St. Barnabas Anglican Church

Another notable landmark in downtown Medicine Hat, Alberta is St. Barnabas Anglican Church. In 1884, no more than a year after the community had been established, meetings for the parish were held in St. John's Presbyterian Church before a wooden structure was built in 1886. The land was purchased from the Canadian Pacific Railway. By 1911 the wooden church was demolished to make room for the new brick and stone structure that was erected in 1912. The east window and bell were removed from the original building and installed in the new Anglican church as they're seen today.

St. Barnabas was also linked to Medicine Hat's first cemetery, now the Old Hillside Cemetery located along Seven Person creek. The building, which celebrates 100 years in 2012, is yet another proud example of the city's roots. It's also right next door to the Stream Media office in the Citadel building, so for me it's a familiar site.

St. Barnabas Church ca. 1925

St. Barnabas construction ca. 1912

St. Barnabas between 1920-1940.

Beatles Cartoon Action Figures

Having long been a fan of the Beatles (I mean who isn't?) I was excited to kick off this new collection when I  received the John Lennon cartoon figurine as a birthday gift from my friend Andrea in 2005.  Over the next year I slowly picked up each of the remaining Beatles, with Ringo and his drum set proving to be the most difficult one to come across in stores.  Since then I've always kept these McFarlane figurines proudly displayed.

It's not hard to find heaps of merchandise with the Beatles logo slapped on it, so I actually find it to be kind of a turn off to collect a lot of it.  These are really something special though, and the likenesses of John, Paul, George, and Ringo are really well done.  Even their instruments are accurate, like Paul's Hofner bass, which is also the instrument that came with the deluxe edition of Beatles Rockband.   

Some will have purchased these and kept them sealed in their original packaging, but I wasn't looking to make an investment.  I just think these are a cool bit of Beatles kitsch, and as they've become a bit more rare now, I thought it would be fun to shoot some photos of them to share. Each character was sold separately, but their individual bases make a stage when placed together.  How could you just have one after that?  Check out the Beatles Saturday morning cartoon that inspired these figurines here.

Reading Up on Russia

Last summer I announced that my friend Tyler and I were both set on working towards a trip to Russia in 2014.  It's something that has been on my bucket list for over a decade now, and it was a goal that I was unable to fulfill after graduating high school (as was originally planned).  At this point we both still seem enthusiastic about the potential adventure, but now begins the real challenge of making an idea a reality.

At the start of this year I took my first real step towards Russia by creating an account specifically for the trip.  I've been contributing a bit of money from each paycheck to build my budget.  In addition to that I've begun reading up on Moscow and St. Petersburg to get more of a feel for some of the things we might want to see and do. Those two cities are really going to be the focal point.

In comparing a few of my travel books from ten years ago to some of the recent ones I booked out from the library, the difference is dramatic.  Russia is still a place in transition, but it's more stable than it was in the early 2000s.  Just in reviewing some of the hotels, a handful of historic buildings have been completely revamped and bought by international hotel chains.  I kid you not, but some of the hotel highlights in my early travel books advertised carpeting as a plus.  Western investment has changed both my expectations and the landscape of options available.







The more I read, the more Russia in general seems like a place to choose your own adventure.  The disparity seems increasingly apparent between some of the most expensive places in the world and the poorest.  I'm more tempted than ever by the fact that options in accommodation have improved dramatically though, and it means that the trip I really want to have will be more attainable.  There's something to be said for having a bit of money in your pocket to do things just the way you want. At this point it's just exciting to think that things are finally in motion again after all these years.