Rio Travelers: CALGARY STAMPEDE PARADE AND HERITAGE PARK

Let me start by saying that the Calgary Stampede is way more than just a rodeo. It starts with the Parade and ends about 10 days later with the BIG rodeo and major cash prizes. Some of the events like the rodeo, chuckwagon races and the evening Spectacular shows take place in Stampede Park similar to fairgrounds in the States. Stampede Park has a midway with food, rides and games as well as tractor pulls and horses on display and much more. Meanwhile, in Rope Square, there are bands playing, Indians (First Nations people) dancing and other entertainment going on all day. Rope Square is actually Olympic Square where the athletes in the 1988 Winter games received their medals. It is downtown Calgary while the Stampede Park is about 1-2 miles away.

Our visit started with a catered BBQ of Alberta beef that was held in the RV park where we stayed. We were driven into Calgary by bus each of the 3 days we were there so we didn't have to fight the traffic. It is estimated that there are about 100,000 people at the Stampede on any given day so traffic and parking were a problem. There were many more than that on openng day since William and Kate were there to view the Parade.

On one of the bus trips we passed by Olympic Park and got a shot of the ski jump but the park is closed for renovations. While downtown, we had the opportuunity to ride up to the top of Calgary Tower (about 360' high) for a view of the city and surrounding areas and, yes, that is a horse being ridden into the building. A tradition on the first day of the Stampede is to bring a horse up in the elevator to the top of tower. I figured that they must have given him/her some Valium first but they just said that they pick a very calm horse; but, he does have rubber hoof covers on so he/she doesn't wreck the elevator or slip. We also visited Heritage Park which depicts life in the "old days" when western Canada was just being settled.

This is the first of 2 postings from Calgary. There was so much to do and see that it wouldn't fit into one. We can't predict when the next posting will occur since internet connections are not always the greatest.