Parting ways with my lovely Winnipeg tour guide Erin. One joy of a cross-country journey is that it connects friends
Not quite 123 Sesame Street; but Union Station is at 123 Main in Winnipeg
The Canadian stops at the beautiful Union Station in Winnipeg: designed by Warren and Wetmore from New York who built Grand Central Terminal
Hockey players on the Assiniboine River in Winnipeg
The Assiniboine and Red Rivers have a long skating path (like Ottawa's Rideau Canal). Every so often are warming huts
During my visit, Winnipeg was setting up for the Voyageur festival: promoting Francophone and Manitoban culture and history
Back to The Forks before the train departs: more hockey players arrive to the river
Historic architecture in the Exhange District
Winter in the Exhange District
Erin's favorite Winnipeg bookstore and cafe: Mondragon. Also serves green eggs and ham (look at the graffiti art)
The Exhange District today is home to art, restaurants, boutiques and neat murals like this one
The Millennium Centre is not from the year 2000
The old area of downtown is the Exchange District: home to the preserved 19th and early 20th century financial and agriculture industry of Western Canada
Towering skyscrapers and beautiful historic buildings at Portage and Main
Bracing against the wind at Portage and Main: known as the coldest and windiest intersection in Canada
There is a pedestrian tunnel under the famous intersection of Portage and Main to shelter people from the strong wind
Buildings in downtown Winnipeg
Warming up in one if the downtown skywalks
Downtown Winnipeg. Winnipeg isn't shy that it's cold in the winter: so they have been building a heated skywalk through downtown
The Manitoba Legislature
Queen Victoria - with a white winter coat - sits in front of the Manitoba Legislature
The inside of the massive dome of the Manitoba Legislature
The impressive entrance of the Manitoba Legislature. If this is your wedding please contact "where is Andrew now?" for portrait package info
The impressive entrance of the Manitoba Legislature
The impressive entrance of the Manitoba Legislature
Cars parked at the Manitoba Legislature... Almost all parking lots have plugs for block heaters
A statue to Louis Riel stands in front of the legislature. He was a founder of Manitoba and fought for Metis and Francophone rights. He was hanged for his rebellion; but has become a folk hero
From Stella's it wasn't a far walk to the Assiniboine River and the Manitoba Legislature building
Stella's makes their own fruit jam. It went straight to my heart
Cheers to delicious breakfast at Stella's and catching up with friends as The Canadian crosses the country
My good friend and Winnipeg tour guide Erin has lived in Winnipeg for half a year and has been very impressed with the city
Breakfast at the Forks is a good choice, but if you take a taxi Erin recommends Stella's as the best in town
The Forks Market in Winnipeg. Hockey is huge here
The Forks Market in Winnipeg
The Forks Market in Winnipeg
A market vendor sets up for the day
My local tour guide and friend Erin Tiesma shows off the delicious baking at The Forks Market. Ideal spot for breakfast.
Right beside Union Station, The Forks Market is great to explore
Cliche as it may look: this was a typical sight around the Forks in Winnipeg: hockey players heading to the river to play
Also from the Forks tower we saw a zamboni heading down to the river to clear the hockey rink
From the Forks tower you can see the impressive Fort Garry hotel
With the rising Winnipeg sun, The Canadian gleams in Union Station
The sun rises over the Forks of the Red and Assiniboine Rivers. You can see hockey rinks groomed on the river!
The sun rises over the Forks of the Red and Assiniboine Rivers in Winnipeg
And watch the sun rise over the Forks of the Red and Assiniboine Rivers
... and run up the stairs to get a priceless photo...
When the train arrives in the early morning, rush right away to the River Forks Tower...!
Welcome to Winnipeg!
From the tracks, you can watch the massive construction work on the Canadian Museum for Human Rights: the first national museum outside Ottawa
The Canadian pulls in to Winnipeg Union Station. Here you can see the end of the train: the famous "bullet" car
