Victoria Splash – Victoria, BC, Canada 8/4/2013

AUGUST 4, 2013 (Sunday)

 

Today was a day of – food, fun, fellowship, fireworks, and symphony. It was the 24th annual Victoria Splash Symphony fund raiser. We got up early and went to the Dollar Tree, which in California is $1, but in Canada it’s called Dollar Giant and things are $1.25. After that we found a parking lot near Chinatown and parked for the day.  Lots of activities going on, including a Tango Festival.  It was quite the walk down to the harbor but we got to experience and see things we didn’t know were around.

Beautiful fountain right outside the parking garage.  Looks like a tribute to scrimshaw.
Beautiful fountain right outside the parking garage. Looks like a tribute to scrimshaw.
Outside City Hall.  Flowers are everywhere in Victoria
Outside City Hall. Flowers are everywhere in Victoria
I asked Edie to join me in the competition.  She called my bluff and said she would.  We missed the festival going to the Symphony.
I asked Edie to join me in the competition. She called my bluff and said she would. We missed the festival going to the Symphony.

First off, we saw this huge metal globe set in water that you can turn and move around.  Near that area is Chinatown, which was kind of fun and reminded of us our time in China and Japan with the open boxes of fruit and vegetables on the sidewalk and the side alleys.

Stainless Steel Globe floating in water.  You give it a shove and it rotates for several seconds.  Pretty.  Near China Town, if you look to the top left you can see a dragon banner strung across the street.
Stainless Steel Globe floating in water. You give it a shove and it rotates for several seconds. Pretty. Near China Town, if you look to the top left you can see a dragon banner strung across the street.
Gateway Arch with the imperial statues on guard.
Gateway Arch with the imperial statues on guard.
Shopping abounds.
Shopping abounds.
Alleys, not like Silk Alley, but captures the spirit.
Alleys, not like Silk Alley, but captures the spirit.
Alleys.
Alleys.
Alleys
Alleys
A school just outside China Town.
A school just outside China Town.

 

Dragon clutching gold.
Dragon clutching gold.

 

Quad Pedi-cab
Quad Pedi-cab

After that we walked down towards the harbor and encountered more wonderful musicians, The O’Brien Family, great.

Flower Boxes!
Flower Boxes!
Flowers everywhere.
Flowers everywhere.
Pretty woman photographing flowers in Market Square.
Pretty woman photographing flowers in Market Square.

 

O'Brian Family Band.  They were very good.
O’Brien Family Band. They were very good.
Reed and Kayak Sculpture.
Reed and Kayak Sculpture.

We walked down to the harbor and had lunch at Milestones. It was rated number 45 of 855 restaurants. Great food. A little pricey but the quality of food was wonderful and the presentation was lovely.  We were seated at an outside table near the pedestrian walkway.  It was weird with people walking by glaring at and wanting your food.

Rated number 45 of 855 Vancouver Island Restaurants.
Rated number 45 of 855 Vancouver Island Restaurants.
Grumpy and Bullwinkle
Grumpy and Bullwinkle
Pretty and Bullwinkle
Pretty and Bullwinkle
Two Hamburgers, half salads, half fries.  Absolutely delicious.
Two Hamburgers, half salads, half fries. Absolutely delicious.
White Chocolate Cheesecake.  Really good.
White Chocolate Cheesecake. Really good.
Surprise on the receipt, mid way, CASH ONLY.  The bill was 47.21, rounding made it 47.20.  No one dollar bills, so we added a $2 and a $1 coin to the 50.  It is nice to deal with money this way.
Surprise on the receipt, mid way, CASH ONLY. The bill was 47.21, rounding made it 47.20. No one dollar bills, so we added a $2 and a $1 coin to the 50. It is nice to deal with money this way.

 

Dry-suits, worn to go whale watching in a Zodiac motorized raft.
Dry-suits, worn to go whale watching in a Zodiac motorized raft.

 

Whale watchers coming back.  $105 per person.
Whale watchers coming back. $105 per person.
King Charles Caviler Spaniel.
King Charles Caviler Spaniel.

 

After lunch we waddled across the street to the Empress Hotel and walked around, peeked into the high tea room (where we want to go soon), walked through the conference center, around the corner, and then I went into Miniature World. Michael didn’t want to go. Because we are members of AAA, the price was discounted to $11.35.  It was not what I was thinking it would be, but it was good to see once. I think I was hoping for more miniature house things you could buy, or unusual ones you would want in your own miniature home.

