“You have been working hard all these years and I don’t see you having a good time. Let’s make the most of your birthday this year. I know you are not intentional about these things but trust me, it has become very necessary at this time. Let’s bring the party to town and you can count on me; we will smash it! Say no more, ask no more, Mr. Koney please make your way here and we will make it happen. And please no disappointments!”
Those were the words of my ‘ride or die’ and ‘personal person’, Harriet Ama Bampoe (Ms. Ama B) inviting me to a birthday treat in Calgary, a cosmopolitan Alberta city with numerous skyscrapers, and known as the centre of Canada’s oil industry. Nicknamed the ‘Cowtown’, the city has a massive July rodeo and festival that grew out of the farming exhibitions it once presented.
On a cold Thursday afternoon, I arrived at the YYC Calgary International Airport from Washington. After going through immigration screening, I grabbed my bags from the baggage carousel; then headed to customs control to make my way out of the airport. Lo and behold, I was received in a VIP style, with Miss Ama B holding a gorgeous bouquet of fresh blooms.
We got into a taxi and drove through the beautiful city as we headed to my apartment, rightly situated in the heart of the city, Downtown Calgary. A vibrant urban centre with an entrepreneurial energy and living in the moment, the refined and cosmopolitan Calgary was named the most liveable city in North America by The Economist two years in a row.
As I was told, planning a trip in Calgary and any other city in the world is easy with Uber, which aids you to compare ways to get around and see what is happening near you. Our plan for the day was completed by reserving a ride with Uber in Calgary. You can trust Miss Ama B to hold you down when she decides to; unending surprises from champaign treatment at the apartment to sightseeing, to fine dining restaurants with amazing people.
My guided tour of Calgary commenced with a unique mode of transport – vintage sidecar motorcycle. An exciting experience, I felt relaxed while the driver took me around the city and narrated the sights along the route. Some breathtaking landmarks included Scotsman’s Hill and Crescent Heights Park, which overlook the heart of Calgary, as well as brief stops for photos in downtown Calgary.
The day ended with a booked dinner at the fascinating Sky 360 Restaurant and Lounge located in the Calgary Tower. It is a rotating eatery offering refined new Canadian fare and bird’s-eye views, plus observation deck access. The restaurant typically offers multi-course meals, sophisticated service and wait staff, and an upscale dining atmosphere. It offers its numerous distinguished clientele elegant and exclusive experiences that pay high prices on small but high quality portions.
Peace Bridge
It is a bridge that accommodates people walking and cycling across the Bow River in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. The bridge, designed by Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava, opened for use on March 24, 2012. The bridge was built by The City of Calgary to connect the southern Bow River pathway and Downtown Calgary with the northern Bow River pathway and the community of Sunnyside.
