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| Subject: Calgary #2 |
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observation - restaurant meals are even pricey for a Vancouverite.
observation - walked down the red mile last night to a reception. endless bars filled to the brim with hundreds of people spending lots of money and partying hard. but, after 9pm it is hard to find a restaurant that will serve you dinner.
observation- I am seeing lots of homeless in the downtown core. More than I expected given that Vancouver is always named as the homeless capital of Canada. Social problems are alive and well here.
observation - I have been here 4.5 days and I don´t believe there is anyone living in this town that was actually born here!
[13-09-2008,14:22]
[**.46.110.132]
Sharon |
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(in reply to: Calgary #2)
Sharon, you are very correct in your observations. Wish I had have known you were in Calgary earlier. To be honest, unless you have a really good job in Calgary, that you couldn´t obtain else where, the quality of life here is not good enough to stay long term.
[14-09-2008,18:22]
[***.179.183.172]
Anonymous |
(in reply to: Calgary #2)
Anonymous,
Can you please explain more about why do you think life is not that good in Calgary? I see such conceptions from the folks living in the east coast.
To me, Calgary has very much similar facilities...amenities..Life may be expensive, but income level is higher too.
[14-09-2008,22:29]
[**.207.127.42]
DC |
(in reply to: Calgary #2)
Forgot to say, I never been in Alberta, and hence very curious life there. It always greatly surprises me about the clear distinction bet´n Eastern/Western Canada.
What I hear about Alberta, it is going to be the California of Canada.
Sharon is providing nice feedback as a visitor, though I´m also curious to hear from the residents there.
[14-09-2008,22:37]
[**.207.127.42]
DC |
(in reply to: Calgary #2)
another observation - this one for Richard. Calgary has no parks to speak of and now land is 8 million an acre in the city. Calgary´s idea of a city park is a small strip of land with 10 benches on it. Shocking. as a Vancouverite, I now feel blessed with our greenspace.
-went out for a real Alberta beef dinner tonight. Wine was about 20% cheaper due to less taxes. Dinner was a similar price. Seafood is everywhere but obviously imported. in fact, Calgary grows 2 things... wheat and oil. Food is all trucked in.
downtown was deserted on a Sunday.
the town feels adolescent. everything feels recently established. arts, culture is almost injected rather than an evolution of the community.
going home tomorrow evening. hope to poke around a little more.
[15-09-2008,04:00]
[**.46.110.132]
Sharon |
(in reply to: Calgary #2)
"Calgary has no parks to speak of and now land is 8 million an acre in the city. Calgary?s idea of a city park is a small strip of land with 10 benches on it."
- Only this is enough for me to not thinking about Calgary ever.
[15-09-2008,10:14]
[***.254.208.246]
DC |
(in reply to: Calgary #2)
DC: Like Sharon I am originally a vancouverite. Calgary although greener this year, is usually brown 9 out of 12 months of the year. Although there are more parks then sharon is mentioning, there is not alot to do here. Climate is a major factor in this. Another major factor is that the city expanded so quickly that there was not alot of thought put into its planning. Roadways are disasterous, lights are not synchronized, and everything is in one location. If you live out of the main core, you will have to committ to at least 30 minutes to an hour commute to get to anything worth while. The transit system is horrible and unplanned. In my opinion, Vancouver is no more expensive then Calgary, and you can live in the suburbs and still have access to the ammenities that those downtown have access to.
For the same cost, I would take Vancouver, even if it meant making a little less money.
[15-09-2008,13:38]
[***.179.183.172]
Anonymous |
(in reply to: Calgary #2)
Thanks Anonymous.
9 months brown is not very attractive. Though I believe that like all winter place, summer is awesome, just very short.
[15-09-2008,14:11]
[***.254.208.246]
DC |
(in reply to: Calgary #2)
we have had fabulous weather this week. one afternoon of rain. I have enjoyed the pedestrian mall on Stephens Walk.
Calgary is not brown yet but I know from other trips it gets that way plus winters can be very cold. But not everyone is excited about Vancouver rain so it is a trade off.
anonymous is right about the roadways and the need to commute. I have never seen such a sprawling light industrial area like they have in Calgary. Impossible to walk. It is even tough to walk the Chinook Mall it is so spread out.
[15-09-2008,14:22]
[**.46.110.132]
Sharon |
(in reply to: Calgary #2)
Sharon, if you thought Chinook was tough, try Market mall. It has way more stores then chinook and it is all on one floor. The place is massive, it would take you probably a godo 2 hours to walk the whole thing, if you weren´t speed walking and actually wanted to see your surroundings.
[15-09-2008,15:06]
[***.179.183.172]
Anonymous |
(in reply to: Calgary #2)
From both of you, it is clear to me that Calgary planning has to overhault a lot. This is related to my profession; poor signal co-cordination noticable to the drivers is really frustrated and such signal timing plans shouldn´t be passed in the first place.
I also would trade of year round rain than 8/9 months of frozen home arrest. Though would like to visit Banff occassionally.
[15-09-2008,15:20]
[***.254.208.246]
DC |
