The Real Banff Blog

Fish got to swim. Birds got to fly. I’ll be watching people sing karaoke in Wild Bills on a Tuesday night till I die.

It’s a mixed bag for sure. You have the table full of pitchers and shots that just want to get on stage and have a good time. There are the few that have a go because they are on holiday and if they mess it up, well who cares because nobody knows them. Then there are the minority who think they can sing, and actually can.

I’m one of those people that know I can’t sing, but also knows that once I hit the stage, the small amount of talent I may possess would run and hide behind my glowing cheeks and ever tightening voicebox.This keeps me firmly in my seat regardless of what persuasion my friends may throw at me.

It’s a night than can be as interactive as you want it to be. Me, I’m just happy to sit back and watch. Because let me tell you folks . . . it is quite the show.

Wardy.

We went on a really cool date yesterday! Reg and I went to go get a coffee from Starbucks. Now I know you are thinking that you do that everyday but do you get to go to Starbucks at the Gondola in Banff? We ordered our coffees and sat down in front of the fireplace and enjoyed our coffee and cupcakes together. We don't always take enough time out to just enjoy a coffee. Usually we grab one in the morning before we start work for the day and we don't even enjoy it. But yesterday, we really enjoyed each others company and the atmosphere up at the Sulphur Mountain Gondola Starbucks. It was so exciting up at the gondola station, there were travelers from far enjoying the view. When we first started dating we used to go to Starbucks on the weekends to sit and read the paper and use the internet. Yesterday's coffee experience was the best I have had in a long time, maybe it was my husband's company that made the difference!

Angie and Reg Spencer

Reggie and I have had such a busy week and it's only Tuesday. It's been an exciting few days for us and our wedding planning company. In between weddings and consultations this past week we managed to get together with friends, watch some movies and take time for us. We went to Lake Louise and walked across the frozen lake. What a fantastic time we had! We LOVE Lake Louise so much that we got married there in October at the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise. When we were walking across the lake on Sunday, there was a horse drawn sled full of travelers. The ice sculptures were still standing proud, there was a hockey game going on and figure skating as well. It was so exciting.

Then I saw the advertisement that I can't stop talking about.....Elemental! The outdoor show on ice at Lake Louise. I haven't always been particularly interested in figure skating but with the Olympics on my interest has been piqued. I need to go to this show. I have been asking Reggie to take me on a date to this show for three days. I can't wait to go! I think that a skating show with music on Lake Louise just might be the date to end all date this year. So mark your calendars and we will see you at Lake Louise for Elemental! Now....I need to figure out a way for Reggie to buy me some new beautiful shoes for the event and we are set!

Reg and I have been getting into the Olympic spirit just like the rest of Canada and the world. We have been watching a bit of the coverage on TV and the internet. Last night our home date consisted of sitting together on the couch and watching men's figure skating. There is nothing more romantic in the world than that! I told you we would be real and honest to our readers and you can't get more real than that. We are supporting our Olympians! There are a lot of athletes from Banff that are in the Olympics and we would like to say congratulations to all of our athletes and we wish you success at the Olympics!

This weekend is Valentine's Day! For many years I did not like Valentine's day because the only person I was dating were my best girlfriends at Tommy's! Now the times have changed and I am married. It's still hard to find special and unique things to do on Valentine's day even if you are married but this weekend Reg and I are going to see what is going on in Banff and Lake Louise.

Valentine's is special for us because two years ago Reg emailed me on February 14 to introduce himself through the online dating service that we were using. I was hooked in his three line email and the rest they say is history. When we first started dating we would do anything to get out of the house and spend time alone together. Long walks by the Bow River, even though it was freezing out were one of our favorites. We also liked to spend weekends at the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise. We really like to hike, walk and cross country ski. Or try to cross country ski is more like it. We recently took up snowshoeing and went out on the Great Divide trail that is near Lake Louise. Snowshoeing is a great work out and nothing is more romantic than being alone on the trail together with the mountain view high above and surrounding you both. It's a great place to steal a kiss or two under the watchful eye of no one else but Mount Temple in the distance! Here's a romantic trail tip: your thermos can hold 16 ounces or red wine instead of hot chocolate to warm you up while on the ski trail! This weekend we will be at Giorgios in Banff for dinner and I'm sure Reg has something romantic up his sleeve already! I do too but I can''t tell you because we write this blog together and then it wouldn't be a secret anymore!

