Page 153 - WINE DINE AND TRAVEL MAGAZINE FALL 2023 DISCOVERING TURKEY

horseback: they stood on their hands on the
saddle, did splits in the air, dropped to the
stirrups, and pulled themselves back up on the
saddle – all while galloping at full speed.
It was time for a guided Calgary Stampede
Midway Food Tour, winding our way through
the food court, and able to cut the long lines of
people. Fresh-squeezed lemonade came in a
huge pitcher with a giant straw, a plastic sy-
ringe (I never did find out what it was for),
and a rubber ducky floating on top. The
Elkeroni pizza, made of elk meat, was surpris-
ingly delicious. Neither the ketchup nor the
mustard ice cream was my favorite, but they
were ok. I don’t ever eat mini donuts, but it’s a
Stampede staple and more than two million of
them are consumed over ten days. I tried one,
so good I ate three more.
Elbow River Camp is a short walk from the
food court but light years away from the noise
and crowds. In a large circle were 26 First Na-
tions tipis which, a guide explained, used to be
made of animal skins, but are now made of
canvas. Each tipi had a unique painted design
such as circles to indicate constellations and
red to symbolize the rainbow. The interiors
were spacious and airy, filled with intricate
beadwork, buckskin outfits, First Nations dolls
and other artifacts. There was a First Nations
dancing and drumming show where I learned
that the forms a hoop dancer makes with the
hoops represent different animals. Drumming
indicates a heartbeat.
The Stampede takes place until midnight.
After the end of the rodeo events, they wheel a
humongous stage onto the racetrack and the
evening events begin. When it comes to stage
shows, I thought I’d seen everything but the
instant turnover from rodeo to gigantic out-
door stage was like nothing I’d ever experi-
enced. The entertainment included everything
from First Nations Dancers to a country band
to five-year-olds competing on hobby horses.
Each night the show ends with fireworks, but I was
too exhausted and had a perfect view of them from
the window of my room at Le Germain Hotel.
The Stampede is also known for the pancake
breakfast, a tradition which originated in 1923

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