Playing Tourist

Saturday I was picked up by the tour co. bus right on time @ 9am for my first 'tourist' trip - to Vancouver Island and the city of Victoria - the capital of British Columbia. It seems strange that Vancouver isn't the capital - parliament still sits in Victoria but population wise Vancouver is much larger. Wasn't always the way - until the cross-Canada railway came to Vancouver, Victoria was the thriving city. It's very ol' England.

But first the weather report - it was TERRIBLE!!! Cold, wet and windy. We had a 1/2 hour drive to the ferry with 12 of us on our very comfy bus. Andy was our driver with couples from Japan, Spain, Barbados, US & Canada & Aust (me!!). The ferry (Spirit of British Columbia) was HUGE - didn't get the stats but there was about 700 passengers - vehicles on three levels with 6 lanes on each level. The trip took 90 minutes across the Strait of Georgia and then through the Gulf Islands to Swatz Bay.

From there we drove to the world famous Butchart Gardens which were amazing (see pic below). Great time of the year to be here apparently. The bulbs in full bloom - tulips etc. Took lots of photo's including one of me in front of their 100 year celebration totem poles. While there I also received a lovley phone call from home. Had a chance to speak quickly to Peter, Danah & Tara who all sounded well and surviving without me!

On the drive to Victoria (25 minutes) we heard about some of the history/treatment of First Nations people - very similar to Australia. Slowly educating their children now about their culture before it is lost. Home similar to some of our indigenous communities - poorly kept outside.
Walked the cobbled streets of Victoria for a couple of hours - tried the famous Rogers chocolate - must tell you about the Rocky Mountain chocs too some time - and searched the tourist shops for a 'grizzly' bear for Tara!! Lots of black and brown bears but NO grizzly's. Will keep looking.
Picked up a special treat for both Mum & Dad in Victoria but won't say what - don't want to spoil the surprise!

The skys cleared while we were in Victoria and on the trip back to Vancouver I took some great sunset pics as we went through the Gulf Islands. See self portrait below taken on the deck of the Spirit of Vancouver (the ferry we returned on). It was a long day and I didn't get back to my place until 10.30pm.

I jotted down this post this morning (Sunday) while having my first breakfast out - sitting in the window, in the sun (yeah!) of Bojangles Cafe having eggs benedict & lots of coffee (with cream not milk!). Did a nice walk along English Bay to a small ferry which took me over to Granville Island markets which had some amazing fresh produce and other goodies. Walked home again via Stanley Park - where I saw 2 squirrels and a large group of blue herrons nesting high in trees.

Now it's time to do some work - off to the conference!!

Here's the view from my room - the harbour and the mountains!