Calgary what on Earth Happened?

Article by guest author Peter Brooker

I'm not sure anyone would want to go to Calgary for longer than a weekend. Especially if you're not there to ski. However, as it turns out I was there for a few days for a friend's wedding, and I made some notes on the restaurants I frequented, the hotel I stayed in, as well as getting some tips from various uber drivers.

I stayed in the Westley, a functional albeit no bells, no whistles hotel which is fairly central. Despite no cycle lanes, no e-scooters and with five lanes of traffic, you can walk around quite easily in Calgary thanks to the web of +15 Steps Network, a series of bridges and walkways that connects most of the corporate buildings and shopping malls.

The hotel does a killer breakfast, and a Mexican cuisine that I enjoyed. The bed was comfortable and sheets were so good, my partner Anastasia asked the receptionists where we could buy some for our home back in Chiswick, London.

Inevitably you'll find yourself on 8th street looking for something to do. You have the sports bars, the restaurants and an inexhaustible amount of homeless and souvenir traps/shops.

The zoo is sadly, overrated, but them again once you've done Safari in South Africa, you find every zoo underwhelming and to a lesser degree, cruel. That said there are tigers there that are on the brink of extinction, and I credit the zoo for their attempts in giving these great creatures some hope for survival.

Summer really is the only time to visit Calgary for recreation. It's far too cold, even in May when we went. To truly enjoy the long walks up the crescent heights, overlooking the Bow River which is gorgeous in the evening, you need the weather to show some form of mercy. Alas it didn't for Anastasia and I, who reminded how crap the weather is in Calgary for ten months of the year, much like the U.K.

We visited the following restaurants that I can recommend. I'll name them here and you can Google them if you want.

• Sushi Hiro on 5th Avenue.

• Thai Sa-On Restaurant on 10th.

And Sky360 which is the Calgary's own revolving restaurant on top of the Calgary Tower. The food is passable, the cocktails are better, but the views are stunning and gives you the best perspective of the city. There is a minimum of spend of $50 bucks, but drinks and food for two will cover that.

Some people just pay $50 to go to the observation deck, which is one floor above the restaurant. Which is just a ridiculous way to shortchange yourself.

I was told also I needed to try the Grasshopper Beer, but that was on the Uber back to the YYC Airport, too late in the day. I doubt unless something magical happens to the city, I.E they sort the homeless encampments out, or my presence is demanded in some capacity, that I will return to Calgary.