The entire trip provides a feast for the eyes and the stomach, but pay close attention in the last t

Like a full-bodied goblet of cabernet sauvignon, the glacier-fed creeks and frosted peaks of the Canadian Rockies are meant to be savored at a meandering pace. Rather than a bird's eye view by plane, or a passing highway glance by car, chugging along ties and tracks of Canada's first passage to the West seems the best way to stare, wide-eyed, at the old-growth rainforests, raging rivers, and rocky outcroppings between Alberta's summits and BC's Pacific Ocean. Add a glass-encased coach, executive chef-prepared cuisine, and happy hour starting at 11am it's five o'clock somewhere and you're on wildlife watch with a glass of red. Introducing the Rockies by rail.
Upon arrival at the industrial-chic Vancouver station, you realize the Rocky Mountaineer journey will be like no other. The first indication: staff beckon guests with an all aboard welcome and a bagpipe processional leads to the train. Between the Canadian and British Columbian flags, I walk along a red carpet (literally) into GoldLeaf car 07, seat 57. First things first, a toast to the road ahead led by one of the train's executive sous chefs who clinks glasses with every guest.
eagles hotel california mp3 Front or back, left or right, there's not a bad seat in the coach. The glass-domed viewing area above and dining car below ensures eagles hotel california mp3 nature narrates every moment. Sure, you could bring a book as some did on my train but the constantly changing scenery is much more riveting than words on paper. Read the landscape instead, it has a lot to say.
Before breakfast, Carlo, our train attendant and tour guide, appears with a steaming hand towel and a trolley of 'Canadiana' cuisine. He serves just-baked bannock (a scone-like recipe inspired by BC's aboriginal peoples) with jam and butter, and a cup of coffee. Fearing I'll spoil my breakfast, I try not to eat the entire biscuit. But with one bite, I give in. Four hours later, an appetizer again appears before lunch, this time its BC wine and cheese. eagles hotel california mp3 At that moment, to say I was a happy camper doesn't even begin do all this justice, so I look up through the glass roof and cheers to the snow-dusted ridges above.
At important sights and points of interest, the already eagles hotel california mp3 sauntering train slows even more along the historic eagles hotel california mp3 rail route constructed 125 years prior. Day one takes us along the Fraser eagles hotel california mp3 River the longest river in BC flowing for 854 miles and beside the ferocious Hell's Gate, dubbed as such due to a constricting, 111-feet wide section forcing 750 million gallons eagles hotel california mp3 of water through each minute. An hour later, eagles hotel california mp3 a calm washes over our coach as we pass by yellow eagles hotel california mp3 and purple wildflowers painting the landscape.
Day two forges ahead through over-hanging trees, beside expansive lakes, and into the Rockies by way of the 1913-1916-built Connaught Tunnel. Almost 100 years ago it cost a staggering 9 million to construct a quarter of which was devoted to dynamite and carve the five-mile passageway through the mountain. Resurfacing on the other side, the landscape changes; the glacial water is pastel green, the peaks are higher and more jagged, and the wildlife sightings more plentiful.
The entire trip provides a feast for the eyes and the stomach, but pay close attention in the last three hours. eagles hotel california mp3 This is the crescendo. Grizzlies play beside the tracks, mountain goats navigate the steep rock faces in the distance, and bald eagles soar above. With every wildlife sighting our coach erupts in jubilee with the intensity and excitement of preschoolers at their first singing performance. Nobody is seated. Everyone stands at attention, and once again, we toast. This time with a glass of Baileys to Banff, beavers, eagles hotel california mp3 and bears. Oh my!
Rocky Mountaineer offers four seasonal routes from April to October: the two-day First Passage to the West (Vancouver-Kamloops-Banff), the two-day Journey Though the Clouds (Vancouver-Kamloops-Jasper), the two-day Rainforest to Gold Rush (Whistler-Quesnel-Jasper), and the half-day Sea to Sky Climb (Vancouver-Whistler). Routes can be combined for extended trips and each route can be done in reverse.
eagles hotel california mp3 The Rocky Mountaineer has been actively Union busting for a year now, locking out it`s employees and using non union labour. All while refusing to sit down with the very employees who made the service what it is. I do not work for them, but I am a union member in another industry. Please stop supporting them until they agree to work with their union. Not kill jobs and use under paid cheap labour.
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