Day 12

    This morning was rather easy going, as we were not in a rush to get anywhere. Today was mainly just tramping around Banff, seeing its amazing sights. After breakfast (waffle, sausage, and endless milk for me), we headed towards the Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel. I was expecting some old, simple looking building with nothing special but historical significance. I was wrong... very very wrong.
     As we walked down the sidewalk to our destination, the cool morning breeze negating the blazing sun, a few dark spires came into view, towering over the treeline. Those spires were the top of the Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel- or should I say castle!!! I could do nothing but gape as we strolled up the sidewalk to the gigantic stone citadel. Founded by Sir William Cornelius Van Horne (they say that he just felt the need to build a magnificent castle in the Rockies; he was a railroad superintendent. I want that job! It seems like all the awesome 'hotels' were built by those guys!), the castle was enormous and had been refurbished with modern technology... Let's just say that it made our American National Parks' historic lodges look rustic compared to this. Never before have I been in such awe of a building; nobody told me that we would be touring a North American castle!!!
       After spending a goodly amount of time around Fairmont, we hiked around the Bow River that flowed near the castle, which had a trail that led us back to our hotel for lunch (we also purchased delicious milkshakes from a local restaurant called 'Shakes'). Having spent a small margin of time at our haven of rest, we departed to hike around Lake Minnewanka, seeing many Bighorn sheep (two of which had the distinctive big horns) and a Bald Eagle!
       After our hike, we headed back to town to eat dinner (a chili cheese dog and another shake for me from 'Shakes'; it's a really good place!) and then back to our hotel for the night. Mom and Dad are out exploring some more, while Kendal and I hang out. Adios!
~Logan
P.S. For the record 'Eh' is actually used alot in Canada! Also to all those who answered the Metric/Imperial Conversion question: you are all correct!

Spires above a grove of pine

Castle Fairmont

One of the many... decorations...

Bow River

Another view of the magnificent citadel

Hoodoos!

The castle within the mists

Behold! Our first Bighorn

Me with Bighorns... don't know why this picture was chosen but... meh *shrugs*.

Lake Minnewanka

More of the Minnewanka Lake