The aim of this blog has been to focus on the wider definition of romance and try to avoid the stereotypical meanings of the word. This has included simple things like airports, and the people who use them; farmers in Vietnamese paddy fields; paper lights in the markets of Laos; the lakes of New Zealand; the opera house in Sydney; the Wye river and universities around the world. Some of these romantic places and people are universally understood as romantic, and some are just specific to me. Every single one of them conjours up feelings of hope and joy, just like the romance that occurs between two people.
Although I never intended to talk about the latter on this blog, I also didn’t think I’d have an opportunity to. So here it is. The blog post I never thought I’d never write. The one that belongs here just as much as the others, but in the quest for romance, is also equal and no better than them either.
Kev asked me to marry him and I said yes!
To be fair, the ultimate romance for me didn’t surround the engagement, but our conversation afterwards (and every day since). Sure, the boy done good by picking Emerald Lake as the location, getting down on one knee, saying some lovely words, and managing to make it a surprise (which was no easy thing, as I’m very good at reading people), but romance isn’t always about what it shouldbe about (e.g. societies’ moments). Instead, it can be about something else, that is authentic and between the two of you. I won’t be going into our romance on this blog, but needless to say, the boy always does good.
We got up and headed straight out to Lake Louise (I say straight out.. We actually had to buy our National Park pass at the info centre because we failed to get it on the way in). The pictures above show just how beautiful it is. They don’t show all the people surrounding the lake and how touristy it has become. I say touristy, it’s not as bad as other places, but you do expect space in the Rockies. We wandered round the lake and I had a small inckling he had plans brewing in his head, but thought nothing of it and carried on.
We then headed into Yoho National Park, and to the town of Field, followed by a natural rock bridge that arches over Kicking Horse River. Field is a quaint mountain town and was the HQ of the Canadian Pacific Railway. We had lunch at a lovely place (with pigs in the title.. Can’t remember it now), that also sold freshly baked raisin muffins. They were huge and yummy.
We then headed to Emerald Lake, which was truly beautiful. After some bubbly (!), we moved on to Takakkaw Falls, seen below.
Takakkaw in the Cree (native) language means ‘magnificent’, and they certainly were. One of the tallest falls in Canada, the power close up was intense, with the mist and noise hitting you right in the sense, as well as the drop in temperature around it.
On the way home we stopped off at the Spiral tunnels (railway tracks tunnelled into the mountain) and left Yoho National Park with a sense that it should be more widely known. On second thoughts, no it shouldn’t. Keep it quiet!
We returned to some prosecco from kev’s siblings, which was lovely.and we had a lovely meal in the hotel that night.
Littlepop: Romantic Explorer 
Well there you go – who’d have ‘thunk’ it. My little girl! A MA Zing! Love from your very proud and happy Mum xxx
Aww thanks mum!