I thought I could show you some pictures of our trip last weekend and having learnt a lesson from previous occasions this time I won't start (and end) with people or random things but with nature so you actually get to see something..

Plains or our road to Drumheller, which is about 3 1/2 hours away from Edmonton





The area around Drumheller is called the Badlands, a surreal dry hilly area. We stopped at the Horseshoe Canyon for a long walk which was really great. I loved it. Out of the shoes and climbing all around barefoot. W00T! (My Canadian friends called me a crazy Austrian mountain goat)




But as good as it felt to be barefoot I had to watch my step - Cactuses again (this one even with blossoms) – in fact once I didn't pay enough attention and stepped a bit into one. But it was OK. I have robust hoofs. :)

Later the day we went to these strange stone formations called Hoodoos, situated a bunch of kilometres away from Drumheller. Apparently they are one of the most visited and most known natural sights of Alberta. Accordingly it was a bit more crowded - but it was nice.

As you can see - the nature is really great here - Edmonton (some people prefer to refer to it as Deadmonton ;) may not be the most exciting city in the world - but it's so easy to get out of it and soon you are either in the plains, or the mountains, or at lakes - or the badlands. So much diversity - it's fascinating!
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So this is a little taste of the Badlands - if you want to see a couple more pictures, click HERE!

Here some pictures of day one of the road trip:

On the road to the south, an old house in Fort Macleod

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Our stop for the night, Lethbridge, a city of about 70,000 people, which once used to be Fort Whoop-Up, the most notorious alcohol trading post in the whole wild west.

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The Highlevel Bridge, built in 1908/09 for the Canadian Pacific Railway is the largest of its kind worldwide. Hidden in Lethbridge, Alberta, who would have thought that?

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Valley view from the Highlevel Bridge:

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No - that's not Mexico, that's at the Highlevel Bridge too. I've heard before that there are Cactuses in Southern Alberta, but really seeing one in the grass and knowing that in a couple of months it will be snow and ice and minus 20 degrees - that was funny!

Gee, two weeks gone and all I showed you of Mexico is a toilet. That's pretty poor isn't it. I tried to get started but sorting out hundreds of pictures...

Well, and I've just returned Sunday night from a weekend road trip to Montana (the US state south of the Alberta border) which by the way was my first real time ever in the US. (Apart from touching US soil at the airports of Seattle, Salt Lake City and Phoenix).

It was so funny: our first stop in Montana was a family restaurant in a small town called Shelby which basically provided a summary of all popular prejudices about America. The waitress was extremely obese, the food was crap, the people next table prayer loudly (before having it's crappy food) and the local newspaper hailed the army with the headline "Freedom is not free". Really, it was so stereotypical that we were pretty amused.

It was a world of it's own. Churches everywhere, mostly Baptist, Mormons and Jehovah Witnesses. Huge billboards with the ten Commandments in almost every village. Redneckistan at it's best.

But at least we made it into the country. I'm really glad to have a European passport. Giving my fingerprints, get that retina picture taken and fill out a form that I'm not a drug addict and did not commit any war crimes in WWII and stuff like that is a nuisance but still a formality. I wouldn't want to be from a Middle Eastern country though..

And I'm actually fairly pissed off about their restrictions. Your not allowed to bring any food like meat or fruit over the border. I'd sort of understand it if coming from the South where you could have all kinds of exotic pests and stuff - but from Canada? Are authorities afraid that visitors may bring samples of food that actually show US citizens that if they want to have good stuff they better buy it from abroad? That difference in taste between the great Alberta Beef Jerky (of which we of course had to get rid of before the border by quickly munching it up) and the US Beef Jerky (which we bought afterwards) was simply sad..

Oh, and to stop the rant positively: Montana was absolutely beauuuuutiful! That landscape.. First the endless plains, then blue mountains appearing at the horizon and then the drive through the Glacier National Park.. Awe-some.

