22/12/2022 Calgary
Calgary
Just a little colder
Arriving in Calgary (after midnight) and getting picked up by Blake’s sister felt amazing! We didn’t even care about the 3.5-hour-delay. We were just grateful we made it to Canada since so many other people were stranded in different parts of Canada because of the bad weather conditions.
Blake’s sister Erin brought us some thick winter jackets and gloves which were quite handy in -30° degrees!
Day trip to Kananaskis
Since we only surprised Blake’s parents in the afternoon when they were at Erin’s place babysitting, we spent the day out in Kananaskis. The Canadian Rocky Mountains looked so beautiful – but mainly from the inside of the car! Being outside in the cold felt really really cold! Even the smallest wind hurt our faces enormously and we probably went on our shortest “hike” yet (it was more like a sprint to the closest hotel).
A great surprise
Back in Calgary Blake’s sister Erin showed their parents a video of us that we had recorded in Mexico saying how we wished to be with them for Christmas. In the meantime we snuck through the back door and shouted “Surprise”! We had pictured Blake’s parents to cry or scream or to show any kind of reaction. But they just sat there and stared at us in shock for what felt like an eternity.
The surprise had been a success after all as Blake’s parents hadn’t expected us at all. Later on we hid behind the couch to surprise Erin’s kids (3 & 6) who were just as surprised.
More surprises
After a nice family dinner, Blake and I went out to surprise Blake’s former elementary school teacher who he is still very close with. We had a great night with him, his wife and their daughter. And the amount of food and drinks they gave us (as well as all the presents!) was just so generous!
23-26/12/2022 Calgary
It’s Christmas time!
Christmas with Blake’s family was amazing! First of all, it was so great to be back in Canada and spending Christmas with (Blake’s) family. And seeing the kids’ excitement when Santa came was just so adorable!
During the Christmas days we went sledding with the kids, which was a lot of fun (and really fast too). It was the first day when it wasn’t -38°C anymore! So -5°C actually felt quite “warm”.
Who are these Santa people?
We also surprised one of Blake’s friends by putting on our Santa Claus masks. (We crashed his little son’s 4th birthday party – way to go!)
Christmas time = happy time
This is what we our Christmas days looked like with Blake’s family:
- a Christmas walk on Christmas Day
- baking a cake with Soleia (the six-year-old)
- drinking eggnog and eating lots and lots of goodies (We had to make up for all the lost opportunities on the road as “poor” backpackers – at least that’s what we kept telling ourselves.
- going out for lunch with Erin, Blake’s sister, at Joey’s on December 24
- opening lots of Christmas presents (even Blake and I got so spoiled!)
- doing some Boxing Day shopping (I don’t like going shopping in general, but going shopping after Christmas when everyone wants to spend their Christmas money and gift cards takes it to a whole new level…)
- having family friends come over to surprise them
- watching a Christmas movie with the kids
- and of course having massive and delicious Christmas dinner cooked by Blake’s mom
Finally in the Christmas spirit
The Christmas days were so enjoyable and cozy and it finally felt like Christmas for Blake and I after not being in a Christmas mood at all in South America.
But all the snow, the warm Christmas lights and -30°C almost forces you to get into the Christmas mood 😉.
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