Victoria, BC Exploration - July 23-24, 2011
Took the ferry from the waterfront pier in Downtown Seattle to Victoria at 7:30am in the morning. The ferry ride took approximately 4 hours one-way.
Entering through customs at the port in Victoria.
A view of the inner harbor with the Fairmont Empress Hotel occupying a big chunk of the middle section.
On the walk to my hotel, I passed the Parliament building:
I stayed at the Queen Victoria Hotel & Suites:
While the interior looked alright, the internet connection was rather slow and weak (at least there was internet?), and the air conditioner did not work (they did, however, supply 2 portable table-top fans in the closet).
The view from the balcony.
Because I was able to check early, I dropped off unnecessary stuff in the hotel room, and then ventured out to the bus that would take me to Butchart Gardens. On the way, I passed a 7-11 that had MANY different Slurpee flavors:
I tried out the Apple Nectarine Pear, which had way too much yellow food coloring, and subsequently stained my fingers when I had trouble with the dispenser...
The bus to the Butchart Gardens took approximately 1 hour one-way.
Part of the rose garden in the middle of the Gardens.
The Sunken Garden
Saint John Wort
Middle of the rose garden
Entrance to the Japanese Garden
Part of the Italian Garden
A Korean girl and a Japanese girl were waiting at the bus stop for the return bus. As it turns out, they were both college students. From the side, the Japanese girl's profile strongly resembled Utada Hikaru, and I mentioned it to her. Apparently, she gets that a lot. She agreed to take a pic with me when I asked:
On the way back to the hotel from the bus stop, I stopped at the English Sweet Shop. Some of the candies they sold inside made me feel very nostalgic for when I lived in London!
Dinner was in the restaurant that was part of the hotel. The gave me a discount coupon, so I figured I'd use it. The price was a little high, and the food was only so-so. Probably not worth the price, at least for the dish I selected.
The dessert was extremely dense, and I couldn't finish it.
-----
On Sunday morning, I checked out of the hotel and went to Miniature World, which was a few blocks away from the hotel.
My favorite part of the exhibit was the space area, everything was lit up by blacklight:
My shoes
They used REALLY old computer graphics...
Castles
Jack and the beanstalk
Oberon and Titania's castle
Dwarves in a jewel mine
A very elaborate dollhouse
From Miniature World, I took another bus about 10 minutes down a main street to the Craigdarroch Castle (which is really a mansion):
View from the front
Stairway going up
To a small observatory at the top
View from the observatory of the roofing
Dance cards
Smoking room (I don't remember what it's called...)
From the back
A view from the ferry on the way back
Entering through customs at the port in Victoria.
A view of the inner harbor with the Fairmont Empress Hotel occupying a big chunk of the middle section.
On the walk to my hotel, I passed the Parliament building:
I stayed at the Queen Victoria Hotel & Suites:
While the interior looked alright, the internet connection was rather slow and weak (at least there was internet?), and the air conditioner did not work (they did, however, supply 2 portable table-top fans in the closet).
The view from the balcony.
Because I was able to check early, I dropped off unnecessary stuff in the hotel room, and then ventured out to the bus that would take me to Butchart Gardens. On the way, I passed a 7-11 that had MANY different Slurpee flavors:
I tried out the Apple Nectarine Pear, which had way too much yellow food coloring, and subsequently stained my fingers when I had trouble with the dispenser...
The bus to the Butchart Gardens took approximately 1 hour one-way.
Part of the rose garden in the middle of the Gardens.
The Sunken Garden
Saint John Wort
Middle of the rose garden
Entrance to the Japanese Garden
Part of the Italian Garden
A Korean girl and a Japanese girl were waiting at the bus stop for the return bus. As it turns out, they were both college students. From the side, the Japanese girl's profile strongly resembled Utada Hikaru, and I mentioned it to her. Apparently, she gets that a lot. She agreed to take a pic with me when I asked:
On the way back to the hotel from the bus stop, I stopped at the English Sweet Shop. Some of the candies they sold inside made me feel very nostalgic for when I lived in London!
Dinner was in the restaurant that was part of the hotel. The gave me a discount coupon, so I figured I'd use it. The price was a little high, and the food was only so-so. Probably not worth the price, at least for the dish I selected.
The dessert was extremely dense, and I couldn't finish it.
-----
On Sunday morning, I checked out of the hotel and went to Miniature World, which was a few blocks away from the hotel.
My favorite part of the exhibit was the space area, everything was lit up by blacklight:
My shoes
They used REALLY old computer graphics...
Castles
Jack and the beanstalk
Oberon and Titania's castle
Dwarves in a jewel mine
A very elaborate dollhouse
From Miniature World, I took another bus about 10 minutes down a main street to the Craigdarroch Castle (which is really a mansion):
View from the front
Stairway going up
To a small observatory at the top
View from the observatory of the roofing
Dance cards
Smoking room (I don't remember what it's called...)
From the back
A view from the ferry on the way back