Heading home

I'm writing this at the Calgary airport on the last leg of our journey home from Winnipeg.  We have been in Winnipeg, Manitoba for 2 weeks.  The primary purpose of the trip which we booked earlier this year, was to allow Sophie the opportunity to attend the Royal Winnipeg Ballet summer intensive two week program.  The program is comprised of ballet, modern, character, jazz, conditioning and a bit of art and dance history.  She stayed in residence which is adjacent to the ballet school.  We thought this would allow her to have a more immersive experience, plus it would save us the hassle of having to drive her from a hotel to the school each morning (in traffic, etc) to get to her early morning class.

Fynn, Vic and I stayed in a hotel about 6 km away.  It was close enough that we were able to take her out for dinner the odd night and check in on her if she needed anything.  Generally she handled it well and was only homesick the first few days, as she adapted to having a roommate and managing her own schedule (including making sensible eating choices as a cafeteria/meal plan was included).

We say an enormous number of things during our two weeks in Winnipeg and area.  Our friends Bryan and Patti joined us for a few days on the second week and it was great to have a nice diversion from home.  We drove with them up to Gimli (on Lake Winnipeg), visited the Canadian Museum of Human Rights, the Manitoba Museum, and the Manitoba Legislature (Hermetic Code Tour).  Other highlights included Grand Beach, Aircraft Museum, Children's Museum, the Forks, Lower Fort Garry, go carting (a highlight for Fynn), waterslides (which Sophie also got to enjoy as it was an outing with her class), a trip to Steinbach, St. Boniface (french quarter) and Polo Park Shopping Centre for a bit of back to school shopping.

All in all a great trip.  Sophie would like to go back next year, but we wouldn't spend two weeks with her -- likely figure out a way for her to get there and then return home with her -- perhaps on Via Rail.