A walk around town - March 6, 2010

Near the harbour, Victoria, BC

These banners in town generally sum up the activity in the harbour. I always wonder who designs and makes the banners.

Police people, especially in these outfits, are somewhat of an unusual sight for Victoria. They probably were not on hand to watch the mobs of people herding onto whale watching boats during 'Be a Tourist in your own Home Town' week. More likely they were there for the torch relay for the Vancouver Paralympic Games. A stage was set up by the harbour for the event and a woman was singing.

A much more common sight in Victoria are protesters - these ones for Tibet. They were probably heading to the Francophone Festival in Centennial Square.

Which came first - did the truck smash into and uproot the tree, or did the tree fall on the truck? My guess is the former. See the blue post on the very left? It is one of the relatively new parking kiosks around town. On any given day, you can see people standing at them with puzzled expressions on their faces. Imagine the poor tourists.

The latest sidewalk art on Government Street.

Chinatown

Chinatown is decorated with these festive lanterns.

Now here is something you don't see every day, at least not around here - the "Mighty Michelle" shopping bag! At the bottom centre it says "First Lady of Fabulous." Made of recycled material, it felt like brittle plastic.

I'm all for tea rooms, although I don't think this one does an afternoon tea and the location is odd - smack in the middle of Chinatown. They serve wraps, grilled ciabattas, melts and organic teas & coffees and they had some fine looking desserts.

Victoria - It's almost a ghost town

Friday February 12, 2010

While Vancouver must feel electric while the Olympics are in town (especially on this, the day of the opening ceremonies), Victoria, just across the strait, seems much quieter than usual. Victoria acknowledged the games by putting up these pansy baskets with Canadian flags.

December 2009 - A walk on an icy morning

December 10, 2009

It always surprises me to see ice in the Inner Harbour.

The little harbour ferries, decorated for Christmas, look frozen in place.

The ice may not have been thick enough for me to walk on, but it was for some.

Downtown on Government Street, the chalk artist had been at work.

Home

Monday October 5, 2009

Kenmore Air instructs you to be at their Lake Union office so long before the first flight, but they don't have the office open. I hiked across the vast parking lots to get some Starbuck's coffee while we waited outside in the chilly air. Met some nice people from California.

But eventually we were off, 3 planes full to Victoria. Lucky us, we got the Beaver!

Freight cars

Float and boats

Container ships

Taxiing in

The End of the San Diego trip.

Holland America's Ryndam

Saturday September 26, 2009

This was a repositioning cruise from Alaska through the Panama Canal. We were taking it only from Vancouver to San Diego. However, it made one stop in Victoria and we were able to board here. Apparently this is something that some companies have been allowing just recently.

I didn't take a lot of pictures of the ship. We've done enough cruises that one is similar to another - this is my third with Holland America - and to me they've become just a way of getting from point A to B.

This was the easiest boarding on a cruise ship I've ever experienced, and so convenient to hop on board in Victoria rather than in Vancouver a day earlier. We walked through to the ramp, boarded the ship, had our our carry-on luggage scanned, went to the front desk and got our room key cards. That was it! We were told that customs / immigration was handled at the San Diego end.

The Ryndam is due for a refit next year. The interior certainly needs refreshing as it is looking rather worn and tired but our room was comfortable enough. It had a couch, small table and a balcony. Our cabin attendant, "Gus" presented us with a cloth Holland America bag and a little vase of flowers. Nice touch.

Standard issue atrium sculpture. I've always liked those little wind faces (centre photo).

I couldn't figure out what the theme of this ship was supposed to be. Apparently it was 'worldwide exploration' with artifacts from the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries.

After a coffee break on the Lido deck, we toured outside. This is a small outdoor pool. I didn't take any photos of the indoor one because they all look the same.

This is an unusual view of the point, breakwater and Dallas Road for us. We've never been on a cruise ship here before.

Off we go, leaving the Celebrity Mercury behind. It was on its way to Nanaimo. (Nanaimo?)

Crescent Moon in Victoria

Setting moon, Sept. 21, 2009

Very grainy photo, but there wasn't much light!

A walk to town

With good reason Glenn doesn't like the number 13, let alone Friday the 13th, so he stayed home while I walked around the harbour and in to town this afternoon. By then the sun had disappeared and the wind picked up. It was nice to see the lower causeway so vacant though. If you look at the far end of the lawn you'll see that a tree is actually in blossom. Who knows what makes a plant decide to bloom when it's still so cold outside.