Day 17 – Victoria to Vancouver

Today we made our way back towards Montreal for the finish of our first bus tour of Ontario and French Canada.

This morning we were told not to have breakfast… so about an hour out of Montreal, ed prescription  we stopped at a place called “Trois Riveries” (translates to “Three Rivers”, diagnosis however there are actually only 2 there.  The French Canadians are a bit strange).  There we went to a Maple Syrup farm and had pancakes, ham, and plenty of maple syrup for breakfast.

After a big feed (during which Paul was asked at least 14 times if he wanted more coffee) we headed outside to learn how Maple Syrup is made.  Is actually pretty interesting how they drain the sap from the trees and turn it into sugary goodness.

We continued to Montreal – stopping at the Olympic Stadium – home of the 1976 summer games – for a few shots.  Apparently Montreal only just paid of the stadium last year, which is scary considering that it doesn’t even work as designed (one of a few lemons in Montreal… another being Mirabel – the brand new airport they built that was too far away from town and no one wanted to use!)

We then drove into the centre of Montreal for another city tour.  Generally both of us were not that impressed with Montreal.  Compared to Quebec City it is pretty bland when it comes to the tourist stakes.

That being said we did stop at the big cathedral in the old part of town – which is where Celine Dion was married (do you get the feeling that they are obsessed with her over here?  We do!)  Inside it was pretty spectacular though – we can understand why she wanted to get married there!

Finally we pulled up stumps on our first tour at the bar with the rest of the group.  We went to dinner with one of the other couples on the tour that we have become friends with in the restaurant strip of Montreal – it reminded us of Park Road at Milton in Brisbane just on steroids.  We ate at a great place, which was across the road from the restaurant that Formula 1 driver Jacques Villeneuve (I am sure that is not how you spell it!) owns.
Today we made our way back towards Montreal for the finish of our first bus tour of Ontario and French Canada.

This morning we were told not to have breakfast… so about an hour out of Montreal, find  we stopped at a place called “Trois Riveries” (translates to “Three Rivers”, however there are actually only 2 there.  The French Canadians are a bit strange).  There we went to a Maple Syrup farm and had pancakes, ham, and plenty of maple syrup for breakfast.

After a big feed (during which Paul was asked at least 14 times if he wanted more coffee) we headed outside to learn how Maple Syrup is made.  Is actually pretty interesting how they drain the sap from the trees and turn it into sugary goodness.

We continued to Montreal – stopping at the Olympic Stadium – home of the 1976 summer games – for a few shots.  Apparently Montreal only just paid of the stadium last year, which is scary considering that it doesn’t even work as designed (one of a few lemons in Montreal… another being Mirabel – the brand new airport they built that was too far away from town and no one wanted to use!)

We then drove into the centre of Montreal for another city tour.  Generally both of us were not that impressed with Montreal.  Compared to Quebec City it is pretty bland when it comes to the tourist stakes.

That being said we did stop at the big cathederal in the old part of town – which is where Celine Dion was married (do you get the feeling that they are obsessed with her over here?  We do!)  Inside it was pretty spectacular though – we can understand why she wanted to get married there!

Finally we pulled up stumps on our first tour at the bar with the rest of the group.  We went to dinner with one of the other couples on the tour that we have become friends with in the restaurant strip of Montreal – it reminded us of Park Road at Milton in Brisbane just on steroids.  We ate at a great place, which was across the road from the restaurant that Formula 1 driver Jaques Villenereurve (I am sure that is not how you spell it!) owns.
Today is a pretty light on day.

Early start to catch a 9am flight from Montreal to Calgary.  We got to the airport and were told that Kerrina’s back was too heavy for the flight – we had to loose 3 kg or pay 100 dollars.

After some “creative” baggage movements, prescription and carrying as much as we could as carry on – we managed to just scrape in.

Flight from Montreal to Calgary is about 4hrs 30 mintes.  Was pretty nice – we were in the back row of a new Embareer 190 aircraft – which has had the most leg room in economy of any flight so far.

We arrived in Calgary around lunch time – headed straight to the hotel, phthisiatrician and then finally found somewhere to upload some photos – which you will start to see now 🙂

Tomorrow we start our second tour which takes us up through the Rockies – will share more with you then

Hope all is well back home

Paul and Kerrina
Today is a pretty light on day.

