In many ways, Calgary reminds me a lot of Brisbane. Like back home, people, at least at our client, seem to start really early. Most appear to be present by 8am and I’m pretty sure everyone is there half an hour later. Back home, the combination of the heat (who can really have a lie in during the ridiculous summer temperatures) and the outdoors lifestyle seem to drive people to start and finish early. In Calgary, it seems to be the latter that drive people to finish early with plenty of people walking, jogging, and cycling despite the brisk temperatures.

Arriving back in town on Monday proved almost impossible to have a dinner that didn’t include pizza by the slice with most of the restaurants closed for the Easter weekend. I ended up at a reasonable Thai place, the Rose Garden where, other than myself remained completely empty. Similarly, many stores don’t open late at all with almost all of them shut by the time we get back into downtown Calgary by 6pm. Fortunately places like pubs, bars and restaurants remain open although I realise that living in London has spoilt me with reasonable options at every price point.

Of course, Calgary also has its own unique charm. The natural oil reserves nearby mean the town has a lot of money, and the many white-clothed fine dining restaurants are just one of many indicators. The Calgary Tower, built in 1968 and located in the heart of the city offers a great view of downtown and another vantage point to absorb the stunning beauty of the Rocky Mountains.

Strangely enough, the town appears to have its fair share of homeless people everywhere. On my first night I still remember being approached about three or four times for spare change just simply walking around for a good ten or fifteen minutes. Some of the people look a little worse for wear, although I’m surprised by how young many of them look. I think that most other people don’t walk the streets that much, preferring to drive around the blocks instead.

I’ve managed to keep busy enough for the past week and I can’t wait to get properly settled into an apartment so that it feels like I’m living in the city instead of simply just visiting it.