Banff (pronounced
bamf) is the only urban center in
Canada not populated by
Canadians. Calling it
urban is a bit of a
misnomer because it is technically a
National Park. The government always talks about stopping development inside the borders of Banff National Park, but I wonder if the
damage is already too extensive.
Geographically, Banff lays in the intersection of three
valleys, and is surrounded by many
mountains. These valleys are animal migration routes, which is why I mention the
damage that the growth of Banff causes.
Tourism in Banff is nothing short of
insane, both in summer and winter. Summer brings many
camera toting
tourists who seek the local
wildlife and
scenery. Winter brings
ski bums in quantity. All breeds of man can be found touring around Banff, although
Japanese people seem to make up a real majority.
Even the shops are run by
tourists who are usually
students travelling the world who need to make
money. You'll most commonly find
Europeans and
Australians running the shops, mostly because they speak
English. The winter of 2000 brought many
Australians especially.
There are many places to
ski near Banff, such as Sunshine Village, Castle Mountain, Lake Louise and Norquay. Last year's (2000)
snow sucked, with a base of under two meters for the whole season.
One of the cooler things in Banff is the Upper
Hot Springs. The pool there is naturally heated, although lately the water has needed extra warming. Mmmm..
sulphur.
I almost forgot, Banff is the
STD capital of Canada. Many
young tourists make for much free love. If you really want to get
laid you should try the bar scene in Banff. Just remember to take a
condom.