Early start to catch a 9am flight from Montreal to Calgary.  We got to the airport and were told that Kerrina’s back was too heavy for the flight – we had to loose 3 kg or pay 100 dollars.

After some “creative” baggage movements, discount and carrying as much as we could as carry on – we managed to just scrape in.

Flight from Montreal to Calgary is about 4hrs 30 mintes.  Was pretty nice – we were in the back row of a new Embareer 190 aircraft – which has had the most leg room in economy of any flight so far.

We arrived in Calgary around lunch time – headed straigt to the hotel, treat and then finally found somewhere to upload some photos – which you will start to see now 🙂

Tomorrow we start our second tour which takes us up through the rockies – will share more with you then

Hope all is well back home

Paul and Kerrina
Today is a pretty light on day.

Early start to catch a 9am flight from Montreal to Calgary.  We got to the airport and were told that Kerrina’s back was too heavy for the flight – we had to loose 3 kg or pay 100 dollars.

After some “creative” baggage movements, discount and carrying as much as we could as carry on – we managed to just scrape in.

Flight from Montreal to Calgary is about 4hrs 30 mintes.  Was pretty nice – we were in the back row of a new Embareer 190 aircraft – which has had the most leg room in economy of any flight so far.

We arrived in Calgary around lunch time – headed straigt to the hotel, treat and then finally found somewhere to upload some photos – which you will start to see now 🙂

Tomorrow we start our second tour which takes us up through the rockies – will share more with you then

Hope all is well back home

Paul and Kerrina

Today is a pretty light on day.

Early start to catch a 9am flight from Montreal to Calgary.  We got to the airport and were told that Kerrina’s back was too heavy for the flight – we had to loose 3 kg or pay 100 dollars.

After some “creative” baggage movements, discount and carrying as much as we could as carry on – we managed to just scrape in.

Flight from Montreal to Calgary is about 4hrs 30 mintes.  Was pretty nice – we were in the back row of a new Embareer 190 aircraft – which has had the most leg room in economy of any flight so far.

We arrived in Calgary around lunch time – headed straigt to the hotel, treat and then finally found somewhere to upload some photos – which you will start to see now 🙂

Tomorrow we start our second tour which takes us up through the rockies – will share more with you then

Hope all is well back home

Paul and Kerrina

Today is a pretty light on day.

Early start to catch a 9am flight from Montreal to Calgary.  We got to the airport and were told that Kerrina’s back was too heavy for the flight – we had to loose 3 kg or pay 100 dollars.

After some “creative” baggage movements, discount and carrying as much as we could as carry on – we managed to just scrape in.

Flight from Montreal to Calgary is about 4hrs 30 mintes.  Was pretty nice – we were in the back row of a new Embareer 190 aircraft – which has had the most leg room in economy of any flight so far.

We arrived in Calgary around lunch time – headed straigt to the hotel, treat and then finally found somewhere to upload some photos – which you will start to see now 🙂

Tomorrow we start our second tour which takes us up through the rockies – will share more with you then

Hope all is well back home

Paul and Kerrina

Today is a pretty light on day.

Early start to catch a 9am flight from Montreal to Calgary.  We got to the airport and were told that Kerrina’s back was too heavy for the flight – we had to loose 3 kg or pay 100 dollars.

After some “creative” baggage movements, discount and carrying as much as we could as carry on – we managed to just scrape in.

Flight from Montreal to Calgary is about 4hrs 30 mintes.  Was pretty nice – we were in the back row of a new Embareer 190 aircraft – which has had the most leg room in economy of any flight so far.

We arrived in Calgary around lunch time – headed straigt to the hotel, treat and then finally found somewhere to upload some photos – which you will start to see now 🙂

Tomorrow we start our second tour which takes us up through the rockies – will share more with you then

Hope all is well back home

Paul and Kerrina

Today is a pretty light on day.

Early start to catch a 9am flight from Montreal to Calgary.  We got to the airport and were told that Kerrina’s back was too heavy for the flight – we had to loose 3 kg or pay 100 dollars.

After some “creative” baggage movements, discount and carrying as much as we could as carry on – we managed to just scrape in.