Superbowl Sunday.

Canada cares a lot more about the Superbowl than I had ever imagined. Being British I never really paid much attention to the game and could name fewer than five teams. Today though, I can name two more.

After returning from the hill with the aching legs and empty stomach that signify a hard days riding, my flatmate and I decided that the best course of action would be to get a burger for the hunger, and a pitcher for the thirst. With little need to discuss this further, showers were taken, clothes were changed, and we headed for the door.

It was pretty easy to decide on Brunos Bar and Grill. They have a burger menu so extensive that it actually requires thought to order from. It’s easy enough to whittle the menu down to the three burgers you want, the tricky bit is deciding which you want right now. Here’s a locals tip for you too, ask for the sweet potato fries and Cajun mayo. Best. Fries. Ever.

We watched the start of the game here. We were fighting over the last of the onion rings and pouring out the remains of the pitcher before the game was ten minutes old. With friends to meet elsewhere, we settled up and headed out.

Luckily for us it was only a short walk to the Paddock so we missed as little as possible. Every screen in there had the game on, and believe me when I tell you that the Paddock has a lot of screens. From every angle you could see the game, this meant we could still sit around the table and talk, but not miss a second of the action. Between that, the beer promotions, competitions and all you could eat chilli dogs, it was a fine choice to watch my first Superbowl.

I might not have understood all the rules, the tactical significance of the plays may have passed me by, and I know for a fact that I asked some dumb questions. None of this mattered though as when a room full of people are getting into a sporting event, you have little choice but to get swept along in the atmosphere.

After the game ended we finished our beers while the last of the prize draws were being completed. I didn’t win the grand prize of a big tv but my friend won a Superbowl hoody. A hoody so red it would not even need to share a washer with your socks, it could scare them into turning pink.

With the big game over there was only one thing left to do, we had a birthday to celebrate. Gathering our coats we headed straight for the Magpie and Stump.

The Magpie is a great choice for three reasons. They sell beer by the jar, they have free nuts, and they have dice games. Any night, once these three factors come together, is transformed into an awesome night. The Magpie pretty much oozes atmosphere. With its tall tables, dim lights, and the ability to discard your peanut shells directly onto the floor, this is not the type of place spend hours deciding what to wear. This is the type of place you kick back with your mates, eat your bodyweight in peanuts and then wonder where exactly all the hours went as closing time rears its ugly head.

From here on out the night found that comfortable rhythm of exaggerating stories from the hill, catching up with folk you’ve not seen the previous week, and sharing a drink with the people on holiday that are wondering just why oh why it is so bad to drop a dice and have it hit the floor.

This was my first Superbowl, and even witnessing The Who murder their back catalog at halftime could not detract from the amazing night I had. If Banff is this good for the Superbowl, I can’t wait until it’s time for the Stanley Cup.

In our first blog for Banff/Lake Louise all we aim to do is introduce ourselves to you. This is a portrait of our life in Banff, Alberta. Reg and I are like everyone else as we are trying to keep up with facebook, twitter, and the world around us. Reg and I met online and our relationship kicked into overdrive so we moved in with one another after being together for six weeks. There has been a lot going on in the short two years we have known each other and we do things nice things for each other every day to try and be positive and hope for a better tomorrow.

We live in an amazing place in Banff, it's full of the ups and downs with living in a resort mountain town. Reg and I are newly weds and we are trying to keep our feelings for each other on the surface. We have always shown each other a lot of pride, respect, strength and passion but now it's even more important to both of us to keep it going. We just try everyday to do something nice and respectful for each other and keep our romance alive. This blog will be totally un-cut and uncensored. It will give our readers a very transparent look into our lives and how we are trying to stay newly weds. We fight, we get angry, and yes, we even get really, really mad at each other. But we love each other so passionately that we would do anything for the other one. You know what the pay off is? Being able to spend every day with your best friend on earth in a really cool mountain town. Being able to learn so much from someone and wanting to spend all of your time with each other. The pay off enriches and cultivates our everyday existence.

