Winnipeg, Manitoba - October 19 - 20

Oct 19 

Today was just a travel day.  We got up early and drove to Orlando and left our car at The Parking Spot. The flight was on time, and we grabbed a sandwich for lunch to eat on the plane. Toronto was much less congested than when we were there a couple of months ago. We didn’t have to go through security which saved a ton of time. The flight to Manitoba was on time, but we didn't have a long layover, so we ordered mac & cheese on the plane for dinner. 

We stayed at the Lakeview Signature by Wyndham. (part of the Frontier's North tour and we added 1 extra night for any potential travel delays)

The hotel was across the street from the airport. Once we crossed the street and entered the building there was a long hallway connecting one hotel to ours, so we were out of the elements. It was cold and breezy. We got a bit settled in and went back to the airport for some dessert. YUM!

Greg went to get some water & soda and got bus tickets for tomorrow’s outing. It was soon time for bed.  

Oct 20 

Today the tour package starts with Frontier’s North. We had an evening meet and greet with the Frontiers North guide at 9:00 but we had the rest of the day free.

We had breakfast at the airport and then got on the bus to take us to an area called The Forks. We walked a short distance to The Forks Market, an indoor food court & shops. I wished I had been up to more exotic food as they had everything there and the Sri Lanka food stall smelled the best. After a day of cold sandwiches, the steak sandwich called out to me. I can honestly say it was the best one I have ever eaten.                                                                                    

Union Station

I shopped a bit, and we headed out to walk along The Forks recreation area where the confluence of the Red River and the Assiniboine River meet and wandered about. We walked along the Red River.

starting the walk with The Forks Market in the background

homeless

Esplanade Riel pedestrian bridge

Canadian Museum for Human Rights

Blue Jay hiding in the tree

Pan Am Games Monument

The Path of Time Monument

Oodena Celebration Circle

Forks astrological monument

in honor of the missing and mistreated and murdered aboriginal women and girls 

I had seen a wonderful bakery and they had some lovely looking pastries that sounded good for an afternoon snack. When we got there, they were all gone, so we split a cinnamon roll. We walked around some more before catching the bus back to the hotel. There were a couple of museums that we didn’t visit since the weather was quite nice. The morning was cold, but it warmed, and the wind died down. We had dinner at the hotel and split some nachos that were excellent.

walking back to the bus stop

White-throated Sparrow

Canada Geese

At the meet & greet we met our tour mates for the trip. Our guide was Bryan Orman, and our driver was Alex. There were 20 of us and we introduced ourselves and where we were from and what we most wanted to see, other than polar bears of course. We got instructions for the next day and got our luggage tags for the flight. We were to meet downstairs at 6:05 AM and breakfast was at 6:15.

There was a second group of twenty for the other buggy that we shared the buses and planes with as well as the lodge.

Tomorrow, we meet very early to check our luggage and have breakfast before being bused to the charter flight to Churchill. 

For larger photos: 

Winnipeg, Manitoba https://photos.app.goo.gl/efCBkP1EAcFKQvqr8