Medicine Hat

We decided to head away for the week-end and this time travelled west to Medicine Hat. Reputed to be the sunniest city in Canada. It is only 2 hours drive from Lethbridge.

With its historic downtown district it reminded us of the central business district in Wanganui. Traditional gas lanterns are fueled by the city's own natural gas.

The Canadian Pacific Railway workers accidentally struck gas when searching for water. The exploration mapped out the one of the largest gas fields in North America.

This little house is the oldest brick house in Alberta.

Anyone for Chess? These pieces were beautifully carved from wood.

The photo of the building below is City Hall. Taken from the iron bridge, which resembled Dublin Street bridge (only narrower!) We walked along the trail beside the Saskatchewan River, it was so beautiful and so nice to be out in the sun that we just kept walking, for nearly two hours.

Across the river on the other side of the bridge is this cathedral.

Medicine Hat is also famous for the World's Tallest Tepee. The Saamis Tepee was built for the 1988 Winter Olympics in Calgary, as a symbol of Canada's native heritage. It towered above the Olympic caldron during the opening and closing ceremonies. After the Olympics, it was moved to Medicine Hat. It is built entirely of steel, with a concrete foundation. It is 20 storeys high (over 65 metres) and weighs almost 1,000 tons. Ringing the tepee are 10 large circular story boards, painted by native artists of the region.

Saamis (SA-AH-UMP-SIN) is the Blackfoot word for eagle tail feather headress (hat worn by Medicine Man - or Medicine Hat)