OH! CANADA!

Nate and I celebrated our third anniversary in Canada; a result of Nate having to be in Calgary on our anniversary. I finished up my work in Chicago and jumped a plane to Calgary and met Nate on a beautiful, sunny, comfortably brisk afternoon. We both managed to work in the hotel room; answering email and joining conference calls from opposite corners of the smallish room.

The next morning I had a few more calls for work, answered email, and then ran to the nearest spa for a quick facial. The worst I've ever had. The woman barely spent any time actually touching my face but rather left me under the steamer and relaxing with a mask on my face for 45 of the 60 minute experience. The times she did touch my face were equally disturbing while she massaged my face much like she was kneading bread dough. I spent the next few days recovering by treating my skin to enough sleep and the fresh clean air of the Rockies in Banff.

Nate and I spent four days in Banff and in those four days I, again, ran through the possibility of selling all my belongings {even the blue cottage} and moving there. I long for a time when I can live a more relaxed life. I don't mind being busy...but it would be nice to have my mind relaxed and at peace the way it was in Banff; wandering Banff Avenue, hiking Lake Louise's Six Glaciers, canoing the lake, walking through the snow after an unanticipated storm, breathing in air thick with pine and earth. Here are a bunch of pics from the trip.

Nate in a cafe in Calgary






















Hanging out along the Bow River in Calgary






















Beautiful Bow River





























Bridge over the Bow River























Lake Louise



























Lake Louise from a canoe























Amazing cerulean blue Lake Louise























Canoing Lake Louise: it ain't cheap but it's worth it




























Best guy in the world




























Fairmont Hotel at Lake Louise























Nate being attacked by a squirrel




























Hiking to Plain of Six Glaciers























View of Lake Louise from the trail




























Teahouse at Plain of Six Glaciers























Getting ready to do the last 1.5 mile to the glaciers























Air is thin; legs are burning























Nate hiking the last few hundred feet




























One of six glaciers




























Another look at Lake Louise from above




























Posies























Storm from the Fairmont balcony in Banff























Nate overlooking Banff from Norquay ski resort























Elk at Norquay























Gondola ride in Banff























View from atop Sulphur Mountain























Filipino family we met at the top























Canadian footwear recommendations