that distance, but I snapped a shot of a marching band that looks very similar to the one my sister was in when we were kids. She played the flute in the Round-up Band and we were all very proud. My little brother once borrowed her band jacket and wore it to elementary school without permission. I think everyone thought it was too funny to really get mad at him. Imagine a little boy with an oversized blue jacket that said "Flute" on one sleeve and a girl's name on the other.
A few days later, I met a friend for a pancake breakfast right outside our building and we were surprised by the sudden appearance of a parade of Native Canadians. They came out of nowhere on horses and in two military jeeps, their police escort picking a path through the pancake lovers. This is the view of the scene from my office a little while later, when the parade came back the other direction. You can see a number of fire trucks that were there for the breakfast, because it was a fundraiser for burn victims.
They were letting kids go up in the bucket truck with little red fire hats on. The bucket could reach up 3 or 4 stories, which was pretty impressive.
I also ended up with tickets to see the rodeo, because somebody in the office couldn't make it. I didn't have a good cowboy hat to keep the sun off, but it was fun all the same.
When we came out of the rodeo, we saw this group of guys wearing minmal clothing and drinking maximum booze. They were pretty lively, so I thought I'd snap a picture for the blog.
They were very excited to pose for the photo and show off their legs. After I took my photo, several tourists jumped in to take pictures with the group. I think one lady got more attention than she bargained for.
2 comments:
In all the years that we lived in Calgary, I think we only went to the parade once. We have participated in many a pancake breakfast. Is a great time in the city.
That is funny about T and the jacket. As usual, I don't remember that happening. I seem to have memory lapses during all the child raising years--selective memory, I guess.
You do have great entertainment up there during Stampede. We attended a few with Helen and company. Our big 24th of July Parade in SLC yesterday was pretty impressive, and so much enjoyed from our rocking chairs in front of TV. Better be careful snapping photos not to get any R-rated!
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