The Calgary Stampede is an annual giant fair with live stock shows, rodeo even
ts, rides, food, and games. All day long there were motorcycle stunt shows alternating with divers plunging head-first from a 90 foot tower into a small pool of water while performing all kinds of gymnastics (see the video b
elow). Every evening the climax of the day were the thundering hoofs and rumbling wagons of the chuckwagon races (see the video below) followed by a grand stage show.
The whole town participated with events in the streets, such as square dancing where onlookers, such as us, were invited to participate (whether they
wanted to or not - we had square danced many years ago and therefore didn't make complete fools of ourselves and even earned hugs from our hosts), or music by bands or individuals, and a free pancake breakfast on Sunday morning. Many people were decked out in their finest Western wear. You could hardly tell the locals from the visitors b
ecause almost everyone wore at least a cowboy hat or a bandana. We decided to join in and my friend wore a Western hat, and I tied on a colorful bandana. Furthermore, my friend finally got her wish and acquired a cow hide which will be used as a carpet under the coffee table in our living room back home. 
The Stampede was kicked off by a giant parade representing all facets of Canadian life from First Nation People (as Indians are called in Canada) in colorful clothes and feather headdresses to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police
and the Canadian Army, as well as representatives of many of the other nationalities that populate Canada. The US flags carried by many of the parading groups shows the close relationship between the US and Canada that exists mainly in the western parts of both countries (I claim), because of the common heritage of settling the western frontiers. The border between Canada and the USA beyond the great lakes was unclear for many years until it was formally settled in the first half of the 19th century.
The parade was so long that we abandoned our vantage point, went to th
e hotel to warm up because in the shade of the tall building where we were standing the cool wind made 
it chilly, watched some more of the parade on TV, and still caught the end of it live as we exited the hotel again. Because of the many horses in the parade, the last entry in the parade were a series of street sweepers.
The two days in Calgary were a fitting close to our Rocky Mountain trip. Although we hated to see it come to an end, we were nevertheless looking forward to returning to our permanent home.
ts, rides, food, and games. All day long there were motorcycle stunt shows alternating with divers plunging head-first from a 90 foot tower into a small pool of water while performing all kinds of gymnastics (see the video b
elow). Every evening the climax of the day were the thundering hoofs and rumbling wagons of the chuckwagon races (see the video below) followed by a grand stage show.The whole town participated with events in the streets, such as square dancing where onlookers, such as us, were invited to participate (whether they
wanted to or not - we had square danced many years ago and therefore didn't make complete fools of ourselves and even earned hugs from our hosts), or music by bands or individuals, and a free pancake breakfast on Sunday morning. Many people were decked out in their finest Western wear. You could hardly tell the locals from the visitors b
ecause almost everyone wore at least a cowboy hat or a bandana. We decided to join in and my friend wore a Western hat, and I tied on a colorful bandana. Furthermore, my friend finally got her wish and acquired a cow hide which will be used as a carpet under the coffee table in our living room back home. 
The Stampede was kicked off by a giant parade representing all facets of Canadian life from First Nation People (as Indians are called in Canada) in colorful clothes and feather headdresses to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police
and the Canadian Army, as well as representatives of many of the other nationalities that populate Canada. The US flags carried by many of the parading groups shows the close relationship between the US and Canada that exists mainly in the western parts of both countries (I claim), because of the common heritage of settling the western frontiers. The border between Canada and the USA beyond the great lakes was unclear for many years until it was formally settled in the first half of the 19th century.The parade was so long that we abandoned our vantage point, went to th
e hotel to warm up because in the shade of the tall building where we were standing the cool wind made 
it chilly, watched some more of the parade on TV, and still caught the end of it live as we exited the hotel again. Because of the many horses in the parade, the last entry in the parade were a series of street sweepers.The two days in Calgary were a fitting close to our Rocky Mountain trip. Although we hated to see it come to an end, we were nevertheless looking forward to returning to our permanent home.
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