Flight from Montreal to Calgary is about 4hrs 30 mintes.  Was pretty nice – we were in the back row of a new Embareer 190 aircraft – which has had the most leg room in economy of any flight so far.

We arrived in Calgary around lunch time – headed straigt to the hotel, treat and then finally found somewhere to upload some photos – which you will start to see now 🙂

Tomorrow we start our second tour which takes us up through the rockies – will share more with you then

Hope all is well back home

Paul and Kerrina

Today is a pretty light on day.

Early start to catch a 9am flight from Montreal to Calgary.  We got to the airport and were told that Kerrina’s back was too heavy for the flight – we had to loose 3 kg or pay 100 dollars.

After some “creative” baggage movements, discount and carrying as much as we could as carry on – we managed to just scrape in.

Flight from Montreal to Calgary is about 4hrs 30 mintes.  Was pretty nice – we were in the back row of a new Embareer 190 aircraft – which has had the most leg room in economy of any flight so far.

We arrived in Calgary around lunch time – headed straigt to the hotel, treat and then finally found somewhere to upload some photos – which you will start to see now 🙂

Tomorrow we start our second tour which takes us up through the rockies – will share more with you then

Hope all is well back home

Paul and Kerrina

The big Island is the USA, the Small Island is Canada (or is it the other way around, I can’t remember)

The big Island is the USA, the Small Island is Canada (or is it the other way around, I can’t remember)

The big Island is the USA, the Small Island is Canada (or is it the other way around, I can’t remember)

The big Island is the USA, the Small Island is Canada (or is it the other way around, I can’t remember)

Today was the official first day of our second tour which takes us across the Rockies towards Vancouver.

order
on Flickr” href=”http://www.flickr.com/photos/paul-woods/2811308557/”>

It started out with a bus tour of Calgary, which took us to places such as “The Saddle Dome” and Stampede Park – both of which feature heavily in the annual Calgary Stampede, and in the 1988 Winter Olympics.

Speaking of the Calgary Olympics, on the way out of Calgary we stopped at the Canada Olympic Park – where some of the more important events at the games took place – like the Ski Jumping, Luge and most important of all… the track where the Jamaican Bobsled team shot to fame.

We then continued on along the Trans-Canadian highway towards the Banff National Park.  The landscape very quickly changed from rolling plains to the jagged heights of the Rocky Mountains.  Absolutely breathtaking.

We arrived in Banff about midday for lunch – then went up the Sulphur Mountain Gondola.  Back in Calgary it was 12 degrees… and at 7500 ft on the top of Sulphur Mountain in the rain and wind it would have been close to freezing.  But the view was well and truly worth the climb.

Later that evening we took the bus out of Banff about 20 minutes to a town called Canmore – home of the “Oh Canada Eh!” dinner show.  Was a great night – not exactly Broadway (the cast also serve you dinner), but definitely was good fun.

And most importantly, Kerrina got to see/hug/touch/have a photo with her first Mountie.

 

Tomorrow we have a full day in Banff to explore – hopefully the weather gets a bit better because it is raining pretty heavily tonight.

The big Island is the USA, the Small Island is Canada (or is it the other way around, I can’t remember)

Today was the official first day of our second tour which takes us across the Rockies towards Vancouver.

order
on Flickr” href=”http://www.flickr.com/photos/paul-woods/2811308557/”>

It started out with a bus tour of Calgary, which took us to places such as “The Saddle Dome” and Stampede Park – both of which feature heavily in the annual Calgary Stampede, and in the 1988 Winter Olympics.

Speaking of the Calgary Olympics, on the way out of Calgary we stopped at the Canada Olympic Park – where some of the more important events at the games took place – like the Ski Jumping, Luge and most important of all… the track where the Jamaican Bobsled team shot to fame.

We then continued on along the Trans-Canadian highway towards the Banff National Park.  The landscape very quickly changed from rolling plains to the jagged heights of the Rocky Mountains.  Absolutely breathtaking.

We arrived in Banff about midday for lunch – then went up the Sulphur Mountain Gondola.  Back in Calgary it was 12 degrees… and at 7500 ft on the top of Sulphur Mountain in the rain and wind it would have been close to freezing.  But the view was well and truly worth the climb.

Later that evening we took the bus out of Banff about 20 minutes to a town called Canmore – home of the “Oh Canada Eh!” dinner show.  Was a great night – not exactly Broadway (the cast also serve you dinner), but definitely was good fun.

