Victoria International Accordion Festival-Victoria, BC, Canada 8/17/2013

AUGUST 17, 2013 (Saturday)

 

Well, last night wasn’t finished. We ended up going back down to the harbor. Lots of activity going on, especially with the Dragonboat Festival. We listened to some wonderful music by Soul Shakers (I think), drank some great wine from Dragonfly Hill Vineyard and Winery (Michael had a local beer), walked around and saw the booths and things going on. We got to see the Lights of Courage lanterns being lit for cancer research. Beautiful and touching. We also had dinner at Milestones again. This time Michael and I split the most wonderful mouth-watering pesto chicken fettuccine. So good. Just enough by splitting it. After that we were tired and went home to our cave and cupcakes.

Bag Pipe player as a street performer.
Bag Pipe player as a street performer.
Welcome to Victoria in flowers, Edie's penchant.
Welcome to Victoria in flowers, Edie’s penchant.
Edie made me give him $2.00  He was quite good.
Edie made me give him $2.00 He was quite good.
Good band called, "Soul Shakers".
Good band called, “Soul Shakers”.

 

Lanterns of Courage.
Lanterns of Courage.
Parliament, lit up in honor of the Lanterns of Courage lighting ceremony.
Parliament, lit up in honor of the Lanterns of Courage lighting ceremony.
Lanterns of Courage lit up.
Lanterns of Courage lit up.

This morning started out very lazy and slow. Did some laundry, cleaned a little, and then made a large salad. Michael and I have both been craving vegetables so I boiled some eggs and half a potato, lettuce, carrots, onion, pineapple, tomatoes, beans, and cooked some chicken in lemon oil. Really good and satisfying.

We left early in the afternoon and headed to the Victoria International Accordion Festival, but I think it’s also called the 66th Coupe Mondiale. It is located in the beautiful Alix Goolden Hall. A lot more people there than I thought would be. We got there just in time to hear the Victoria Club perform. They were awesome. It sounded like a whole orchestra up on the stage and it was all accordions. We’ve never paid that much attention to accordions before but will from now on. What a great instrument and what fun it was.

Alix Goolden Hall. We don't know what church this used to be, but it is an excellent music hall.
Alix Goolden Hall. We don’t know what church this used to be, but it is an excellent music hall.
The Accordion Orchestra, in black and white!
The Accordion Orchestra, in black and white!
The Banner hung in the Music Hall
The Banner hung in the Music Hall

When we left the Accordion Festival, we debated whether we wanted to go down to the harbor to see the Dragonboat Festival or go to Boulders Climbing Gym, Saanich, for the World Youth Climbing competition. We opted to go to the climbing competition but got there too late and everyone was gone. We did get to see the fair going on, real close to the Boulders Climbing Gym, and are considering going there, if time permits. So many things to do and see here and not enough time I’m afraid.

We left Saanich and went to Walmart. I need a binder to corral all my addresses, costs, and general information. We left Walmart and headed to the harbor. We were disappointed we didn’t get to see any dragon boats but we’re hopeful we will get to tomorrow. We did, however, get to see a horse in a van. Not something you see every day. We asked the driver if the horse had a seatbelt on but she just smiled.

Inner Harbor drive.
Inner Harbor drive.
Horse in a minivan.
Horse in a minivan.
Edie asked if the horse had a seat belt on.  This obviously shook the horse.
Edie asked if the horse had a seat belt on. This obviously shook the horse.

We are now home and just relaxing. Hope your day was great!