Feb 26

Step One: Flatten out some snow

Step Two: Pour strips of hot maple syrup 

Step Three: Stick popsicle stick to the end and wait

Step Four:  Log-roll!

Step Five: Bask in it’s frozen glory

Step Six: Omnnomnomnom (profit)

Flaming Maple Taffy! Gods gift to man. It’s actually maple sap, boiled down into a thicker syrup than the stuff you buy in stores. Tastes sort of like a cross between maple syrup and golden syrup. Delicious. Sugar high for hours. 

Feb 24

Ok! So it turns out Winnipeg is cold.  Haha no I knew that already, I'm just glad I brought long johns and wool socks. I have been walking everywhere.

Yesterday, (feb 23rd) went to the WAG (Winnipeg art gallery) for a lunchtime lecture. Listened to Debbie Patterson talk about some upcoming projects she's working on.  Debbie Patterson is a Playwright, director, actor, and Arts ambassador in Winnipeg. She was quite interesting to listen to.  But I'm going to be vague because I only have a limited amount of time to write this post.

Anyway, Saw the Hudson's bay company building (woo) and sort of figured out the bussing system.  Sorry Calgary, your transit sucks serious business. The Winnipeg transit really does have it down.  Super easy to follow, although some of the buss drivers are assholes.  I was left on the curb when fishing for my ticket, and he KNEW I was getting on.  But screw him, I went to Timmies instead and won a free coffee in the roll up the rim to win.  So take that grumpy bus driver.

After that I walked across downtown and across the bridge in record time (due to -25 C weather) to attend a stand up comedy reading with the Festival du Voyageur.  I sat down at an 8 seater table by myself, and discovered the entire act was in french. Pretty awesome.  But I couldn't get up because I sat right smack dab in the middle.  Oh well, I just thanked god he wasn't the sort of comedian to pick on the crowd. I would have been royally screwed.  I did laugh at his french impression of Darth Vader though. But for all the wrong reasons.

Today was looking at art Galleries day! Started at the Tallest Poppy cafe, the lady who owned the place was super nice, and gave me a ride to her favourite gallery afterwards because she said it was too cold to walk.  two mentionable galleries would be ACE ART INC, beautiful space, and an art graduate show was on.
I really enjoyed the Urban Shaman Contemporary Aboriginal Art Gallery.  The exhibition was TRADE ME by KEESIC DOUGLAS, photography and documentary exhibition, mostly about trade, and Hudson's bay blankets. I thought the layout was pretty clever.

I'm just sitting in a coffee shop right now, passing the time before tonight. trying to decide between The Voyageur Games (leg wrestling and wood chopping) or a short animation compilation at a theatre downtown. Time will tell! I'll let you know tomorrow.

Breakfast! (home made rhubarb jam! yum!)

A street. It's a balmy -25C and sunny

This is where I am right now. Soy Latte. Yum!

Feb 22

Dear god, long train ride was long.  I guess there was a higher volume of freight traffic than usual, so the trip was 3 hours longer, totaling 23 hours from Edmonton to Winnipeg.

 But it was surprisingly comfortable! Lots of legroom, I had 2 seats to myself, plus there was the dome car if I got bored, where could get a better view of the landscape.  But I was traveling through saskatchewan, so really there wasn’t much to look at - lots of flat and snow and the occasional elevator. And yeah, I did find it highly amusing being able to travel from one car to the next. I’m a train traveling greenhorn. 

I was also surprised at the minimal security for the train.  Uh, I kinda missed the boarding announcement, (I was on the cell with my sister in Aussie, ok) So I was the last person on...as in there was no one at the gate, so I just kinda got on the train and sat down.  No bag check or anything, I guess I’m just used to flying and their super anal security ways.  But I’m not complaining, I find it quite refreshing actually. It’s nice to not get practically stripped searched when traveling.  

Anyway Winnipeg is cool so far, the hostel is less than romantic, but that’s expected.  Festival fun tomorrow!

train. I had two seats, so I made a nest

Train station. MUCH nicer than Edmonton

My room. It smells like a swimming pool. Aha, I guess that means its clean?