Mike, Cassy and I spent a couple of days last weekend in Victoria on Vancouver Island. (No Cassy, the eggs aren't in the Couv...). This blog was meant to be posted last weekend but after writing the blog, it disappeared into the etherverse.
The trip to Victoria from Vancouver is laborious. We caught a train to the train station then another train to the bus stop then a bus to the ferry terminal then the ferry to the bus stop and then a bus to Victoria.
At least we had plenty of time to stare out the window and consider the pine filled, lake spotted countryside reminiscent of many horror and summer vacation films. The ferry ride was particularly scenic as the ferry wends its way between the picturesque Gulf Islands on the way to Vancouver Island. Many artists and creative types live on the bays and hills of the Gulf Islands.
The trip to Victoria from Vancouver is laborious. We caught a train to the train station then another train to the bus stop then a bus to the ferry terminal then the ferry to the bus stop and then a bus to Victoria.
At least we had plenty of time to stare out the window and consider the pine filled, lake spotted countryside reminiscent of many horror and summer vacation films. The ferry ride was particularly scenic as the ferry wends its way between the picturesque Gulf Islands on the way to Vancouver Island. Many artists and creative types live on the bays and hills of the Gulf Islands.
The town of Victoria, home to 300,000 people, is extremely picturesque. The parliament building dominates the inner harbour area and is the finest government building I have seen. Although we are visiting Washington next week.
Downtown Victoria has retained most of its older buildings which are generally between two and four stories. Most of the new buildings are at a similar scale. This makes the downtown area seem very welcoming and open to the sky. Whether by accident or design the downtown is built to a human scale. This meant we enjoyed most of our time in Victoria wandering around the downtown area.
Downtown Victoria has retained most of its older buildings which are generally between two and four stories. Most of the new buildings are at a similar scale. This makes the downtown area seem very welcoming and open to the sky. Whether by accident or design the downtown is built to a human scale. This meant we enjoyed most of our time in Victoria wandering around the downtown area.
Other highlights of Victoria included seeing John Lennon's personalised Yellow Submarine Rolls Royce, seeing the world's highest totem pole and the food. We ate local dungeness and king crabs at the 2011 CrabFest at a lovely seafood restaurant called Pescatore. Coming from Derby, which considers itself the crab centre of the universe, we were impressed with these local varieties.
Disppointments included the lookout at Beacon Hill Park (worst lookout ever) and the Undersea Gardens. In a surprising first, Perth's Underwater World is actually better than an equivalent attraction in BC. That record may not last long as we are soon to visit the NY Aquarium.
Visit Victoria if you get the chance. After only a day there I got the feeling it would be the kind of town I would be happy to live in. And not just because it seemed particularly bicycle friendly.
J
Disppointments included the lookout at Beacon Hill Park (worst lookout ever) and the Undersea Gardens. In a surprising first, Perth's Underwater World is actually better than an equivalent attraction in BC. That record may not last long as we are soon to visit the NY Aquarium.
Visit Victoria if you get the chance. After only a day there I got the feeling it would be the kind of town I would be happy to live in. And not just because it seemed particularly bicycle friendly.
J
