Calgary | DAY 5: (Pt. 1) Exploring YYC + Departure

By the time our fifth day in Calgary rolled around, I was more than ready to go home.

​Over a twelve-hour period, I had emptied my bowels a whopping three times - likely buildup from the previous days' irregularity. As I had anticipated the potential delay though, our departure time remained unimpacted.

​Barrow's scrumptious Morning Glory Muffin eased me into early morning packing. A self-concocted yuan yang, in all its milky magnificence, was used to pair alongside the moist, tender crumb. It goes without saying that an Americano hailing from the same coffee roaster as the muffin would prove far superior.

​We checked out around 10 AM, just one hour earlier than the hotel's mandated time. After loading the extent of our baggage into the rental, we set off for YYC. The trunk would hold heavier baggage and one additional passenger: the fellow Torontonian we had met at the wedding.

​After dropping off the rental vehicle, we crossed towards the terminal building. I made a beeline for the priority check-in counter and obtained my sticker in no time.
​The sleepy polar bear, who had been leisurely chatting with our new friend whilst I hauled my luggage onto the belt, failed to inform me of yet another wait at the regular check-in counter. A grueling twenty minutes passed us by, not a second being justified as queuing in separate lines could have happened in parallel.

​"Who's Who In The Zoo" was a name I had spotted while we whizzed through the arrival gate. Mistaken for the official gift shop of the Calgary Zoo, I made it a point to visit before passing through security. ​

Upon our arrival, it was learned that, while the boutique did include a comprehensive selection stuffed animals, it was not affiliated with the Calgary Zoo in any way. Who could blame me though? A Vancouver Aquarium gift shop resided in the YVR airport after all.

​In general, lines moved quickly. The volume of passengers was possibly one third of Pearson's, equating to speediness overall. About thirty or so passengers were sighted at security screening. Just as I was about to weave through the rows of retractable belt stanchions, the sleepy polar bear was selected for random bag check. A lady with decidedly glamorous eyelash extensions passed a swabbed probe over and through the backpack, then reminded us to empty the tumbler at the nearby fountain.
I volunteered to do so, in the name of saving time, and discovered that the area as a dedicated liquid disposal area. Rather than the standard garbage bins of Toronto Pearson, YYC offered a Stainless steel apparatus fitted with fine grates for the emptying of water bottles. The design prevented splashing while filtering large, insoluble particles such as tea leaves.

​In exchange for partaking in the random bag check, we were permitted down the priority security lane, normally allocated for RBC cardholders.

Unlike the trip there, I did not have the luxury of being exempted from a thorough electronics check. Into the filthy bins I sorted and exposed my belongings. My jacket emerged on the other side flipped with one sleeve dragging along the conveyor belt - absolutely fabulous.
This same jacket was, indubitably, tossed into the washing machine the moment I entered back into the house.

​With approximately ninety minutes until boarding, I proposed exploring as much of the terminal as possible.

We first trekked over to Gate C, where I obtained a melty Curly Wurly for $0.99 plus tax and the sleepy polar bear hesitated not a second to try Starbucks' Pistachio Cold Brew. I was quick to request a water refill at this point, and watched intrigued as the staff held out an aluminum cup to receive our tumblers. The method enabled water bottle refills without the need to touch foreign objects - a clever concept indeed!

​As the sleepy polar bear proceeded to incorporate the cold foam into the drink - with as much sluggishness as humanly possible - I expressed desires to explore the nearby wine depot in the meantime.

​Even after checking out Red Velvet Cupcake Baileys and a staggering 740 ml can of Kokanee, I returned to the same spot to find neither the drink nor person shifted. I rolled my eyes, urging swifter actions so we could experience more of the airport prior to boarding.

​A compact passenger car known as the YYC Link operated between Gates A to E along an arc. Prevailing as the quickest method to travel between gates, we hopped onto the complimentary mini shuttle from their dedicated loading platform at Gate C. Ramped paths, yellow tactile plates, at-grade boarding, and spacious seating offered a fully-accessible "interior transit system" for both travellers and airport staff.

​Zipping by a handful of retailers and eateries, we arrived at Gate A, where the YYC Link completed a loop before coming to a halt at its drop-off location.

​The directory included a food court with Subway and A&W, more retailers, and kid-friend attractions. Of the two rotary plane "towers", only one was functioning.

​Satisfied with the amount of entertainment acquired, we ventured back to the YYC Link Station A. This time, we would line up at the Pick-Up side.

Within a matter of minutes, we zipped back to Gate B.

This section appeared distinctly less modern than the likes of A and C, with even the bathroom facilities adopting a dull, brown palette instead of vibrant cool tones.

​Admittedly, the boarding process was quite smooth - and punctual too! The flight was filled minimally, granting me with ample room to my right and across the aisle. Little to no attention was paid to my backpack, which was barely fitted underneath the seat.

​And, to my utter amazement, the flight departed early!

​As I awoke from a thirty-minute takeoff slumber, orange juice and club soda were delivered to my seat.

Meals served shortly afterwards. For both Business Class and Premium Economy, flight attendants took to taking drink and meal orders personally instead of traversing up and down the corridor with a clipboard and beverage cart. Within the first half of the flight, many were spotted walking back and forth with meal trays. This observation was not extended towards Economy, however, as a beverage cart was spotted when glancing down the aisle.

​Served in a similar fashion to the westbound flight, my meal components were presented in white ceramic dishes with utensils neatly secured in a cloth napkin.
Accompanying the Chicken entrée were garlicky roasted potatoes and sweet red peppers. Fleshy, well-seasoned bits of white meat were immersed within a lightly spiced cream sauce, evoking significantly less plastic-tasting notes as the outbound trip.

The Heritage Mix Salad was refreshing: mixed greens, quinoa, and fine pieces of sheen-bearing kale. Meanwhile, the bread roll was warm, with a crunchy exterior and porous interior ideal for smearing salted butter.

Concluding with a sticky and soft Brownie deluxe, one could perceive the surface to be initially flakey. Over time, the dessert had evolved to a cakey - and only slightly fudgy - consistency.

​I depleted majority of the meal, then adhered to my habitual gameplay of Mahjong and Bejwewelled 2.

Read Part 2 HERE !