Victoria, BC, Vancouver Island, Canada – 8/4/2014

 

AUGUST 4, 2014 (Monday)

 

Jan, Caron, Michael and I walked over to the Blue Crab Restaurant and had a late breakfast. We knew it was close and knew the food was good (from yesterday).  Also, the presentation was so beautiful with all the different sized and shaped bowls, plates and platters.  Jan and Caron had eggs Benedict, Michael had what his brother had yesterday, and I had a granola/yogurt breakfast. As usual – as good as it was pretty.  We were also seated at a quiet table with a great view of the water.

Jan said these were the best she had ever had in her life!
Jan said these were the best she had ever had in her life!
Caron agreed they were good.
Caron agreed they were good.
Edie was laying a guild trip on me and had the healthy start.
Edie was laying a guild trip on me and had the healthy start.
I had the less healthy country breakfast.
I had the less healthy country breakfast.
Nice view from the table.
Nice view from the table.  We think Jim and Anna were on the yellow tour bus/boat.

We got back to the room and said our goodbyes to Jan and Caron. Was so fun having them here. We’re looking forward to seeing them on Friday. Also, while we were talking about our upcoming travels, we all discovered that we will be in Banff the same time this coming November.  We’re hoping we’ll get more visiting in. Always a good time.  So glad we know them now.

Michael and I just vegged for awhile and worked on the blog. Lots of pictures from the Splash and uploading them is slow here at the Worldmark. When we did venture out, it was to go to the Happy Hippo tour. We left here at around 4:00 PM and walked down to near the Black Ball Ferry building where the hippo tour starts. Our tour wasn’t starting until 5:00 PM but it’s a first come, first seated type thing and we were told by brother Jim to get the seats six rows from the back as they were the best. (The tour is usually about $43.00 a person but we used a 10% off coupon and Michael got us old person discount.)

The departure point.
The departure point.
A drop dead gorgeous woman I spotted on the street.
A pretty woman I spotted on the street.
Nice old muscle care spotted while we were waiting.
Nice old muscle care spotted while we were waiting.
And we're off
And we’re off

The tour was approximately 90 minutes. The person doing all the talking was very corny but fun and energetic. Her name is Algebra and her brother’s name is Luke Skywalker. We learned more about Victoria and got to see some things we didn’t experience last year, so we’re glad we took it.

Neighborhoods are so pretty here.
Neighborhoods are so pretty here.
Charm everywhere.
Charm everywhere.
Past the Legislature building.
Past the Legislature building.
Past the Carillon Bell Tower.  12 bells are required for the Carillon designation, this one has 60.
Past the Carillon Bell Tower. 12 bells are required for the Carillon designation, this one has 60.
Past Thunderbird Park.
Past Thunderbird Park.
Down Government Street.
Down Government Street.

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Past China Town.
Past China Town.
Past the old Customs House.
Past the old Customs House.
Past Jim and Anna's hotel.
Past Jim and Anna’s hotel.
Past our resort.
Past our resort.
To where the cruise ships moor.
To where the cruise ships moor.

Was fun going from bus to boat and going out in the harbor. The Celebrity Miracle cruise ship was in port and we went alongside it and then out into the harbor, past Fisherman’s Wharf and then back.

Our bus/boat launch ramp.
Our bus/boat launch ramp.
The vivacious tour guide named Algebra.
The vivacious tour guide named Algebra.
Into the water we went.
Into the water we went.
Control tower and stone frigate, aka a training ship made of stone.
Control tower and stone frigate, aka a training ship made of stone.
Our hotel and resort from the water.
Our hotel and resort from the water.
Robert Bateman center.
Robert Bateman center.
Empress.
Empress.
Harbor Air Terminal.
Harbour Air Terminal.
Water taxi's are such fun.  Almost as good as a cable car!
Water taxi’s are such fun. Almost as good as a cable car!
Great mix in the harbor.
Great mix in the harbor.

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Victoria Clipper coming in from Seattle.
Victoria Clipper coming in from Seattle.
The race.
The race.
Didn't take long...
Didn’t take long…
We were behind.
We were behind.
The water is rough at the mouth of the harbor.
The water is rough at the mouth of the harbor.
We used the ship to find smooth water.
We used the ship to find smooth water.
The tour continued on land.
The tour continued on land.
Mile post 0.
Mile post 0.
China hard at work.
China hard at work.
World's Tallest single tree totem pole.
World’s tallest single tree totem pole.
Canadian snow geese.
Canadian snow geese.
Peacocks.
Peacocks.
Emily Carr statue.
Emily Carr statue.

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After the tour we walked back a different way and headed straight to our dinner reservations at an Italian restaurant right across the street from our resort, Il Covo. Jim and Anna had gone there the other night and said it was excellent. Coming from an Italian (Anna) who knows her stuff, we knew it would be good – and it was. I was wishing they had given me more as I was loving it. I had the vegetable ravioli, and Michael had a thick noodle spaghetti dish. Yummy.

Flowers on the way.
Flowers on the way.
Vivid color.
Vivid color.
Warm bread, balsamic vinegar with olive oil.
Warm bread, balsamic vinegar with olive oil.
Edie's vegetable ravioli, she gave me some and it was creamy and good.
Edie’s vegetable ravioli.  She gave me some and it was creamy and good.
Most flavorful spaghetti.
Most flavorful spaghetti.

We opted not to have dessert at the restaurant and went straight to our car to go to the local supermarket, about a mile away.

Outside the market.  My sister had a Tbird like this once.
Outside the market. My sister had a Tbird like this once.

(We had been given a map by the front desk. It was a Thrifty Supermarket, very busy.) We found the bakery department and got several different small desserts for us to share, along with wine.  When we got home we called Jim and Anna and they came over. Was very relaxed and nice visiting for awhile. We’ve all decided it’s exhausting having so much fun.

That was our day. Hope yours was great!