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March 29, 2005
Corporate Cash Cow... Tour Diaries: Winnipeg, Manitoba
Independent Musician Cross Canada Tour Pt1 - Sat.Jul.31/04.
"Friendly Manitoba" license plates, MTS phone booths and expensive bottled water.
Rain gets harder but life gets better, busking encouraged for locals and oops, the wrong bus.
Yes! We're out of the province of Ontario. Time for the adventure to begin :S And immediately we discover three VERY useful travellers tidbits.
#1 - $2 Greyhound lockers can hold all of our stuff all day, well except for the guitar but the courier will hold that for an extra small fee.
#2 - Sing it! Y.M.C.A. Free for first timers and a great place for a workout and a shower (preferably in that order).
#3. Safeway. Loblaws is passé - Safeway is the grocery destination of choice in Canada West!
Since this is another gigless holidayin' type visit we decide to explore beautiful Winnipeg. I bring my guitar along in case a busking opportunity arises. The parliment buildings are stunning but neither Gus nor I are political enough to want to check out tha insides. Lunch is delicious at Muddy Water's Café but no matter how much I harrass tha waiter - Muddy won't come out and jam. The scenic walk along the river between the parliment buildings and the forks is a pleasure but the "Forks" themselves are the ultimate for any tourist.
Complete with a market, souvenier and clothes shops, restaurants, river rides, and on and on, the "Forks" is a true Winnipeg tourist attraction. I am happy to discover the designated busking locations complete with signs that pay homage to tha past time. Unfortunately, you need a license so I am outta luck but it's definitely great for the local talent. An aboriginal display buried deep in the rear of the grounds is a find. A huge "Stonehengesque" theatre is awe inspiring despite our bad timing (no show). We do catch the end of a capoeira display and a huge hand drum solo tho :). What a day!
Our trip back to the Greyhound station isn't kwite so straight forward. So far the weather has been kind but after dinner the skies open up. Rain, rain, rain, HAIL?? The size of marbles! "Winter"peg anyone? We take refuge on a free bus but find out after returning to exactly the same spot that it is the wrong bus. We get the right bus but just before we reach our destination we decide that we have time to take in a movie before our trip out of town. Fahreneit 911 - don't worry, I won't tell you how it ends but it does begin with two airplanes and a bunch of terrorists :(
Well, that's tha Peg, and things are looking up for our two travellers, one being me.
Posted by i220 at March 29, 2005 11:07 PM
Comments
At first I was upset that I wouldn't qualify to busk tha streets of Winni. But when I saw what this chap had (one man band) I realized that man - this busking shit is SERIOUS!!
LOL!
Posted by: BuskerDenied at March 30, 2005 12:30 PM