Victoria, B. C.

Victoria is a city with appeal to tourists from Asia and North America. When we were there in August 2007 the sky was clear or partly cloudy, the temperature range was 65 to 75 degrees, and the climate ideal for human comfort. In contrast, our home in North Carolina was experiencing daily temperatures from 79 to the 100 degrees Fahrenheit.

We vacationed there for three days and two nights. Afternoon tea at the Empress Hotel was a special experience and expensive beyond my imagination. The entertainment of artists, musicians, and magicians along the downtown sidewalks and street intersections were eye catching and caused us to linger. Dining in restaurants was an exercise in making hard decisions from among many choices.

The most special activity, however, was our visit to The Butchart Gardens in the suburbs of Victoria. There, a lady one hundred years ago had the vision of transforming a closed cement quarry into a garden of flowers, shrubs, and trees. A century of nurturing this garden brings a constant flow of visitors at a fee of $25.00 per person. I'll show you a snippet of that place next time.

The below picture shows us standing in front of the capital building of Vancouver which is located in Victoria. We toured that building and saw many murals depicting the settlement and history of the British in that part of Canada. Very interesting. The second picture below shows the Empress.

Have a good week!