Two Weeks in the Wild North: Mountains, Memories & a Dreamy Wedding 🇨🇦✨

Martina K.
Aug 4
4 min read

Updated: Aug 21

Some trips are just vacations…

And some are heart-filling journeys that stitch old friendships, new experiences, and breathtaking landscapes into your soul.

Canada was the latter.

Reunited at Last

One of my best friends has lived in Canada since 2013. We met back in 2008, and although she moved away, we never lost touch. I hadn’t seen her since 2017, when she visited home and we took a short trip to Croatia together, so when she asked me to be a bridesmaid and a witness at her wedding, I booked that ticket faster than you can say “maple syrup.”

I spent two weeks with her in Calgary, where she lives now, and it was the perfect blend of catching up, celebrating love, and soaking in everything this dreamy country had to offer.

American Dreams in a Canadian Grocery Store

I’ve always had a thing for North America. The movies, the vibes, the aesthetics... so even a simple grocery run in Calgary had me buzzing with excitement. Everything felt familiar and new at the same time - oversized cereal boxes, endless snack aisles, large bags of Taki's chips, pumpkin spice everything.

It might sound silly, but grocery shopping there felt like living out a childhood fantasy.

Mountain Magic & Hiking Days

We went on several day trips around Alberta, including hikes in the majestic mountains near Canmore - a town that felt like it was pulled straight out of a Hallmark movie. I was in awe of the scenery. Towering peaks, deep green forests, and air that tasted fresher than anything I’d ever breathed. I got myself a necklace of the Three Sisters (a trio of mountain peaks in the Canadian Rockies).

We also went to Banff, took the gondola up the mountain, and even made it to Lake Louise at sunrise. It was -1°C at 7 am, and I was freezing... but that view? Worth every shiver. That morning sort of reset my cold tolerance - since coming home to Hungary, I don’t even feel the chill anymore.

A Wedding in the Wilderness

The wedding took place in British Columbia, on a private property overlooking Bull Mountain. It was hosted by the groom’s aunt and uncle, in the most picturesque cabin setting you can imagine.

The moment we arrived, we met deer wandering through the neighborhood like they owned the place. I’d never seen deer up close in the wild like that. It was surreal.

We spent four magical days there. I was a bridesmaid, and we all got ready together - make-up, laughter, and happy tears everywhere. The ceremony itself was emotional (yes, I cried), and the whole weekend had a warm, intimate, fairytale energy to it.

It was a beautiful fusion of cultures: a Hungarian-Canadian wedding where we danced to country music and traditional gypsy tunes. I even made three cheese boards as appetizers for the guests while the wedding party went off for photos. People loved them and they disappeared fast!

This was before Sajtina even existed, but the spark was there. Something about sharing food I created with love... it planted a seed.

Hot Springs, Dinosaurs & Heritage Stops

On the way back to Calgary, we stopped at natural springs - my first time ever in one. It was warm, calming, and unlike anything I’d tried before.

We also went to Drumheller to see the Hoodoos - these weird, beautiful rock formations that look like they belong on another planet.

Another day, we visited the Heritage Park in Calgary, a walk through history and old-timey charm. It gave me a glimpse into what life might have looked like there generations ago.

First Sushi, Last Sunset & Forever Tattoos

One night we went to a Japanese restaurant where I tried sushi for the first time. Verdict? Still not for me 😅 (I’m just not a fish person). However, the experience itself was fantastic - our table had its own chef live-cooking with open flames right in front of us. There were exciting tricks, loud singing, and lots of cheering, it was more like a performance than a dinner. Even though I didn’t fall in love with the sushi, the energy and showmanship made it a meal to remember.

On our final day, we went up the Calgary Tower, took in the view one last time, and then did something a little spontaneous: we got matching tattoos. I designed them myself — a small symbol of our friendship and this unforgettable trip.

We wrapped up the night with homemade burgers at her parents’ house. Cozy, delicious, and full of love.

Forever Grateful

Canada stole my heart. The mountains, the forests, the kind people. But most of all - the time I got to spend with my best friend, seeing the life she’s built there, standing beside her on her wedding day, and feeling like no time had passed between us.