Devonian Gardens (Calgarian Oasis)

Rebecca's brother was in town, I believe from Victoria, and he mentioned that he made his way to the Devonian Gardens and recommended we do the same.  As a result, Rebecca and I made our way downtown and found ourselves in the Devonian Gardens, not before passing a few sights.  It only took about 30 minutes to walk downtown.  Also, it was surprising to see such a large amount of green inside a building.  There were some interesting plants and a few water features.  A great Oasis for downtown employees.  However, if you are short on time I would skip the Devonian Gardens, take a quick tour downtown and head out to the mountains.  We had plenty of time and here are a few photos:

(Train as we made our way downtown)

(Buffalo, because it is Calgary)

(Fort Calgary sign we passed as well as Fort Calgary)

(Sign as you enter Stephen Avenue)

(Metal Horse)

(Devonian Gardens at first glance)

(They had a few interesting masks around the Gardens, wood masks at that)

(We tried to do a few jump photos and this was the best one we got)

(A few of the flowers and they were planting a lot more while we were there)

(Rebecca jump shot.  I think she throws her legs up to make it seem as though she jumps higher)

(We took a few photos where we tried to match the faces of the wooden mask we were standing beside)

(Me trying to match this mask)

(Another jump shot in front of the plant wall)

(The Plant Wall - with Rebecca taking a photo for a stranger)

(Reflections)

(Inside the Core Shopping Centre - glass roof)

(Another shot of Stephen Avenue - always seems to be a character or something happening)

(A shot of... a tree?)

(Rebecca has some very bad ideas when we take photos.  For some reason I was supposed to give the Kanata - Canada store 2 thumbs down, may have been because of the Olympics)

(1 of the 5 ladies and countless others who fought for women's suffrage)

(Great focus on this photo)

(Another great idea - Rebecca joking)

(18th of October 1929 - Women are Persons...)

(Some interactive artwork)

(And a bird...)

Another Thursday Adventure...

Had another fun adventure this past Thursday.  No big hike or trip to Banff, instead we had a bit of fun around Calgary.  Started off the morning at oeb or Over Easy Breakfast.  Shereen kept telling me about the breakfast poutine there.  So, we had to try it.  She got a veggie poutine, with an egg, tomatoes, avocado, perhaps some green peppers, cheese curds of course, and the gravy was substituted with hollandaise sauce, all over seasoned potato wedges.  I got mine with bacon or lardons are they called it, eggs, hollandaise sauce, all over wedges.  Quite tasty and rather filling.  Enjoyed it with a Cesar, Calgary's 'native' alcoholic drink.

Next, since we were out and about, stopped by Hair Haven and got a cut from Lyn.  Friendly older woman who enjoyed chit chatting.  Told me she was from Thunder Bay and spent a year living in New Zeland before settling down in Calgary. The haircut was average, to say the least, but I was quite content seeing as how I've been needing one for a bit.  At one point I was a bit distraught for the simple fact I couldn't just go get a hair cut.  So, I am happy I don't have to worry about that for another few weeks.

Ended up at Stumptown, a Portland-esque coffee shop after that.  There was a 'cardboard' buffalo head.  After that, we headed to deVille Cafe and Wine Bar out towards Bridgeland.  I did a bit of writing while Shereen did a bit of studying.  I got a chocolate coffee while she had a green chai tea of sorts.  After that, we walked down to Bridgeland Market and Tazza, a middle eastern deli.  She ended up getting a pita of sorts while I was still full from breakfast.  This was around 5 in the evening.  A fun filled day with lots of adventure.  Here are a few of the photos!

(oeb Menu)

 (For a Thursday at 10 am, the place was packed.  We had to wait about 10 minutes for a table.  Nice little set up with the chalk board over head.)

 (Our neighbor was kind of enough to let us take a shot of her food - looked delicious)

(Perhaps the weakest Cesar I've had since arriving in Calgary.  No asparagus, no celery, no beef stick, nothing to really spice it up...  For those of you who don't know what a Cesar is, it's vodka, clamato, hot sauce, and worcestershire sauce.  Like I've said before, the Cesar is Calgary's claim to fame, at least in terms of mixed drinks.)  

 (Breakfast time after a little crossword action)

(It came out in what I consider a take out box.  You can see the egg and hollandaise sauce, as well as a few bacon bits and perhaps a cheese curd or two and maybe even a potatoe wedge.  It's pretty hard to mess up fries, eggs, and bacon for breakfast and this was a hearty meal.)

(It actually says - OVEREASY)

 (Time for a hair cut - you'll see what it looks like later)

(Stumptown Coffee Shop)

 (They also had a record store)

 ('Flight of the Conchords' album)

(Cardboard buffalo head a Stumptown - they sell their own coffee as well)

 (Trying to figure out what to order)

(Time for some writing - notice the new haircut)

 (Green tea of sorts and chocolate coffee)

(Shot of deVille Coffee and Wine bar)

(Here's what part of the shop looks like)

 (Bridgeland Market)

(Ok, not sure why I took photos inside the market.  It wasn't a sweet floating market like in Vietnam or an awesome street market like in Korea or Thailand.  Not sure what I was thinking... but I did it anyway.)

 (Black and white shot)

(Again, not sure what's so great about it, but Shereen seems to love it)

(A nice little quote and painting based on the teachings of Bob Ross - There are no mistakes, only happy accidents.)

(Entrance to Tazza, the Middle Eastern Deli)

(A lot of the food looked great)

 (I'm hoping to get back at some point for a falafel sandwich)

 (Again, looked yummy)

 (A shot of the menu, although not the best - Menu at Tazza)

 (There was a little dining room in the deli as well as some seats on the porch.  Thinking about it now sure makes me hungry for a cheese steak...)

(Shereen grabbed a pita or sorts, can't remember what kind.  Anyway, she wasn't overly impressed... I still want to try a falafel sandwich.)

(This is just a random shot of the moon the other night - it looked huge)