And most importantly, Kerrina got to see/hug/touch/have a photo with her first Mountie.

 

Tomorrow we have a full day in Banff to explore – hopefully the weather gets a bit better because it is raining pretty heavily tonight.
Today was the official first day of our second tour which takes us across the Rockies towards Vancouver.

illness
on Flickr” href=”http://www.flickr.com/photos/paul-woods/2811308557/”>

It started out with a bus tour of Calgary, story
which took us to places such as “The Saddle Dome” and Stampede Park – both of which feature heavily in the annual Calgary Stampede, and in the 1988 Winter Olympics.

Speaking of the Calgary Olympics, on the way out of Calgary we stopped at the Canada Olympic Park – where some of the more important events at the games took place – like the Ski Jumping, Luge and most important of all… the track where the Jamacian Bobsled team shot to fame.

We then continued on along the Trans-Canadian highway towards the Banff National Park.  The landscape very quickly changed from rolling plains to the jagged heights of the Rocky Mountains.  Absolutely breathtaking.

We arrived in Banff about midday for lunch – then went up the Sulphur Mountain Gondola.  Back in Calgary it was 12 degrees… and at 7500 ft on the top of Sulphur Mountain in the rain and wind it would have been close to freezing.  But the view was well and truely worth the climb.

Later that evening we took the bus out of Banff about 20 minutes to a town called Canmore – home of the “Oh Canada Eh!” dinner show.  Was a great night – not exactly broadway (the cast also serve you dinner), but definitely was good fun.

And most importantly, Kerrina got to see/hug/touch/have a photo with her first Mountie.

 

Tomorrow we have a full day in Banff to explore – hopefully the weather gets a bit better because it is raining pretty heavily tonight.
Well our prayers came true – we woke up to a beautiful blue sky day in Banff.

Today is pretty much a rest day on our tour, sickness and therefore up to us to explore the town.  Kerrina has one word…  SHOPPING!

There are plenty of little boutique stores here, as well as your fair share of souvenir shops.  Prices are pretty reasonable too.

Our hotel here in Banff is right beside the Bow River.  There is a canoe hire place next door so tonight we are going to hire a canoe for a couple of hours and explore some of the wildlife and scenery.  Hopefully we don’t fall in because as the tour guide jokingly said yesterday – “you can’t drown in our rivers… because you will freeze to death first”. 

We will keep you posted, but if you don’t hear from us any more, you know where to look for the icicles!
Well our prayers came true – we woke up to a beautiful blue sky day in Banff.

Today is pretty much a rest day on our tour, discount and therefore up to us to explore the town.  Kerrina has one word…  SHOPPING!

 

There are plenty of little boutique stores here, as well as your fair share of souvenir shops.  Prices are pretty reasonable too.

Our hotel here in Banff is right beside the Bow River.  There is a canoe hire place next door so tonight we are going to hire a canoe for a couple of hours and explore some of the wildlife and scenery.  Hopefully we don’t fall in because as the tour guide jokingly said yesterday – “you can’t drown in our rivers… because you will freeze to death first”. 

We will keep you posted, but if you don’t hear from us any more, you know where to look for the icicles!
Well last night we didn’t end up going on our canoe trip… Kerrina was feeling a little under the weather.

But this morning Banff was under the weather… in fact we woke up to SNOW 🙂

We walked down the block under the falling snow flakes to a diner for breakfast… then we hoped on the bus for our journey to Jasper.

Along the way we stopped off at two of the main tourist attractions in between the two towns – Lake Louise, pilule and the Columbia Ice Field.

Lake Louise looked beautiful, recipe but not like in the postcards.  Fog and falling snow gave her a whole new look which was unexpected but great none the less.

After braving the cold, both of us headed inside the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise for what has to be the best hot chocolate on the planet!

Next we were on the bus again, heading towards the Columbia Ice Field – and in particular the Athabasca Glacier.  On the highway the bus slowed down due to some traffic up ahead – turned out there was a Black Bear on the side of the road.

Once at the Ice Field we hopped on board one of the custom built Ice Explorers which took us up onto the glacier.  We had seen glaciers before in New Zealand, but this was the first time we got to stand on one which was pretty cool (get it… cool!)

