An Edmonton Art Gallery Adventure

It has been brought to my attention that while I don’t consider my local adventures too terribly exciting, someone from another country might.  So…with that being said…look out readers, you are about to get a dose of Canada!

Last weekend we travelled to Edmonton, Alberta, Canada for the weekend.  The purpose of this trip was to enjoy being a tourist in my own community.  On Friday night, I had found a festival guide in my hotel room at the Royal Inn Express, which by-the-way had an amazing Continental Breakfast and was so comfy and quiet.  This guide became an inspiration to try some of the things that many people actually travel to Edmonton to do.  The one major thing that stood out for this trip was the Art Gallery of Alberta and the Muttart Conservatory.   

The Art Museum of Alberta has always been a peek interest for me but I could never seem to find the time or excuse to drive into downtown Edmonton to see it.  This weekend would be that weekend for me, rain or shine.  On Sunday we decided to take the Light Rail Transit (LRT) into the city from Century Park. Originally we were planning on parking at the Southgate Mall station but after circling the parking lot numerous times, we came to discover that there was NO park n’ ride at this station.  To me this is completely bewildering.  I have never in my life been to a major transportation station and not found a park n’ ride, but this is one of the many things I find strange about Alberta’s urban planning.  Honestly, where was the thinking here?  After travelling further south to the Century Park station, my overly excited 3-year-old finally got his train ride.

We got off the LRT at the Central Station.  I had to laugh at this stop because Calaway Park located in Calgary, AB, had completely spammed to walls of the entire underground platform.  If we hadn’t already been to this park, I honestly might have been swayed by all the propaganda…but alas, I have, and will not be going back again.  I don’t enjoy an over-priced day at an over-rated amusement park.  Following this, we walked through a maze of urine scented hallways until we finally found sunshine in downtown Edmonton.  As we walked down the sidewalk I noticed The Russian Tea Room, a place to have a cup of tea, cheesecake and your fortune read which I mental noted for my next trip down.  In addition to this we hoped to eat at Healthfare, which of course was closed on Sundays.  My spoiled husband has already eaten there and says it is delicious. 

Once we arrived at Churchill Square we found that there were people playing in the giant fountain…so of course we joined in. 

After a good cooling off, we headed to the Art Gallery for some culture.  I highly recommend seeing this if you find yourself in the area.  It is a smaller gallery but carries some amazing pieces.  My favourite is Emily Carr.  She is a West Coast British Columbia gal who painted West Coast and Indigenous art…I could have stayed by her exhibit forever.  I honestly felt at home…my sense came alive again.  So beautiful.  But, with that said, Art Galleries aren’t the best places to take 3 children, 2 of which are young and needed naps at that particular time.  As a result, my beautiful daughter decided to protest our culture break and inform the building that it was time to go…Now. 

Unfortunately, the following day it was raining and windy so we postponed our Muttart Conservatory excursion for another tourist-in-your-town vacation.

Until next time….

Serena   

London Dungeon

Hi All,

Welcome to my first blog.  I don't have any holidays planned for the rest of this year (having used up most of my annual leave already on a trip to Canada to visit my sister and fellow she-trekker, Caroline, in April).  So the majority of my blogs this year are going to revolve around day trips in and around London.  I have lived in England's capital for 7 years (being originally from Australia) and have seen a fair few of the 'must do' attractions in that time.  But with a city of this size, the variety of things to see and do can be a little overwhelming.  So there is definitely a healthy list of things I still haven't got around to seeing yet.   One of those being London Dungeon.  It seemed like as good a place to any to start, so today I roped 3 of my friends into coming along with me (thanks Amy, Carolina and Emi!)

www.the-dungeons.co.uk/London

Emi, me and Amy at the entrance

With it being Summer, a weekend, and a bank holiday weekend at that, we wanted to get a fairly early start to the day and try and avoid the crowds as much as possible.  We arrived at about quarter past 10 in the morning and only had a few small groups of people in front of us, so a few minutes later, we were inside.  The whole place is themed, as the name would suggest, as a dungeon.  Dark, smokey and foreboding.  The visitor is instantaneously transported back to 17th and 18th century London, a world of disease, petty criminals, torturous activities and of course, Jack The Ripper.

                                                         

Me 'entering at my peril'!

Not knowing much about London Dungeon before I went, I was under the impression that it would be a sort of museum where you could walk around different exhibits at your own leisure reading gruesome details about the harsh realities of life back then.  But I have to say, the way it was set up was much cooler than this.  The visitor finds themselves channeled through the dungeons in a very systematic way, going from one room to the next and being greeted by a character from that era in each room who then informs you about the Black Plague, or the Great Fire of London, or some other important event of the time.  

In one room, which was set up as a court, we were all treated as criminals and selected people were put on trial for various petty offences and then sentenced to their fate, usually a burning at the stake or a beheading.  In another room, a torturer showed us his various 'tools of the trade' and described in great detail how he used each implement.  I would say at this point that, although a tad on the gruesome side, it is all fairly tongue in cheek and definitely done in a kid-friendly way.  I think children of 7 and upwards would enjoy themselves so it's definitely a family day out.  In another room we were greeted by Mary Jane Kelly, one of Jack the Ripper's victims, who outlined the terror he reigned on London's East End prostitutes in 1888.  

Next we were lead onto a 3D ride which simulated a seance at 50 Berkeley Square, supposedly one of London's most notoriously haunted addresses.  This was definitely kid friendly but did illicit a few screams from Amy, lol.  Probably the scariest part of the day was the final ride, in which you are supposed to be a criminal who is about to be hanged for your sins.  This involved a free-drop, only for a few seconds, but at the moment when they drop you I did feel as though I'd left my stomach behind!  And of course, that is the moment they take a photo of you, which you can later view and purchase for £10 if you want.  As tempting as it was, I didn't think the screwed-up-face-screaming-my-lungs-out look was my most flattering moment, so I declined the purchase.  From here you are guided strategically out into the gift shop which is chockers with the usual array of things that, if you were to purchase, you would inevitably regret soon thereafter.

All in all, to go through the dungeons takes about 2 hours.  And upon our exit, we were definitely pleased with our decision to get there early.  By midday the queue went half way down the street and I imagine the wait to get in would have been upwards of 45 minutes.  

To sum up, pretty good value for money (especially if you can get your hands on some half price vouchers from Tesco as we did) and definitely a recommended day out if you have children.

The next day trip I'm planning will be to Hampton Court, residence of King Henry VIII, and another London attraction I am yet to visit.

So watch this space!

Until next time, 

Sarah.