Ok, I continue with a completely random note. This is a typical Mexican washroom. Well, not completely typical because it's at the airport and slightly nicer than the average Mexican washroom. But that's beside the point. The central element is the basket which can be found literally in every washroom. Women may be used to the sight of it, however, this is - of course - the men's ("Hombres" or "Caballeros"). The point is that all throughout the country the used toilet paper is not supposed to be flushed down the toilet but thrown into those baskets. Yummy! I should have taken a picture with one of the notices which explain that this has to be done because all the paper would clog the system. Seriously, this was maybe the one thing I absolutely couldn't get used to during all these two weeks. The power of habits. Such a small detail and yet, so hard to get used to. I had to concentrate very hard every single time in order not to forget it - and still if I didn't think about it that one decisive moment the paper always landed in the toilet.. (But nevertheless I fortunately never clogged a toilet. Success!)

Today a little introduction, just to give you a rough idea of our tour's route and protagonists:

We arrived in Mexico City (Tuesday 17), stayed there for a day (Wednesday) and then left for Chiapas, Mexico's southernmost province, where we spent the bulk of our trip (Thursday-Monday). Then we stayed in Huatulco at the beach (Tuesday-Thursday). From there we travelled to Guadalajara where we stayed the rest of the time (Friday-Sunday) and from where we flew back (Monday 30).

Actually we had also considered visiting a friend in Guernavaca and stay with friends of Jacaranda in the cities of Oaxaca and Morelia (all on the map) - but dropped these plans because time was simply too limited.

The European travellers: Kinga and I.


Mexican friends, hosts and guides 1:
My friend Jacaranda (left), who's from Mexico City, hosted us there, showed us for a day the city and travelled with us to and in Chiapas (Mexico's southernmost state) and further to Huatulco. Karla (right), a friend of Jacaranda and me is from Chiapas and travelled there with us.


Mexican friends, hosts and guides 2:
Alejandro (left), another friend from Edmonton, who hosted and showed us around in Guadalajara together with his family and his girlfriend Natalia (right).

Sorry, I didn't have time to say 'Bye' before going to Mexico (If I'd tell you about my crazy preparation/shopping day yesterday you'd either shake your heads in disbelief or nod with your head affirmingl: 'Yes that is sooo Joachim'). Anyway - as I didn't I manage to say 'Bye' before going to Mexico I've making it up my now saying 'Hi' from Mexico. From my friend Jacaranda's house in a town about an hour outside of Mexico City to be more precicely.

And you know what's the funniest thing: We had about 33 C the last days in Edmonton, as usually the Canadians were complaining (in the winter it's the cold, in the summer the heat - are they ever satisfied?) and everyone's reaction to our travel plans was a mixture of pitying us and making fun of us. So today morning we were leaving Edmonton at 6:30 - just after the sun had beautifully risen promising yet another wonderful hot day. Well, and then at 2:30 we were landing in Mexico City - and it was cold and rainy. Yes, it was raining cats and dogs and it has continued to be like that until now. (It's 10:15pm now). That is what I'd call irony. Leave the heat in Canada and cool off in Mexico. Haha.

Tomorrow we'll spend the day in the city and then in the evening the three of us will leave for our trip to the region of Chiapas in the south (which supposedly is the most beautiful part of Mexico and I'm incredibly excited) and later on we'll head north west to the coast and to Guadalajara from which Kinga and I will return on the 30st. So maybe you won't hear from me until then..

As I bought my camera immediately before I went to Canada I unfortunately didn't have time to take many pictures of this beautiful city. Well maybe I manage to take some now..

