To Canada

Thursday June 12 Mercedes arrived in good time to take us to Heathrow - what luxury! Air Canada airbus with more leg room. Thomas Cook reps at airport all very nice and Adrienne will be with us for the whole trip and she is charming. She thought she recognised us! Turns out she knows Bob and Jenny Atkinson from Egypt holiday. On plane watched "27 dresses" "Sinbad" and "Kite runner" - latter not a success as the central screens meant could not read subtitles! Slept a bit and ate! Greg our coach driver very nice and our cases are looked after. The group all very pleasant. To Banff and had a swim at the hotel and thanks to coach tour of the town bought picnic at Safeways and ate it in the room. Trying to adjust to new time - 8 hours difference to U.K. The mountains are so big and beautiful.
Friday June 13 to the famous Melissa's for breakfast. Visited the Whyte museum which had lovely modern art and historical displays. The Banff library is nice and got a bookmark. They do a display of photos of their library bookbags journeys around the world. Used to be charging but now free and it is independent. To Bow River, cave and basin (no longer used but interesting film and display and unique snails) Banff springs hotel. Lake Minnewanka cruise was OK but not very exciting compared to what was to come later. Liked the joke that the guide wore his sweater from there in London and that put off the girls! To Sulphur mountain cable car with splendid views. Had a swim and slept. To The Keg for dinner - steak and shrimps, rip off on Canadian wine but it was very nice - it wasn't on the wine list!
Weather great!