Having already experienced the West Edmonton Mall, my friend Silver and I decided instead to explore the Muttart Conservatory, and later, Edmonton's Fringe Festival.

The Muttart Conservatory is a collection of five pyramidal greenhouses containing beautiful arrangements of plants and trees from around the globe. Moving through it greatly reminded me, thematically and otherwise, of classic video game structure. The cafeteria and gift shop formed a central hub with branches to the various pyramids. The first pyramid, occupied solely by a woman in a wheelchair and her attendant, contained flowers composed in the flattest and most unalarming way; clearly the introductory level. It was followed by jungle land, winter land and finally desert land. Navigating the elderly and mentally-ill posed some challenge, but we persevered and enjoyed the stunning and unusual display. I'm no botanist, but let me tell you, there are some really weirdo plants out there!

Edmonton's Fringe is apparently the "largest extravaganza of theatre arts and culture of its kind in North America". Much like the gardens- and unlike other Fringe Festivals I've attended- the theatres were very closely centred around a beer garden and a hundred little tent-shops. We only had time for one show, but it would have been extremely convenient and enjoyable to see a great many more. Our play was a thought provoking take on the Book of Genesis by Arthur Miller. There was a gratuitous amputee, nudity, intercourse, incest, murder and animal sacrifice. Disgusting!