We then crept closer to Jasper… with one more stop along the way – a rafting trip down the Athabasca River.  Even though the brochure said we wouldn’t get wet, somehow everyone on the boat did… and the water was freezing cold – straight off the glacier.  But the landscapes were amazing.

About 2 hours later we were off the rafts and back on the bus for the final few minutes into Jasper.  To cap off a beautiful day before we arrived at the hotel we saw a group of Elk crossing the road.
Well last night we didn’t end up going on our canoe trip… Kerrina was feeling a little under the weather.

But this morning Banff was under the weather… in fact we woke up to SNOW 🙂

We walked down the block under the falling snow flakes to a diner for breakfast… then we hoped on the bus for our journey to Jasper.

Along the way we stopped off at two of the main tourist attractions in between the two towns – Lake Louise, this site and the Columbia Ice Field.

Lake Louise looked beautiful, prostate but not like in the postcards.  Fog and falling snow gave her a whole new look which was unexpected but great none the less.

After braving the cold, both of us headed inside the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise for what has to be the best hot chocolate on the planet!

Next we were on the bus again, heading towards the Columbia Ice Field – and in particular the Athabasca Glacier.  On the highway the bus slowed down due to some traffic up ahead – turned out there was a Black Bear on the side of the road.

Once at the Ice Field we hopped on board one of the custom built Ice Explorers which took us up onto the glacier.  We had seen glaciers before in New Zealand, but this was the first time we got to stand on one which was pretty cool (get it… cool!)

We then crept closer to Jasper… with one more stop along the way – a rafting trip down the Athabasca River.  Even though the brochure said we wouldn’t get wet, somehow everyone on the boat did… and the water was freezing cold – straight off the glacier.  But the landscapes were amazing.

About 2 hours later we were off the rafts and back on the bus for the final few minutes into Jasper.  To cap off a beautiful day before we arrived at the hotel we saw a group of Elk crossing the road.
Today was another “do your own thing” day on the tour… so we slept in before some of the mandatory souvenir shopping before lunch.

In the afternoon we joined most of our tour group for a drive out to Maligne Lake, cialis sale and the (apparently) world famous Spirit Island.  Half the bus hadn’t heard of it… and when we got there it was just an peninsula (not even an island!) with a few trees on it.  Those Spirit Island marketers are pretty good.

capsule on Flickr” href=”http://www.flickr.com/photos/paul-woods/2834705148/”>

We then headed home back to Jasper on the lookout for more wildlife… but didn’t see much.
Today was another “do your own thing” day on the tour… so we slept in before some of the mandatory souvenir shopping before lunch.

In the afternoon we joined most of our tour group for a drive out to Maligne Lake, advice and the (apparently) world famous Spirit Island.  Half the bus hadn’t heard of it… and when we got there it was just an peninsula (not even an island!) with a few trees on it.  Those Spirit Island marketers are pretty good.

disinfection on Flickr” href=”http://www.flickr.com/photos/paul-woods/2834705148/”>

We then headed home back to Jasper on the lookout for more wildlife… but didn’t see much.
Today was another “do your own thing” day on the tour… so we slept in before some of the mandatory souvenir shopping before lunch.

In the afternoon we joined most of our tour group for a drive out to Maligne Lake, advice and the (apparently) world famous Spirit Island.  Half the bus hadn’t heard of it… and when we got there it was just an peninsula (not even an island!) with a few trees on it.  Those Spirit Island marketers are pretty good.

disinfection on Flickr” href=”http://www.flickr.com/photos/paul-woods/2834705148/”>

We then headed home back to Jasper on the lookout for more wildlife… but didn’t see much.
Today was the day that Kerrina had dreamed of since she was in Grade 12 – we were finally hopping on board the (really) world famous Rocky Mountaineer train.  Gold Leaf class of course!

health on Flickr” href=”http://www.flickr.com/photos/paul-woods/2833869853/”>

Two words – Spectacular.  Food.

In fact they are about the only words that can describe it – you really need to experience it yourself to understand just how breathtaking Western Canada can be!

prothesis
on Flickr” href=”http://www.flickr.com/photos/paul-woods/2833922225/”>

We have plenty more photos and video of these great two days – we might save them until we get back though.
Today was another “do your own thing” day on the tour… so we slept in before some of the mandatory souvenir shopping before lunch.

