Banff

This update comes from the gorgeous town of Banff.  After staying our 5 paid for days in Vancouver we decided to get away from the rain and head to Banff.  The Aussie we met in the adventure shop in Vancouver said there could be some job opportunities here for us, so we thought we'd just head here.  After an overnight 13hour greyhound bus trip we arrived. Greyhound is dodgier here then in America but is not as dodgy as the Chinatown bus we got from Boston to NY, i swear that toilet had never been cleaned.  The  Greyhound in the US had Wifi but this one didn't.  Which was ok, because we went down to Global that day and used their wifi to download a few Glee episodes :) Dick was embarrassed about publicly watching Glee but he secretly loved it.  The security to get on the Greyhound was really full on, there was a security guard who full on searched our carry on bags, taking stuff out and digging around.  I thought it was really out of the usual for Canada, and felt more like we were in the US.  Found out today that a guy was stabbed and decapitated on a Greyhound bus a couple of years ago, randomly by the guy sitting next to him.. don't feel so violated by security anymore.  

 The hostel we are staying at is a bit out of the way (you need to catch a bus into town, the hostel gives you a free pass though), but is gorgeous.  We were upgraded to the posh building, we are staying in a 4 bed mixed dorm, but one of the beds has a double bottom on it, which is nice after sleeping in separate single beds for the last few days.  We have a toilet in the room and then a shower just across the hall.  THen the common area is a big high-cielinged area with a big fire place in the middle; very mountain lodge. We were staying in a room with these 2 guys on the first day at the hostel, and we ran into them that day and they said that they had moved rooms becasue the stench was so bad.  We seriously can't smell anything, when we said that, he was liek 'i'm pretty sure you're immune to it by now, it was only there after you moved in', so turns out we stink.  On the plus we had the room to ourselves that night, and we stole his double bed.  Will have to remember that trick for next time we have annoying roomies.


  It's been snowing pretty much non-stop since we got here, but the climate has been kind.  Although it was getting down to -30 before we got here, the last 2 days have only been down to -5. Today is beautiful and sunny and we can actually see the mountains surrounding us, and they are stunning!  it's The Remarkable's on steroids. Turns out there are heaps more mountains surrounding us then i thought there was.  

Work wise, we checked out work here, but the medical centre had just hired an RN, but i put my resume in for the reception job they were hiring for.  Since then we found out we have interviews at Big White Ski Resort (which is in Kelowna, pretty much halfway between here and Vancouver), for housecleaners.  We are pretty certain that pretty much means we have the job.  They have said they have staff accomodation as well which is a big bonus, (depending on how much it is), lots of the places charge per person, rather then per room or bed, which is really annoying for us.  We also get a season pass for their mountain too.  We were really tossing up between, potentially making more money and working in town here in Banff and buying a ski pass for the mountains around here, or going to Big White, not making as much money but actually being on the mountain etc.  We have decided we are not here to make money, but to have the full ski experience.  So we are heading to Big White next week for the interview next Thursday.  


We have finally bought all of our gear aswell.  It was quite the process but we are now fully set up snowboarders.  We were able to talk our way round a couple of deals which was great,because even though everything is about half the price here then it is back in Aus, it's still expensive. The Aussie we spoke to in Vancouver, that told us about the jobs, used to work at the big adventure store in town here, called ahead, told her old manager we were coming and organised for us to get a great deal.. which was amazing, she was such a nice person. Anyway we were shopping and they kept saying 'don't look too hard and the prices we are going to do you guys a deal etc etc', we had no idea what this 'deal' was, so we bought a fair amount of stuff, but only stuff we probs would have bought anyway.  When we went to pay, it didn't seem much cheaper.  So i asked what the deal was in the end...I was told we got 10% of everything and 30% off a few things which sounded great.  When we left the store and i read the receipt, I couldn't figure out this 'discount'.  We got like 30c off everything, i was really annoyed, they were  talking it up so much.  Anyway i worked up the nerve and went back in and very innocently and kindly asked for someone to explain the receipt to me, and where our discount was on it.  Turns out the guy who served us didn't know how to work the register properly, and gave us $10 off the whole bill, rather then 10%, they were so apologetic.  I was just glad i had the guts to go back in, it saved us a butt load! 


 We are hoping to head up to one of the ski hills around here to try out our gear, and check out these mountains.  We probably won't be back before the season is over, so we might as well make the most of it, it's meant to be some of the best snow around here.  


Not much more to report except, all of the hostel's just smell of Weed, The whole city of Vancouver smelt of weed really.  I've been eating heaps, I think i am high from passive-smoking weed all day, but if i'm being completely honest with myself, i just love bakery treats. 


That's us, 
Love to all.  Always thinking of home, 
Jordy and Dicksta