Edmonton Tour
Two days Edmonton trip, visiting the West Mall,
the city, the Ukrainian Cultural Center and the Elk Island National Park.
(Click on a picture to see an enlarged version)
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| Today I take this Air Canada's A320 from Toronto to Edmonton. The flight is about 4 hours long. |
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The first Edmonton excursion is at the Edmonton West Mall, where there are about 800 stores and more than 100 resturants. This is a good place for the last shopping before going north, and I buy a sufficient quantity of AA batteries for my equipment (there is no possibility for battery recharging on Ellesmere!) |
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| Still inside the Edmonton West Mall | |
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| I'm staying at Wee Sleep, a beautiful Bed & Breakfast in Edmonton, close to bus stop and west mall (photo courtesy of the B&B). |
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The following day, I take a guided, full Edmonton day tour, with excursion to the Ukrainian Cultural Village and Elk Island National Park. It is organized by Out an' About Tours Travel Adventures. In the pictures above, the Edmonton downtown. |
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| The tour starts with a visit to the Edmonton residential area. | |
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Edmonton travel to downtown, including the Legislative Assembly of Alberta. |
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| The Muttart Conservatory consists in four pyramids, where different ecosystems are represented through typical (and sometimes, rare) plants and flowers. | |
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The tour continues to Ukrainian Cultural Heritage Village, where the life of Ukrainian immigrants, from about 1892 to 1930, is represented by players through typical costumes, buildings and tools. |
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| Different types of homes... | |
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...and of churches. |
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| Inside homes. On the right: a nice composition of icons around a window. | |
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Although few miles from city's center, Elk Island National park has impressive opportunities to observe wildlife, such as buffalo, elk, moose, beaver and much more. |
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Herds of buffalos are busy in feeding during this season. |
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Wood piled up by beavers building dams. |
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Trees cut down by beavers. |
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| A moose with a calf. |
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| On the left: a steaming buffalo. |
PICTURES |
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Two days in Toronto, touring the city's museums and attractions, as the CN Tower and the Toronto Islands. GO. |
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Tour of Edmonton, Alberta <YOU ARE HERE> Two days in Edmonton, visiting the West Mall, the city, the Ukrainian Cultural Center and the Elk Island National Park. |
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Fly to Ellesmere island, via Cambridge Bay and Resolute Bay Is a long flight, with one stop in Yellowknife, one change in Ikaluktutiak (Cambridge Bay) and one night layover in Qausuittuq (Resolute Bay), before the final leg to Alexandra Fiord / Kane Basin on Ellesmere Island by chartered Twin Otter. GO. |
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Ellesmere island - first camp on Skraeling island First camp on Skrealing islands, after a short paddle from the airstrip. This island is very interesting for the many archeological remains left by ancient Eskimos. GO. |
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Ellesmere island - camp where Alexandra Fiord ends into Buchanan Bay Back on Ellesmere to set up a new camp, approximately where Alexandra Fiord ends into Buchanan Bay. Time for long hikes and for further observation of archeological remains from the ancient Eskimo. GO. |
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Ellesmere island - long hike to inner glaciers We move again, paddling to a bay about 4 hours away. The following day, a spectacular hike to a mountain glacier ending into a frozen lake, awaits us under a perfect blue and clear sky. GO. |
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Ellesmere island - second camp on Skraeling island With about 7 hours of paddling, we go back to Skrealing islands, setting up the camp on a different spot. There are many birds and archeological remains here. GO. |
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Ellesmere island - camp on the opposite side of Alexandra Fiord We continue to north, close to 79th parallel, on the opposite side of Alexandra Fiord, a nice spot for long hikes and paddles around the nearby islands. GO. |
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Ellesmere island - going back to the airstrip, camping halfway The advanture is about to finish. It's now time to retrace our steps back to the airstrip, with one night stop halfway. GO. |
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Ellesmere island - camp at Alexandra Fiord near the airstrip Was located near the unprepared airstrip at Alexandra Fiord. From there, I've reached the beautiful Twin Glacier, by a short hike. GO. |
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Back to Qausuittuq (Resolute Bay) The Twin Otter arrives on time and brings the group back to Qausuittuq, where is necessary to stay one night, before continuing south. A tour of the town is included in this section. GO. |
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Flying to Yellowknife and Yellowknife city tour From Qausuittuq, I've flown to Yellowknife where I've spent two nights, before taking the connecting flights back to my country. GO. |
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Digital photo equipment used during the expedition In a so adventurous trip, where no computer or recharging facility is available, is necessary to bring appropriate equipment and to protect it from water and mechanical shock. GO. |
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