Thursday, October 15, 2009
Twiddling One's Thumbs Activity
This previous summer, I had a chance to realize one of my long-held dreams, which was to visit Lake Louise and its low-key spectacular hotel. Just in case I win the lottery or come into money from a relative I've never heard of, I decided to apply for the Fairmont Hotel card, so that the next time (I'm considering converting to Hinduism to ensure there's a next time, even if it's not in my current time) we go to Lake Louise, I'll be able to get a special rate.Well, Folks, the application only cost you the amount of time it takes to fill out, so if you feel like doing something that will keep your change in your pocket and yet give you a (perhaps false) sense of grandiosity, I suggest you get yourself one of these cards.
Why bother with another piece of plastic that you may never use?
Well, scroll down about half-way on the application and highlight the category "Title".
I've filled enough card applications in my lifetime such that filling another one is automaton-ish. Same old..same old. Well, Fairmont Hotel's stopped me in my tracks.
Who would have thought that I could title myself Prince, Archbishop, Viscount, Sultan, Prime Minister, Maestro, even Yg Di Pertuan Agung? I settled on "Count" as there's a barely tenuous grip my surname has on a self-annointed royal family back in the Old Country. My father, as a joke and as a term of endearment by his friends was nicknamed "Grof", Croatian for "Count". With his sense of self-inflicted humor, he was laughing somewhere as I hovered my mouse over and then clicked on "Count".
Can't wait to receive the plastic acknowledgement of my royal standing.
"Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise? Yes, please make a reservation for 2 for Count Darko....."
Labels: Life Decisions, Manly Advice, Road Trips, Vacations
Sunday, September 13, 2009
More Wave Dogs in Missoula
Based on comments on a previous post, seems the Wave Dogs of Missoula are quite the popular visit...so, without further ado, here are some additional photos from the same day.
And one more, showing that a Lab don't need no stinking kayak to brave the chilly waters of the Clark.
And one more, showing that a Lab don't need no stinking kayak to brave the chilly waters of the Clark.
Wednesday, September 02, 2009
Things to Do in Missoula While Gazing at the Enchanting Sky Slip By
Missoula, MT, at 3,209 ft above sea level lies in the Bitterroot valley surrounded by ??? mountains. The Clark Fork meanders through the city; you'll be criss-crossing it as you drive through Missoula. The lapping of the rapids can be heard pretty much anywhere in the city even when the river is out of sight. Downtown Missoula is particularly open to strolling about.There are eateries and bars with open bars beckoning passer-bys to come in and sit a bit. Sitting a lot does not seem to be an activity favored by Missoulians. These folks are fairly fit and trim, as the outdoors smacks you upside the head with things to do. Metrosexuals are a human species not seen around these parts, not that Missoula lacks for cultural events. Cosmetics and high-end fashion markets are bone-dry here. Practicality and versatility in dress and accoutrement seem the guiding principles. Also Gore-tex; people are conceived and clothed in Gore-tex here. There is a plethora of outdoor gear related stores here.
Bike and kayak car racks are de rigeur. A result is an abundance of taut cheekbones and an under-usage of body deoderant products. A stuffy nose is a helpful condition to be blessed with when chowing down at some of the fine eating establishments in town.To keep the denizens ever-active, the city even built an eternal wave machine right in the Clark Fork. Brennan's Wave, just north of the Higgins Avenue Bridge and within view of the Wilma theater in downtown Missoula is a great place to simply hang out and stare. Initially created for kayakers, enjoyment possibilities soon extended past the limits of the biped population of town.
As you can see, Brennan's Wave is open to all species of animals and their caretakers. In addition to kayakers and dogs, surfers can also be spotted on the Wave, seemingly glued to one spot. Once you're in the rhythm of the wave it seems any container would do. We spent a too short couple of hours here, marveling at the kayakers' easy slippage from the top of the Wave through the middle and out the end. Two of the kayakers brought along their 2 golden Labs who spent a short time running up and down the shoreline, following their owners, before deciding to jump in and join in on the fun. The water was a bit chilly, I'd say around 50-55 degrees. It didn't seem to matter to the dogs as they swam up through the rapids before turning around and riding the rapids down river.It's a different style of life here, an enviable mix of outdoor immediacy and great coffee.
Labels: Montana, Turistas, Vacations
Tuesday, September 01, 2009
Pedicures Suspended in Water
Mutual admiration society meeting of toes, crisp, cold, clear water and distant sounds of motor boats (not provided here..you'll have to hum in A sharp). Inch long fish came up to investigate possible edibles only to discover finely pedicured toes slowly pushing the water from here.......to there.
Other related pics are here.
Labels: Montana, Turistas, Vacations
Vacation Dilemnas
The curse of decision-making while at Lake Louise, Alberta.
Do you stay inside and enjoy the view while sipping a coffee and clinking your bone china cup,
or
do you brave the 65 degree F weather and sit on the outdoor patio and coif a brew or two, while birds flit from emptying tables to the webs of chair legs, picking at fine pastry droppings?
Hmmm??? Why not both?
(NB: Click on the pix to access the Flickr album of other pictures.)
Do you stay inside and enjoy the view while sipping a coffee and clinking your bone china cup,
ordo you brave the 65 degree F weather and sit on the outdoor patio and coif a brew or two, while birds flit from emptying tables to the webs of chair legs, picking at fine pastry droppings?
Hmmm??? Why not both?
(NB: Click on the pix to access the Flickr album of other pictures.)
Labels: Canada, Turistas, Vacations
Friday, August 28, 2009
Bring me to the Old People
Well, he might as well have used the word "Geezers". In the social niceties moment at the time, perhaps he'd forgotten the word. We, that group consisting of the Ever-Loving Wife, a truly fine Canadian couple we've been close friends with since the glaciers started pulling up their rocky skirts and retreated further north, and yours truly, were thoroughly enmeshed in enjoying ourselves on a patio with this view. We (same group as explained in that last paragraph of a sentence) had been accompanied by 3 of 4 of our children. Yes, lucky we (you get the picture!) four are to actually have kids who want to hang around on vacation with their parents. Although, vacationing in places like Banff, Lake Louise, and Flathead Lake, Montana would probably not be defined as difficult work for the young ones. The eight of us were hiking most every day, some were horseback riding, others were taking (excessive) amount of pictures, while still more were whetting whistles on appropriately mountain wildlife named beers. There was always activity; there was a semblance of youthful vigor exuded by our group.Or so I thought.
The We (yes, that foursome again) had parked ourselves with hot and cold beverages of equally soothing flow on a patio restaurant at Chateau Lake Louise, having finished another day of vibrancy (Yes, we vibrated all day. Up the trails, down the trails, across the trails. We were in full-fledged vibrancy. I have witnesses). We felt flushed with the stupidity of Youth. Nothing would burst our bubble.
My son, a grad student in the geo-sciences area, knows of age. Biologists, archaelogists and zoologists have nothing on him when it comes to familiarity with old things. Only astronomists and cosmologists could trump him when it comes to describing obtusely long spaces of time. So, when he, along with the other kinder, approached the maître d’ and inquired as to our whereabouts by posing the request, "Please, take us to the four old people", his old implied age of epic duration. We (yes,unbeknownst to us, miraculously and cruely transformed to four fossils) were still drunk in the full effect of the Fountain.
The maître d’ nodded at my son's request, took a measured turn and step, and, without hesitation in his gait, guided the kiddies through the sea of grey, blue, and silver directly to our table. The Table of Old People.