Nice.
Nice.
Brass Quintet, excellent.
Brass Quintet, excellent.
Family Zone.  Included an Instrument Petting zoo where the kids could play many different instruments.  Mouthpieces sterilized between each use.
Family Zone. Included an Instrument Petting zoo where the kids could play many different instruments. Mouthpieces sterilized between each use.
Fun for kids.
Fun for kids.
Gift Shop in the Empress
Gift Shop in the Empress

 

Fairmont Hotel Empress Convention Center
Fairmont Hotel Empress Convention Center

 

Thunderbird.
Thunderbird.

 

Miniature World.
Miniature World.
Inside Miniature World.  I didn't go, it looked like Disney's "It's a small world." to me!
Inside Miniature World. I didn’t go, it looked like Disney’s “It’s a small world.” to me!
War in miniature.
War in miniature.

 

Civilization in miniature.
Civilization in miniature.

After that we wandered back to the harbor and went looking for a spot to “roost” until the symphony started. By this time it was around 4 PM. Michael wanted to stay at the Empress Hotel, on the lawn. I was glad we went walking because we found the perfect spot on a bench in the shade, in the inner harbor, near the stairs where all the musicians and bag pipes came down after their parade. 

Maggie McKee enjoying the pre-concert with us.  Edie loaned her her hat and ended up giving it to her.  It fit it well.  She is at:  www.maggie-mckee.com
Maggie McKee enjoying the pre-concert with us. Edie loaned her her hat and ended up giving it to her. It fit it well. She is at: www.maggie-mckee.com
The inner harbor filled early.  The Symphony started at 7:30.  This is about 4:30.
The inner harbor filled early. The Symphony started at 7:30. This is about 4:30.
Orchestra parade, lead by bagpipes.  Maestra Tania Miller is at the last steps, dark haired, in the buttoned blazer.  She was very good.
Orchestra parade, lead by bagpipes. Maestra Tania Miller is at the last steps, dark haired, in the buttoned blazer. She was very good.

 

We crumbled up a cookie and spread it on the ground.  These petite little fellows gladly cleaned it all up.
We crumbled up a cookie and spread it on the ground. These petite little fellows gladly cleaned it all up.

 

Grumpy old man with pretty woman at concert.
Grumpy old man with pretty woman at concert.

During this whole time we had been talking to some “local” Victorians. The first was Maggie.  She was visiting from Vancouver and staying with a friend.  After Maggie left to get something to eat, two women sat down.  They were very well traveled and knowledgeable.  They told us all about the bombing attempt on parliment.  During this time three people brought their chairs and set up near us.  They were a font of information on what to see, where to go, what was good, etc.  You could feel their enthusiasm and love of the island.  What fun and great information we got from them. Felt like I had known them for years.

Victorians: Anna, Donna and Thorne.  Actually Donna lives in Toronto, but knows a lot about Vancouver island.  Anna and Thorne were founts of good ideas and travelling tips.  All three were just as fun as they look in this photo, and not a beer had by anybody!
Victorians: Anna, Donna and Thorne. Actually Donna lives in Toronto, but knows a lot about Vancouver island. Anna and Thorne had many good ideas and travelling tips. All three were just as fun as they look in this photo, and not a beer had by anybody!

The Maestra was fun and animated, the symphony was fantastic, and the best was the 1812 Overture when they fired cannons and had fireworks. Just a perfect, perfect day. What a beautiful setting for this special event.  After the “finale,” the bagpipers came out and played two songs, one of which was Amazing Grace.  Perfection.

Filling all the way up.
Filling all the way up.
Maestra Tania Miller was so animated.  I know she went home tired at the end of the evening.
Maestra Tania Miller was so animated. I know she went home tired at the end of the evening.

 

1812 Overture Crescendo featured cannon fire and fireworks.  Exhilarating!
1812 Overture Crescendo featured cannon fire and fireworks. Exhilerating!

 

BC Parliament at night.
BC Parliament at night.

Perfect day. Loved it. Hope your day was perfect too.

3 Comments on “Victoria Splash – Victoria, BC, Canada 8/4/2013

  1. So happy to have met both of you at the Symphony Splash! Delightful company! Happy travels and do come again next year….

  2. It was a delight meeting you, your sister Donna, and Thorne. Please keep in touch, hope you enjoy the blog.

  3. Love this entry and look forward to following your progress as you head up island. It’s a glorious nature trek wherever you go…enjoy!