I used to be proud of Tysons Corner Mall in a way. Large and glitzy it somehow symbolized the best of the worst -- excess consumption at its finest. Until I went to the West Edmonton Mall. Now I have seen the future -- it leaves Tysons way behind -- and its fun...
You enter the Mall in the traditional way -- a wide hall with shops on either side leads you to a central open area with kiosks, directions, and a food zone
. Except that here, the central hallway opens out into a huge enclosed area, three stories high, with a life sized pirate ship, a proper floating bumper cars game, and a sea lion show like SeaWorld. Surrounded by two stories of shops. When I was there the three sea lions performed -- it was amazing. We could watch from all over the mall. I took pictures with my phone (they are more blurry than usual) -- I wasn't prepared for what I saw.
As you move beyond the Ocean scene, you come up against a glass wall, also three stories high. Behind the glass is another world - the Beach. In an area as large as the wave park in Alexandria, there is an artificial beach with waves, and hundreds of screaming kids having fun. Us shoppers can stand safely behind the glass, two stories up, and watch them. Behind us is a jungle jim like I have never seen. The kids rope their harnesses into a rolling hook over head, and then clamber up cross bars and slides. Should they fall, they are caught. All is safe. Not bad.
I wandered back through the stores and coffee shops and outrageous cars for sale and bumped into another huge arena -- for ice skating. Down below us was a large rink, with figures moving around in that effortless way I will never be able to emulate.
To tell the truth it became overwhelming after a while. I was glad I was not accompanying someone under the age of 12 -- and could just leave it all behind when my hands began to shake and my vision blurred.
Day 8 - Edmonton Rest Day
Monday, August 20, 2012
Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
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Comments

2025-02-09
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Beth
2012-08-23
very amusing -- who buys anything in the middle of the Canadian prairie?
Gwynn
2012-08-23
Thanks for the wow! mall photos. This also reminds me that I've got to somehow find out what happened to the cousin of Jean Paul Prideaux, who taught linguistics at the University of Edmonton. I think he moved from there, but have lost touch. Gary Prideaux. I looked him up, but it doesn't give personal information.
Mark Fairless
2012-08-28
My friend, when i show the pics to your godson you may be having to head back to that mall with Dylan in tow. Talk about a consumer society ...but at least it sounds like fun !