Aug 27, 2017
Next time we will have to stay longer
I want to start by letting all our American friends and readers know that we are following Harvey and all the devastation and heart break. Our thoughts and prayers are with you all.
The latest local fire is 20% under control and just over 200 families were allowed to return today. The other 400 plus remain evacuated as the flames are too close to structures. They say that the fire got to within a few hundred metres of homes. Close to 90 firefighters remain on location.
We had a wonderful time in Edmonton and I think next time we may have to stay longer although we may have to find alternate accommodation. There is so much to see and experience at the Fringe Festival not to mention the hundreds of ticketed events. I always enjoy live theatre.
Our first glimpse of street performers at the Edmonton International Fringe Festival. I really don’t think that I could let it all hang out like that but good for them.
There are varying levels of street performers. This one was very good at getting the audience involved. The little girl on the right had the treasure box to rescue the performer. This was the 36th annual festival.
There are over 1600 thousand performances in over 45 venues. In fact there were two workshops taking place in our hotel. There are many outdoor performances but so very many more indoor ones, sometimes 2 or 3 different performances in a day at the same venue.
It is an international festival and as we only got to see the end of this show I have no idea where he was from. This is one of the larger of the two outdoor main stages. There are rotating performances all day and well into dark. One is expected to throw a toonie ( $2.00 coin ) or two as the hat is passed at the end of a show for the smaller street performers.
The performers are not paid to attend the festival so depend on the audience to help pay for their transportation, accommodation, etc. The main acts have a very good spiel at requesting money before their grand finale, often asking for up to $20.00 but willing to settle for $5.00 from each of us 😕 I couldn’t help notice how many people scurried away without even dropping a few quarters into the hat 😯
We have all seen porta potties but I have never seen a portable hand washing kiosk. I guess I don’t get out much.
This is a wall of posters advertising all the many events that one can purchase tickets to, all at most reasonable prices. The line of posters continue far to the left of the shot. As we strolled past and looked at the variety of shows, we were offered complimentary tickets for a show the next night, but alas we would back here by then. The performers do get all the monies from purchased tickets.
We rounded a corner and there were these two Australians walking around on ladders. The fellow closest to me had his feet flat on the top step while his brother was down a step and leaned his legs against the top step. They simply maneuvered by sheer muscle strength.
Again we missed the majority of their show but certainly enjoyed the juggling of the fire torches. It was evident that they were truly concentrating. Their spiel for money included that this was their second time here in Canada and of course how expensive it was for them to transport all their gear. We as well as the crowd gave abundantly.
All around the edges of the park were a variety of vendors as well as food trucks. It was a lively and fun place to be. In fact there are performers walking everywhere. Behind us at our late brunch earlier we had some comedians from Toronto and one from Los Angeles. They were heading to some smaller festivals in Canada before heading home.
The next show we saw from beginning to end. It was very slow staritng and we weren’t sure if we should move on. So glad we stayed….for over 30 minutes. This couple are not married, she is from Montreal and is very fit and strong. Her legs are pure muscle. She is balancing him in high heels. Their act was a mix of comedy and show of strength. Very well done.
There was a lot of play back and forth and comedy before they did a major move such as this. After we took this photo she began to lift one foot up and the other down, like a stair master. Quite remarkable. I would love to see this show again. She later told Colin that they did it twice per day for the entire ten day festival.
She started with one hoop and he kept throwing more over her head, 2 or 4 or more at a time.
We thought we had seen their grand finale about three times when this was it. She is hooping a giant hoop all the while balancing him on her shoulders. He is juggling fire and she is turning in a slow circle at the same time so that everyone got a great view. Fabulous act. Yes they got a bucket full of money. Colin said he saw some twenty dollar bills in there also.
Just before the final act a family with their two wieners came and sat beside us. We stood for the entire show and I was able to observe the dogs for a bit. They were brother and sister, six years old and very overweight but oh so very sweet. They loved attention and knew that I loved them. Of course I cried big crocodile tears, petted them and stopped just short of picking them up and hugging them. They were well behaved and so special. As I walked away, Daisy, tried to follow me, she came as far as her leash would let her. I had to force myself to keep moving.