Sodala, endlich, zwei Wochen später, gibt es jetzt eine der Vancouver Geschichten: Wie erwähnt war unser Flug am Donnerstag (17.) sehr früh - der Shuttlebus ging um 6 von der Uni weg - sodass wir beide nur an die 1 bis 2 Stunden Schlaf hatten. David hatte schon Nachholbedarf von den vorhergehenden Nächten und schlief die meiste Zeit des Flugs (und hätte auch ein Schläfchen gemacht, wenn wir sofort in unsere Zimmer gekonnt hätten, was nicht der Fall war, aber das ist die zweite Geschichte). Mir ist es bis zum Nachmittag recht gut gegangen und so genoss ich während des Fluges die Aussicht. Die zwei Gesichter Albertas: Endlose Ebenen und endlose Berge. Von den Rockie Mountains war ich so beeindruckt - Berge, Berge, Berge - soweit das Auge reichte. Ich hoffe es lässt sich noch im September ein Trip mit den neuen KollegInnen organisieren..

Nachdem die Anreise also so perfekt funktioniert hatte, genossen wir die Zeit. Donnerstag 17. in der Früh nach Vancouver, Montag 21. am Abend zurück nach Edmonton. So war unser Plan von Anfang an, also warum die Flugbestätigung überprüfen? So dachten wir, völlig sorg- und gedankenlos. Nun, am Sonntag so um halb 11 am Abend planten wir den nächsten Tag: Wann müssen wir aus der Stadt in Richtung Wohnung aufbrechen, wann geht der Flug noch mal genau? Ich sah auf die Bestätigung - und plötzlich, ich konnte es nicht fassen - las ich da, ganz klein, den Tag des Rückflugs: Sonntag 16. August! Ungläubig sagte ich nur: "Naaaa!" David: "Du machst mir Angst." Ich: "Der Flug war heute abend." "F#&%#@!". F#&%#@! Wie oft habe ich auf die Bestätigung geschaut, auch auf die Zeit um es ungefähr zu wissen - aber nie auf das Datum, weil es ja so fix war. Das ist mir noch nie passiert. Normal hab ich es doch immer noch davor gesehen. (Das ist ja fast so dumm wie, ahm, die Magisterarbeit mit einem Fehler im Inhaltsverzeichnis abgegeben zu haben!) Aber da stand es, klein und schwarz auf weiß.

Also war unser Plan, am Montag in der früh in der öffentlichen Bibliothek (kostenloses Internet) nachzuprüfen, ob nicht vielleicht nur ein Tippfehler auf der Bestätigung unterlaufen war (eine Möglichkeit, an die ich nie wirklich glaubte) und sonst nach Alternativen zu recherchieren. Also standen wir Montag früh um 9 mit leeren Mägen vor der Bibliothek, relativ sinnlos, weil sie erst um 10 aufmachte, aber so gab's halt doch noch ein kleines Frühstück. Um 10 folgte die endgültige Bestätigung, dass der Flug weg war. Flüge für den Abend hätten 208 Dollar - ohne Taxen - also um die 300 pro kopflosem Kopf gekostet. Die Alternative: Der gute alte, aus Filmen bekannte Greyhound-Bus. Yeah! Innerhalb ein paar Minuten hatten wir die Infos zusammen. Kosten: 150 Dollar pro Person. Abfahrtszeit: Dreiviertel 6 Uhr am Abend (ungefähr wie der Flug). Ankunftszeit in Edmonton: Dienstag Mittag (nicht ganz wie der Flug). Fahrzeit: 15 Stunden. Juhuuuuuuuu!

Insgesamt hab ich das ganze schon Montag vormittag relativ gelassen genommen. Ich meine, was soll man machen? Es ist wie es ist, ich kann nichts ändern. Sicher, es ist ärgerlich, einen Flug und das entsprechende Geld zu vergeuden. Aber andererseits, nüchtern betrachtet: Alles was ich verlor, waren 100 Euro und 12 Stunden Zeit. Wie viel Geld hab ich schon für sinnlose Dinge ausgegeben? Wieviele Stunden Schlaf hab ich schon vergeudet, nur weil ich lieber vorm Fernseher saß, anstatt ins Bett zu gehen? Insofern: Whatever. Passiert ist passiert. Jetzt machen wir das beste daraus. Für mich war's sogar fast ein bisschen ein Abenteuer. (Blöder war es natürlich für David, der in seinen letzten Tagen war - er ist heute früh abgereist - und jede Stunde zum recherchieren gebraucht hätte.)

