Cirque de Soleil, a Voyage into the Imagination

The Kurios Cabinet des Curiosites, at the Calgary Exhibition grounds, usurps the boundaries of the impossible, delights the heart and stimulates the unthinkable. We arrived to find the grand entertainment in the surrounding tents before you are ushered into the main event. Characters with impeccable costume and set design and color whet your appetite… no long lines, just wonderment.

The moment you arrive at the gates, you become a child age no matter what your age. Every seat in the bigtop was a great seat. We were able to snap a pic of the centre ring before the beginning. I was drawn to two children in front of us dressed in their best with Sunday hats, they seemed transformed from another century.

Never a dull moment, one after the next, trains rushed in, acrobats, dropped on chairs from the ceiling, dancers bounced from suspended clouds, acrobats swinging from the rafters they caught one another by the hand or foot, then built a human chain, bringing a gasp from the audience each time. I have never been so entertained in a long time. Hope everyone gets a chance to peer into the Cabinet of Curiosites.

Even when the show comes to an end there is the shops. If you every wanted a spectacular masque or hat, they have it.

Flavor of Istanbul, Turkey

I love Istanbul and the feeling of history and culture. We toured in Istanbul for five days and these are some of my favorite pics. The Turkish people thrive, not only in their religion, but a proud ancestry. The last photo is of the Savarona, Ataturk’s ship.

I have just recently written a thriller based in the Meditteranean, that will be published in about two months (shirleyburtonbooks.com). In my reflections I spent a lot of time in Istanbul.

Cirque de Soleil, Kurios and Calgary Stampede Park

Driving to Stampede Park we passed the tents for the amazing Cabinet of Kuriosities currently running by Cirque de Soleil. Unfortunately, the shows sold out in the first days and we were there for another reason. We’re hockey fans of the Calgary Flames and the incredible cardiac kids. Our team is battling it out in the Saddledome tonight for two more points to keep us edging out the Kings, last year’s Stanley Cup Champion. Our seats were up quite high but it was an excellent view and we did win the game and our rookie, Johnny Gaudreau rose again to the top of the Rookie Scoring competition. Calgary fans are the best never leaving before the final bell.

Pont Alexandre III Bridge, Paris

The Pont Alexandre III Bridge over the Seine River in Paris is spectacular from the bateaux cruises. The bridge connects the Grand Palais to the Petit Palais on the right bank of the Seine. Tsar Nicolas of Russia laid the foundation stone in October of 1896 in tribute to his father Tsar Alexandre. Work on the bridge continued until the Universal World Exposition of 1900.

Gilt and bronze statues rise from the bridge portraying crowned Fames restraining Pegasus. Over the centre of the bridge are statutes of the Nymphs of Neva with the arms of Imperial Russia. This was an amazing architectural feat of its time.

Colorful Exotic Birds at Flamingo, Las Vegas

We thoroughly enjoyed a walk through an exotic sanctuary for Chilean flamingoes, mina birds, cockatiels, colorful parrots, black swans, mallard ducks spread out of acres and acres of palms and lush floral and fauna at the Flamingo Hotel in Las Vegas. The flamingoes gather in units and some stand more than four feet tall. The parrots sing and enjoy sitting on the arm, head or shoulder of tourists. Don’t try it without the bird guide.

 

The Flavors of Provence at the Paris Hotel, Las Vegas

Last week we spent time enjoying the grandeur and splendor of the hotels of Las Vegas, each unique and tantalizing. We stayed at The Paris and strolled the shops and promenades of the village captures of Provence. The great chef Gordon Ramsay has a steakhouse in the hotel and the menu was mouth-watering but the pocketbook not hungry enough. The hotel has a full-scale Arc d’Triomphe and a scaled down version of the Eiffel Tower. Spent lots of time walking along the famous Strip getting in a lot of exercise.

I came home longing for a return trip to the fabulous Mediterranean and to beautiful France, home of my ancestors.

Reflections of Vancouver, British Columbia

Winter Morning Sunrise with Chinook Sky

This is a January winter sunrise over Calgary, Alberta. A chinook sky is a light warm breeze drifting over the city.when the Rocky Mountain breeze is sent from the Bow Valley through a natural wind tunnel meeting prairie wind. This phenomenon was first called by the Chinook natives to be a ‘snow eater’. In a normal winter we get more than thirty chinooks that in extreme temperatures suction the snow and moisture right before your eyes. Temperatures today won’t need more than a hoodie.

Looking forward to a lovely day and a chance to get a walk.

Grieving with the Assault on Charlie, Paris, France

The tragic events culminating in the assassination of Charlie’s editorial staff is mourned throughout the world. Not all countries are blessed with the privilege of free speech and that is remembered with regret. The attempt by terrorists to gagged editorial expression has proven the opposite. Paris, France, the World is defiant and is strengthened as we share the grief. Je suis Charlie.

Peaceful Mountain Drive along Bow River near Field, British Columbia

The majestic Bow River begins in the heart of Calgary, Alberta, in the western prairies on the doorstep of the Canadian Rockies is 623 kilometers in length. Flowing through the prairie wheat fields all the way into the province of British Columbia it generates rivers and streams for the naturalist providing fishing, canoeing, kayaking, white water rapids and gorges. Past Field, B.C. a popular ski area, the river is fed from the Bow Glacier and trickles into the azure blue of Lake Louise.

The Bow River is a result of the massive land movements during the ice age and later to our indigenous peoples. David Thompson, an explorer and cartographer plied the Bow and spent a winter with the Piikani tribe in the 1787-17. For centuries waterways were vital to trade and settlement across the Canadian frontier.

Each time I go through Banff National Park to the mountains in British Columbia I an in awe of its majesty.