After a bit more walking we finally stopped at Chianti, an Italian restaurant on Whyte Avenue for a very late dinner. I know we didn’t get our food until just before 10PM and we didn’t get back to our hotel until after 11PM. A great one liter bottle of vino.
We started with a small Caesar salad followed by Fettuccine Supremo. Homemade thick fettuccine noodles covered with scallops, smoked salmon, curry, creme, garlic and parmesan sauce. I don’t think I need say more.
The next morning we just had to sample the lovely full breakfast that came with our room. I never thought I would be able to eat again after that gourmet pasta dinner but we both managed a few bites here and there. After leaving our bags with the front desk we again went on a much needed walk but this time strolled through the heavily treed neighborhood and looked at the lovely older homes. We then saw the chiropractor for our final and second appointment. Seeing as we had come from so far we decided it best to have him check our adjustments from the day before and perhaps do a few minor adjustments.
It wasn’t long before we were on the shuttle back to the airport. We were in plenty of time for our flight and just hung around for a few hours. Colin studied both Spanish and Italian. There is no way I could go back and forth between the two and retain much if anything. I am happy to let him be the linguist of the family. I have French, my first language and enough Spanish to get by. I used my little grey cells to study my iPhone while waiting for our flight 🙁
We were home by 6PM. A very quick trip to Edmonton but we had a great time. Needless to say we haven’t slowed down at all since we returned.
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I really enjoyed this post. Shame you only stayed a very short time!
Thanks Rae, for certain longer next time.
EDMONTON HAS ONE FESTIVAL AFTER ANOTHER ALL SUMMER. ONE CERTAINLY CANNOT COMPLAIN THAT THERE’S NOTHING TO DO!! I HAVE FRIENDS WHO HAVE WRITTEN, ARE DIRECTING AND ACTING IN THEIR OWN PLAYS AT THE FRINGE. OTHERS ARE IN BANDS. ALSO SO MANY FUNDRAISERS WITH MILLIONS OF DOLLARS BEING RAISE. TRULY A VERY GENEROUS AND INTERACTIVE CITY. GLAD YOU WERE ABLE TO ENJOY PART OF ONE OF THE FESTIVALS. YOU WERE ALMOST IN THE MIDDLE OF IT!!!!
Thanks Arizona Gal who lives in Edmonton during the summer 🙂 I used to be a part of the live theatre groups when I lived there. However the city certainly has exploded with a huge variety of cultural, musical and theatrical events as you described. I think I would be very happy to live there again, for the summer months that is.
Contessa, I know this is not connected to your post, but was sure you could relate to it. On MSNBC this morning, the network showed a live video of a little girl (looked to be about 4 or 5 years old) being rescued in Houston; an emergency worker was trying to lift her into a life raft, but first they wanted her to give them her tiny little puppy in her arms; she would not allow it so, of course, they had to lift both at the same time into the raft. That little girl wanted to take care of her fur baby; caring starts early in life.
Oh Dee, how very sweet, thank you for sharing the story. It put a smile on my face. I’ll have to try and catch the clip if I have time to turn the TV on.
No, I could not “let it hang out” like those belly dancers, but good for them. Looked like lovely days, good weather, fun things to see and wonderful “eats”
Yes good for them. We had a wonderful time but far far too short, only a few hours onsite of the festival.
EDMONTON INTERNATIONAL FRINGE FESTIVAL WRAPS UP WITH RECORD – SETTING TICKET SALES. THE MOST IN THE FESTIVALS 36 YEAR HISTORY. 180,000 TOOK PART IN THE 11 DAY EVENT PURCHASING 130.000 TICKETS, BRINGING IN $1.2 MILLION FOR ALL THE ARTISTS. YOU AND COLIN HELPED WITH THE NUMBERS.
Wow, great stats. Thanks for posting the info.