Victoriana

Tuesday August 2nd

We're  up and packed bright and early once more. Off on our travels again. Nancylee and John collect us in two cars. 'Himself' will travel with John and Jaine. Nancy and I travel in the comfort air conditioned car with Nancylee. It's not far to the BC Ferry Terminal at Tsawwassen but the road can sometimes get clogged with traffic. There's the George Massey tunnel to get through under the Fraser River and the Highway is the main route to the US Boarder.

This morning however traffic is reasonable and we make good time to the Terminal. Our cars go into the line up lanes to wait for the next ferry and we pile out into the terminal buildings for a coffee. There's several small stall like shops selling upmarket souvenir goods and food. We browse and drink our coffee and the time to board the cars soon arrives.

The 90 minute crossing is smooth and goes fast. The  predicted sunshine hasn't appeared and there's a cloud layer dulling the skies. Off the ferry and back in convoy we set off for the 30minute drive for Victoria in the South of Vancouver Island. This is the Capital of British Columbia and is an attractive  City That's retained much of it's Victorian character. The modern glass high rise buildings of Vancouver are absent here.

Canoe Pub/Restaurant

It's been a long time since breakfast and this time we didn't eat on the ferry so we go to the water front near where the Docks meet the City to an old converted brick  warehouse. The restaurant/Brew Pub is called Canoe. The clouds have dispersed and the sun's warm. We sit outside so Jaine can have a stretch  and a supervised wander. The food's good as usual and all to soon we drive the short distance back into the Cities center to find our hotel.

A sculpture of   sea orientated Native Art

The Hotel's, The Royal Scot, is not difficult to find and we are soon installed in our upgraded Luxury Suite. I'm not sure luxury is the right word, as although,  the apartment is clean, well maintained, well appointed and comfortable the decor is definitely stuck in the 1980's. Our Suite has a spacious comfortable lounge with a sofa bed, a tiny dinning area with an equally tiny kitchen leading off it. From the entry door is a  hall corridor with a walk in hanging cupboard,  a small bathroom and reasonable sized double bedroom. I nearly forgot we also have a balcony with chairs from the lounge patio windows. The suite has plenty of storage space as they have long term resident guests in the winter and a few permanent guest in these suites. Nancylee and John have a double on-suit room in a different part of the hotel where guests can have their dogs with them.

our lounge TV's in both rooms as well.

After settling in and a bit of a rest for us Seniors we set off walking. Down to the busy Harbour. Lots going on here. Its an attractive bustling area with entertainment, artists and people relaxing. We walk along the busy main shopping street where many of the shops are still open. All are interesting  independent shops no global superstores here.

We turn down a small side street to the restaurant we are heading for, Pagliacci's is a 'must do' Italian eating place in Victoria. There's a queue outside waiting for tables. We hum and arh trying to decide whether or not to wait. We wait. About 30 minutes. We're soon settled with our sangria's and waiting our food. The restaurants small, nothing special but heaving with customers.

Pagliacci's interesting decor

Pagliacci's Jazz Trio

Halfway through the meal the waitresses swooped to the recently vacated window tables and moved them. In their space three musicians quickly occupied and the evenings entertainment of live Jazz music began. There's still people queuing for tables outside on the sidewalk so we reluctantly vacate our table and begin to walk back to the Hotel

'Himself' and John leave us and Head off to sample beer at another of the Cities brewpubs.We wander back along the still busy City street and back around the Harbour. Now its dusk and the cities lights are on. The Parliament Building facing the Harbour is lit up like Blackpool Illuminations

It's a pleasant warm evening but I'm pleased to get back to the hotel, the feet and knees have had enough.