Destination: Calgary, AB
Book: The Table Comes First by Adam GopnickFilm: Wedding In White
Daily km: 800
Coffee Units: 2
Alcohol Units: 2
Soundtrack: Ella Fitzgerald, Rod Stewart, Pink Floyd
Foodie #1: Budz Burgers-City Centre
With
the exception of a couple of derogatory remarks about long distance drivers and
Winnipeg, Regina seems to carry the least positive word of mouth. A reminder that it is the capital of
Saskatchewan; how bad can it be?
Back
to the one way system, but at least Regina is on the grid. Because, when things are not on the grid, it
can really mess with your mind. And as
we’ve seen earlier, five minutes can soon turn into thirty-five. And you find
yourself driving around the same block. Again.
If you
are visiting and expect to be met by the glamour of casino, Legislature and
city centre, you may be in for a disappointment. From the Eastern approach, tiny war-time
houses line Victoria. I would hazard
that most of them haven’t seen maintenance in the last thirty years. I was put
in mind of Wedding In White starring
Carol Kane. To save the family honour, a father marries his pregnant daughter
of to his old war buddy. I pictured them a little house trying to make a go of
it. Perhaps instead of a casino, they
were down at the bingo hall.
Plenty
of parking lots in town but are there any spaces? Drive slowly and watch the ramp.
What
will you find in Regina?
The
city centre is reminiscent of post war European towns where the rebuild did not
happen in the Age of Architectural Enlightenment. Everything is very clean. The sidewalks are clear; the garbage is in
its place.
The
Balfour was built in the 1920’s and looks very grand sitting at the corner of
Victoria & Lorne. It’s well
preserved and looks like a transplant from California. It’s nicely situated amongst churches and
comes with a view of the park.
So
yes, there were lots of churches, but no churchyards. Even beyond the city
limits and continuing the drive West through the Prairie, nothing. I asked, “Do they bury the dead in the
West?” Remembering the old joke about
Morecombe, UK. They don’t bury the dead
in Morecombe, they stand them up in bus shelters with a bingo ticket in their
hand. HA!
Victoria
Park is home to one of the city’s two war memorials. It’s treed and grassy; there are lots of
places to sit and take your lunch.
I had
been on the road three days and was beginning to wonder when I might actually
be sitting down to a meal that requires a knife and fork. Soon, I hope. Mr.
Gopnick writes about the joy of preparing and savouring good food; a sit down
meal. His emails to Elizabeth Pennell
are a treat to read. I cast my eye down the food list. There wasn’t time for Killarney fish &
chips and I was too late for pancakes in Thunder Bay; will have to try on the
way back. Truffles were on the list for
Regina.
I
found Budz Burgers food truck on the South edge of the park. Budz offers up the
trinity of hotdogs, fries & burgers.
At $3.50, Budz offers a cheaper alternative to the vendor at the north
entrance to Hill Mall-he’s priced at $4.50 and doesn’t have anywhere near as
much overhead. Budz made a great hot dog. This is not haute cuisine but it was
good. No soggy bun and he threw on a few fried onions. Unfortunately, I didn’t have a chance to ask
whether Regina gets behind its food trucks like we do here or whether they are
left to their own devices.
Found a
shop that sells postcards. He must have had the stock many years because they
were starting to yellow around the edges. The problem is in finding a post
office. There are dying off and those
little red boxes are hard to find. Does
anyone send postcards anymore?
Just
North of the park is a pedestrianized shopping area. Old and new buildings blend nicely together
and it was good to see that the older buildings have not been left to rot.
And
yes, there is the casino and shopping mall.
Lots
of street art everywhere.
Drove
around a gentrified area four blocks out of town; no luck with the truffles,
but, did find a rather nice coffee spot, though.
The
Western approach to the city is where you’ll find the Legislature and I’m sure
the housing is fetching more on the open market than those in the East.
Nod to the Queen...
Gardens
were being looked after by one man. To
get the full effect, they are best viewed from the tower.
It’s
not long before you’re back in wheat country. Next stop, Herbert.
Like a
lot of small towns, Herbert used to be a train stop. And when the trains stopped running for good,
the towns all but disappeared.
Fortunately, some of them have preserved their fine stations and turned
them into museums or restaurants. Herbert has a couple of exhibits and adjacent
to the station is an old school house.
Talked
to someone who had just moved into town but will have to find out what people
are doing for employment because things looked a little grim.
Enjoyed
the drive through Small Town Saskatchewan.
A little Ella for the evening and latter-day Rod Stewart which most
people are balking at. Just goes to show
that anyone can sing The American Songbook. Even me. The Pink Floyd cd wouldn't eject so it was Welcome To The Machine and Wish You Were Here for longer
than I cared for.
Pressed
on and finally arrived in Calgary.
Tonight it was the Glenmore Inn.
I had anticipated a stand-alone hotel in some rustic, rather idyllic
setting. Not quite. The hotel is situated right off the highway (my off-ramp was conveniently closed so went around the houses for a bit)
very close to an industrial estate and shares the property with a strip
mall. I was just glad to get out of the
car and have a few days of relatively short drives ahead of me. Of more
importance, I was very close to picking up a knife and fork. After a marathon shower (points for the
toiletries) I perused the menu. Late
night menu is burgers and wings. Oh.
Dear. Poured myself a Bombay, instead.
Until next
time where I watch my hair turn grey owing to Calgary’s roads.
