Ramblings Through Lethbridge

When we were in Lethbridge during the holidays we drove around downtown one bright and sunny Sunday morning and took some pictures.  It was an unplanned photo shoot so I didn't have my camera with me - just my cell phone - but the downtown was mostly deserted and the day was so nice that we took pictures anyway.  Here are a few.

This is where we had brunch.  It's original purpose was a blacksmith foundry and
is made of a special type of fireproof concrete.  The thick ceilings inside had
skylights carved into them. It's now a lovely little restaurant.

Firehall #1 - the first in Lethbridge.  You can see how
brightly the sun was shining that day.

There's a sizable Asian population in Lethbridge dating back
to when the town was originally founded.  There was coal mining
all around the area that employed much of the population.  This
is the original Chinese Free Masonic hall.

Showing the multicultural nature of this small city, the East Indian
store sits side by side with the Chinese Free Masons.  The
blacksmith shop/restaurant we went to was two doors down on the
same block.

It's nice that the old buildings haven't been demolished but
instead are renovated and house interesting little shops.  I
haven't been inside this one but I will make a point to visit it next
time we're in town.

This is a close-up of the front of the building above.
The writing on the owl's body says ...the night
belongs to me.

Another view of the #1 firehall

One of the old buildings with apartments over the store.

A crooked picture of the Federal Building which dominates almost
a whole city block.  On any day but Sunday this intersection
is too busy and filled with vehicles to allow such a picture to be taken.
Again the sun (it's almost exactly noon) features in the picture.

One of the several big old churches downtown.  I think it's a
Catholic one, but I could be wrong.

Lethbridge City Hall.  I had some business to take care of here one
day.  It's really beautiful and quite spacious inside.

The store housed on the first floor of this old apartment building makes
and sells spudnuts.  We wanted to get some but it was closed for the
holidays! Who does that.  Spudnuts are delicious and we had to go without.

I think this is a United Church.  The house in the background on the
left is where the minister lives.

And this is the house we lived in back in 1990-92.

Lethbridge is a nice little city, quiet and friendly.  It's probably the retirement capital of Alberta.  The milder weather there makes it a comfortable place to live.  Lloyd and I are fortunate to be able to split our time between here and Edmonton.  It's only an hour from the border crossing into Montana for those of us who like to shop down there.