Alberta

After deciding to pack up camp and head east, Greg and I spent time thinking about the mementos we'd like to carry back to Newfoundland and Labrador with us before departing Edmonton. We decided that we'd like to carry back memories of our weekend trips to Banff and Jasper National Parks, the mid-century modern buildings around Edmonton and the neon signs on Whyte Avenue.

Banff welcomed us on Saturday afternoons when we headed due south-west of Calgary for a break from the glitz. Jasper was our getaway for Thanksgiving 2008 and Victoria Day 2009. Scattered in gift shops around the parks are vintage and replica 'vintage' posters of the parks and the Canadian Pacific rail lines that crawl through them. To remember our weekends away, we purchased one such 'vintage' poster and framed it in an ever-popular Ikea Ribba frame. It now welcomes visitors in our foyer.

We also chose to keep guests informed, and visually stimulated, by adding to our collection of coffee table books with the Art Gallery of Alberta's Capital Modern. A flick through the pages of this picture book reminds me of the long walks Greg and I weaved during our first months together in the city. The history of buildings that I walked past daily was largely unknown to me until making this purchase. I'm always fascinated to learn more about the history of seemingly common-folk places in my very neighbourhood.

Finally, we purchased a yet-to-be-assembled picture rack that will eventually hold photos Greg took of neon signs in the neighbourhoods of Strathcona and Garneau, and across British Columbia on our summer vacation. I've long had a soft spot for neon signs and look forward to expanding on our collection as the list of our past travel destinations continues to expand.