Jasper by Connie

Jasper to Banff is like Maleny to Montville.  Jasper is the quieter sister to the town of Banff, however still vibrant with tourists and charming with potted colour everywhere … they make a great effort in decorating this little town with pretty daisies, petunias and snap dragons everywhere you look.  It also has this hippie/alternative feel about it, with menu options like quinoa, cous cous, vegan and vegetarian dishes, soy, tofu … and the list goes on.  The Canadians certainly eat better than the Americans, maybe it's the French influence.

Today was easy … not much walking except for a short walk, about an hour, to Maligne Gorge.  Everywhere is beautiful here and if we ever run out of water in Australia, I know from where to borrow it!!! Gallons and gallons of it flowing from up high down the gorges and into lakes and rivers … supply seems endless.

Frank was hanging out for some pizza, especially after eating what one would describe as a sub average pasta dish in Banff, so again, we set out for the search, finally resting at a place called Jasper Pizza.  I now what you're thinking … but it was recommended to us by a local and she was not too far off.  At the same time, we tried a well known dish to French Canadians called Putine.  If you know anything about French cuisine, this dish hasn't any hint of anything French.  I'm going to Google the origin of this dish to put my mind at rest.  Having said that though, the dish itself is quite yummy, calorie-loaded, but yummy!

To top the night, during our dinner we realised over in the next table were four women speaking Italian.  Four girlfriends (approx 40-45 yo) travelling through Canada in a camper van.  They were well travelled, one of them having lived in Tasmania for 12 months.  Hmmm, something to aspire to ...

Canadian national dish - Poutine.
Fries, cheese curd and gravy.