Saturday 15 June 2013

Rocky Mountaineer to Banff

After yesterday's disappointment, it was shake, rattle and roll all day today, from an early start at the railway station in Kamloops all the way through to our arrival in Banff at 7pm - which is not the same as dinnertime, because after a day on the Rocky Mountaineer, the last thing you need is another meal.

We travelled Gold Leaf class and had a wonderful time, sitting in spacious seats at the back of the end dome carriage, so we had a 360-degree view horizontally and 180 vertically. Just as well: the scenery was terrific. Mountains, lakes, tumbling rivers, endless forest - I've never in my life seen so many trees - blue sky above, bridges and tunnels, snow sheds and other trains. We didn't want to miss a thing, and nor did we, as even while dining we were able to slip out to the open viewing area behind at a moment's notice.

The service was cheerful, efficient and generous: the bar opened at 9am ("It has to be 5pm somewhere") and the food was really delicious and beautifully presented. The commentary was interesting and informative, there were hot towels and biscuits still warm from the oven, and the only disappointment were the famous spiral tunnels, since you can't really appreciate them from inside. There were deer and eagles, geese and elk, and most wonderfully of all, a bear: big and close, too briefly glimpsed for a photo but assuredly there in all his ursine glory. Great trip!

2 comments:

the queen said...

Oh! Listen to you! Big fan of the bears NOW.

TravelSkite said...

What? I've wanted to see bears all along. Just not too close...

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