15 Stunden Bus hören sich vielleicht furchtbar an, ich fand's aber gar nicht arg an: Bis ungefähr Mitternacht haben wir geratscht und dann hab ich eigentlich die ganze Nacht, bis 6 oder 7 geschlafen (und deshalb leider die ganze Fahrt durch die Rockies verschlafen). Und dann waren's eh nur mehr ein paar Stunden. Zudem gab's immer wieder Zwischenstops für WC oder Esspausen. Und so landeten wir also Dienstag am frühen Nachmittag in Edmonton..

A typical photo for me to take. I think I could have spent hours and days just attempting to catch the perfect reflection of the left hand building in the right hand buildings.. Poor David! (I'm looking forward to our next trip, Florian! Digital cameras rule!)

Likewise I could have spent hours and days at Kitsilano beach collecting sea shells. I guess some people still can remember that picture of me in Croatia with the.. xxxyopheren? what were they called again?) Here the ground was covered with blue mussels onto which frequently white coral like ones stuck. Of course I couldn't resist to pick up a few of them and a bit of sand..

I suppose it can't be seen properly on this picture but the block on the right side is not a rock, it's part of an old huge tree trunk. About two metres in diametre I'd guess. In the background Stanley Park, Downtown and the mountains.

Actually I can proudly announce that now my feet have touched the Pacific. (So now only the Indian is still missing...)

If I have to summarise my impression about Vancouver in comparison to Edmonton I'd say: It is more urban than Edmonton, in positive as well as in negative terms. I can't help but to some extend Edmonton just feels like a large provincial town but not a real city. Firstly it's a matter of size: Vancouver (2.2 million inhabitants) has a bit more than double the population of Edmonton (just over 1 million). (Source) Secondly I suppose it is also that Vancouver is a bit "trapped" in between mountains and the ocean and, therefore, has to be a bit more careful with its space while Edmonton could extend almost unlimitedly into the plain prairie. Thirdly I assume there are also historical factors. Actually during the middle of the last century both were just not much more than a couple of houses - but Vancouver had definitely the advantage of being a sea port and becoming the eastern end of the Canadian Pacific Railway which crosses the whole country (and which's route went through Calgary and not Edmonton). As a consequence I'd guess that a real urban area developed quicker in Vancouver than in Edmonton. And as to the presence - who of us knew anything about a place called Edmonton before I went here (apart maybe from knowing the Oilers), while I'm sure everybody has already heard the name Vancouver. And - last October a survey declared it the world's best city to live. (Vienna is number three by the way). Picture: View from Stanley Park towards Downtown

Best place to live? Only if you can afford it. That was the negative impression. Never before have I seen so many beggars, homeless people, drug addicts and drug dealers. Everywhere. Especially downtown. It was depressing and intimidating. But I'm sure they'll be gone soon. Vancouver hosts the Olympic winter games in 2010 and at such occasions city fathers always realise that those people might not be the best publicity. And - sorry for being cynic - I'm sure as everywhere in the past (Barcelona 1992 etc.) a quick and easy (and short term) solution will be found..

For me, as I'm fortunate to earn enough money, it would have been nice to stay a bit longer. In particular I would have liked to visit the Museum of Anthropology (but this would have taken a day I guess, time which we didn't have) and to stroll around Stanley Park a bit more. The latter actually is a similarity to Edmonton: As we have the River Valley in the middle of the city, Vancouver's Stanley Park is located just right next to downtown, a peninsula which measures 10km in circumference and is six times bigger than New York's Central Park. Picture: View from Downtown towards Stanley Park and North Vancouver

However, in the end I guess I'll remember Vancouver not because of the wonderful things we visited (such as Stanley Park, Capilano Suspension Bridge, Chinatown, Kitsilano Beach) but because of the accommodation and the journey back to Edmonton. But these are other stories. Vancouver episodes still to come: "Albert is lazy." and "21. 20? F#&%#@!" Stay tuned..