Our Trip to Victoria B.C.

While my mother was visiting we took a trip to Victoria in British Columbia. We drove across the border and took the B.C. Ferries from Tsawassen to Schwarz Bay. I love the ferries up there. It is always such a nice trip. We stayed with my friend Ulrike and her family, while my mother got a room in a nearby bed-and-breakfast. It amazes me every time how Victoria can be so close and yet so different. There were English manicured lawns everywhere and come late afternoon and evening everyone was going on walks around the neighborhood.

We did the usual tourist things around downtown. We walked along the inner harbor, we saw the parliament building, the empress hotel; we walked along parliament street and checked out all the tourist stores. The girls were behaving really good. Off course we had tea at my favorite little tea house, the "St James Bay Tea house" right behind Parliament. Even thou there was a wide selection of little sandwiches, cookies, cakes, tartletts, crumpets and scones. Amelia settled on only eating all the whipped cream from the little bowl. Marlene did a little better, but, I guess, High tea is still too much for them. Unfortunately we were not able to see the "Titanic" exhibit at the Royal B.C. Museum. It would have been too much for the girls.

On our second day we took a trip inland on Vancouver island. We drove Highway 1 north over the mountains at Malahat, where we had a beautiful view over the Saanich Inlet. We left Highway 1 to drive along the coast to the little town of Cowichan Bay. It had been recommended to us to visit an incredible little organic bakery there. They grind all their grain and off course bake a large variety of sweet and savory pastries and a good variety of bread, which was very attractive to us Europeans. Since the bakery was located next to a cheese shop we were in little heaven. After our mid morning snack we went on to the tourist town of Chemainus. The town is famous for it's many murals on every exposed wall. It also features dozens of little shops, cafes, and restaurants. Here we had lunch. It was a very hot day and the girls got tired fast from walking around. Back in the car they fell asleep immediately. So we decided to drive for a little bit and see the countryside. We drove to Cowichan Lake and along the lake to Honeymoon Bay. Here we found a little park with a beach and so the girls could go for a swim. Since it was a lake the water was nice and warm. Amelia was very concerned with crabs in the water, because we had seen a lot of crabs on the ocean beaches, but we kept telling her that there are no crabs in the water, a phrase she kept repeating the whole way back.

In the afternoon we made one last stop in the town of Duncan, which is know for the large number of totem poles. It would have been nice to take a guided tour to learn more, but again the children factor kept us from that. I guess, it is always nice to safe something for next time.

We had a great time in Victoria and it was fun to spent some time with Ulrike. I definitely want to go back and see more of the island.