After a day (Thursday) doing nothing but relaxing and recuperating after the Vancouver trip, it was back into it on Friday.
We drove 2km to the McKnight – Westwind station (end of the north east line) on the Calgary C-Train Light Rail system and purchased tickets from the vending machine ($2.50 per person), and boarded the train waiting to depart for downtown. The trip took about 25 minutes with another seven station stops, before we arrived in 7th Avenue.
We headed directly to the Calgary Tower and joined the queue (not too long) to purchase our tickets ($12.95 + tax), and then went up in the high speed lift 525 feet to the viewing deck.
Here is what the website (http://www.calgarytower.com/) says about the tower:
We headed directly to the Calgary Tower and joined the queue (not too long) to purchase our tickets ($12.95 + tax), and then went up in the high speed lift 525 feet to the viewing deck.
Here is what the website (http://www.calgarytower.com/) says about the tower:
The Calgary Tower ensures all "Virtual Tourists" are treated as warmly and as openly as the half a million "Reality Based Tourists" who visit us each year!
Officially opened June 30th 1968, the 'Tower' has become the City of Calgary's most famous and identifiable physical landmark. One of the first Towers of its kind, the Calgary Tower offers the best view in Calgary and is a must-see on any tourist's itinerary.
Throughout the 1988 Winter Olympic Games, a flame burned at the top of the Tower, making the Calgary Tower the World's Largest Olympic Torch. The torch is still lit today for special occasions, like Canada Day and during the Calgary Flames race for the Stanley Cup, sparking fond memories as well as a certain civic pride in all Calgarians.
Dare to try something that will take your breath away?
Visitors to the Observation Deck are able to virtually "step out into" space on the glass floor experience. Imagine standing 525 feet above the ground in the heart of Calgary and being able to look straight down and directly out in front of you into the heart of the city. The experience is awe-inspiring and will challenge the emotions, but rest assured --- the thrill will be worth it.
The glass floor is 36 feet long and more than four feet wide, the glass panes that make up the floor can each hold the weight of a couple Hippos! With only a glass wall in front, you will be treated to the unusual experience of literally being suspended in mid-air. And don't forget to check out the optical illusion as the shaft on the Tower looks as though it bends away from you.
Officially opened June 30th 1968, the 'Tower' has become the City of Calgary's most famous and identifiable physical landmark. One of the first Towers of its kind, the Calgary Tower offers the best view in Calgary and is a must-see on any tourist's itinerary.
Throughout the 1988 Winter Olympic Games, a flame burned at the top of the Tower, making the Calgary Tower the World's Largest Olympic Torch. The torch is still lit today for special occasions, like Canada Day and during the Calgary Flames race for the Stanley Cup, sparking fond memories as well as a certain civic pride in all Calgarians.
Dare to try something that will take your breath away?
Visitors to the Observation Deck are able to virtually "step out into" space on the glass floor experience. Imagine standing 525 feet above the ground in the heart of Calgary and being able to look straight down and directly out in front of you into the heart of the city. The experience is awe-inspiring and will challenge the emotions, but rest assured --- the thrill will be worth it.
The glass floor is 36 feet long and more than four feet wide, the glass panes that make up the floor can each hold the weight of a couple Hippos! With only a glass wall in front, you will be treated to the unusual experience of literally being suspended in mid-air. And don't forget to check out the optical illusion as the shaft on the Tower looks as though it bends away from you.
When we got out of the lift a staff member advised us to “lookout for the horse”, and sure enough there was a large live horse on the viewing floor, obviously as part of the Calgary Stampede promotions.
The view from the tower is amazing, with only two other buildings at the same level.
Directly below the tower to the south is the CP Rail mainline. We wandered around the circular viewing deck and I stepped out onto the glass floor extension and looked straight down.
The view from the tower is amazing, with only two other buildings at the same level.
Directly below the tower to the south is the CP Rail mainline. We wandered around the circular viewing deck and I stepped out onto the glass floor extension and looked straight down.
Shot a few photos and some video with the small camera, and as we were just about to leave, Shamina told me a train was coming. It was a grain train heading west to Vancouver, so I took a couple of pics, and then I saw an eastbound stack (container) train. The headend power crossed each other just under a covered section, so the perfect “trains crossing below the tower” could not be achieved.
We finally left the tower and headed into a few shopping malls, grabbing Tim Horton’s coffee and chicken wraps for lunch. Most of the city malls are interconnected by walkways above road level, obviously so people can get about in the winter time without having to go outside too often. There is also a lot of construction going on both within malls, and new buildings being built.
Near the Hudson Bay Coy (large department store) I purchased a flag (Canadian) and Shamina purchased a few souvenirs, before we headed back to the C-Train and back to McKnight-Westwind station and home.
After a bit of exercise on the treadmill, we headed out to Naushad’s sisters place for dinner. She is married to an Algerian man. He has been in Canada for 14 years and was wanting to know about New Zealand and what were the main industries etc.