You turn to face your friends, where once you could see enthusiasm and energy, there is now only enthusiasm and fatigue. It’s that time again. You got up early, ate a huge breakfast and stood in the cold waiting for the first bus. You strapped your board to your feet while waiting, at the front of the line, for the lifts to open. Lunch was a hurried affair of sandwiches that have been flattened from a morning in the backpack, hot chocolate and a selection of granola bars. Everybody knew this was going to the last run but nobody called it. You never call last run. You don’t say it out loud. To speak of the last run is to summon misfortune. Time is pressing. All that is left is the ski out. With a final nod to your friends, and with the remaining strength you have left in your legs, you head for the bottom of the mountain and dream of a shower, a rest and the last granola bar.
You get off the bus, say bye to your friends and head home. You can’t wait to get clean, changed and fed. It has been a long and productive day on the hill. You have a few hours at home and then you are all meeting up again in town for a drink and to greatly exaggerate all of the day’s stories. You turn the corner to you house and stop.
You stop and just stand there. You don’t know what to do. A life in the city in England has not prepared you for this. There is a deer stood outside your front door. A big deer. With antlers.
As this fits no previous frame of reference, you end up just standing there. Standing in the street, snowboard under arm, looking at the deer. The deer stops eating and looks back at you. There is a face off. This deer is much more used to seeing people, than you are to seeing deer. Especially a deer, with antlers, that is stood in front of your door.
You turn to your housemate. It is clear from his expression that he also has no idea what to do. Where are all the Canadians? This isn’t weird to them. How can I get it to move. I want to get inside my house!
People may come to Banff to do all sorts of different things, but they all come for one reason, to get some stories. Stories about experiences you can’t get back home. So while sometimes it might a day on the hill that gives you plenty to tell your workmates on your return. At other times these things just creep up on you. And sometimes, just sometimes, they land right at your door.

Wardy

Banff Local

WOW!, January has been a month to chat about! Full of events, little surprises, and great weather!

It has been a while since I have posted as I have been out playing as much as I can in our amazing protected playground.

Our first big event that took off was the arrival of tons of celebrities from all over to participate in the Celebrity Sports Invitational at Sunshine Village and the Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel. Folks like Alec Baldwin and Robert Kennedy were here to raise money for the Water Keeper's Alliance. They went snow-shoeing , skied shopping and partied!

Following that the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Torch Relay came to Banff. The community embraced the historical event with a huge party and awesome entertainment. The Canadian Tenors and Bomba entertained locals and visitors as Karen Percy-Lowe ran the torch onto the stage and lit Banff's Cauldron. The following morning the flame made it way to Sunshine Village and then departed Banff to Lake Louise where again another huge celebration took place.

Of course a huge highlight every January is the Ice Magic Festival. A truly amazing weekend that involves the worlds best ice carvers as they go head to head carving some of the most incredible ice carvings. Along side that, there is tons of other events for the whole family! Even a whole castle to skate through right on the lake!

We had a little visitor surprise us as well! The Travelocity Roaming Gnome was chosen by Facebook to come to Banff over Whistler. I had the awesome pleasure of taking him every in the park for 3 days. We skied, we ate, we shopped, we dogsledded, play hockey,we went to the spa, the hot springs, the night clubs and more!

So what is coming up? Well join me on Facebook to stay in touch with me every day or follow me on Twitter!

Stay Tuned as always!

rB

Real Banff is looking for a vibrant adventurous couple to help showcase Banff and Lake Louise. The winning couple will be treated to 5 exciting days of skiing, dog sledding, Icewalks, spas, hotels, restaurants and everything else we have to offer in Banff National Park. You will be followed by a camera crew everyday and share your experiences on YouTube.

To win please submit a two minute video on Real Banff’s Facebook Page or provide a YouTube link and show why you should be the couple to win! Facebook users and Tweeters get extra points!

Winner will be announced on Feb 14th.

Transportation to Banff and some meals not included.