In the afternoon we joined most of our tour group for a drive out to Maligne Lake, advice and the (apparently) world famous Spirit Island.  Half the bus hadn’t heard of it… and when we got there it was just an peninsula (not even an island!) with a few trees on it.  Those Spirit Island marketers are pretty good.

disinfection on Flickr” href=”http://www.flickr.com/photos/paul-woods/2834705148/”>

We then headed home back to Jasper on the lookout for more wildlife… but didn’t see much.
Today was the day that Kerrina had dreamed of since she was in Grade 12 – we were finally hopping on board the (really) world famous Rocky Mountaineer train.  Gold Leaf class of course!

health on Flickr” href=”http://www.flickr.com/photos/paul-woods/2833869853/”>

Two words – Spectacular.  Food.

In fact they are about the only words that can describe it – you really need to experience it yourself to understand just how breathtaking Western Canada can be!

prothesis
on Flickr” href=”http://www.flickr.com/photos/paul-woods/2833922225/”>

We have plenty more photos and video of these great two days – we might save them until we get back though.
Today was the day that Kerrina had dreamt of since she was in Grade 12 – we were finally hopping on board the (really) world famous Rocky Mountaineer train.  Gold Leaf class of course!

Glaucoma
on Flickr”>

Two words – Spectacular.  Food.

In fact they are about the only words that can describe it – you really need to experience it yourself to understand just how breathtaking Western Canada can be!

treatment on Flickr”>

We have plenty more photos and video of these great two days – we might sa
Today we lost our train legs after two days rocking side to side on the Rocky Mountaineer.

For the first half of the day we had a tour around Vancouver… which is a pretty nice place.  Stanley Park, ambulance which is just by the harbour and the Lions Gate bridge is a nice city garden – about 20 times better than the dodgy botanical gardens that Brisbane has to offer.  Stanley park also gave us great views back towards the Vancouver skyline.

Then we drove south towards the US border – but just before we got there we went towards the coast to the ferry terminal.  We caught the BC ferry across from Vancouver to Vancouver Island.  This was about a 90 minute crossing… very smooth and very picturesque as you weave through the San Jaun Islands.

Once at Vancouver Island the bus took us straight to the world famous Butchart Gardens.  Originally this was an old disused quarry but a woman transformed it into yet another amazing garden full of plants from around the world.  Butchart is another one of those places where words can’t really describe it, you just have to see it to believe it.

After the afternoon at Butchart we drove about 30 minutes down the road to the capital of British Columbia and the home of the 1994 Commonwealth Games – Victoria.

After checking into the Royal Scot Suites, where we were welcomed with and old guy playing a bagpipe… we took a night-time walk through the streets of Victoria.

In search of food we came across this great restaurant called The Old Spaghetti House – which was exactly what we were looking for – salad, pasta, garlic bread, dessert… all for $12 – great price and great tasting food.

On the way back from the restaurant to the hotel we walked behind the Houses of Parliament and ran across a family of Raccoons that were hanging around a tree.  They are a lot bigger than we thought – either that or we just came across some mutant ones.

Today we lost our train legs after two days rocking side to side on the Rocky Mountaineer.

For the first half of the day we had a tour around Vancouver… which is a pretty nice place.  Stanley Park, this site which is just by the harbour and the Lions Gate bridge is a nice city garden – about 20 times better than the dodgy botanical gardens that Brisbane has to offer.  Stanley park also gave us great views back towards the Vancouver skyline.

Then we drove south towards the US border – but just before we got there we went towards the coast to the ferry terminal.  We caught the BC ferry across from Vancouver to Vancouver Island.  This was about a 90 minute crossing… very smooth and very picturesque as you weave through the San Jaun Islands.

Once at Vancouver Island the bus took us straight to the world famous Butchart Gardens.  Originally this was an old disused quarry but a woman transformed it into yet another amazing garden full of plants from around the world.  Butchart is another one of those places where words can’t really describe it, you just have to see it to believe it.

After the afternoon at Butchart we drove about 30 minutes down the road to the capital of British Columbia and the home of the 1994 Commonwealth Games – Victoria.

After checking into the Royal Scot Suites, where we were welcomed with and old guy playing a bagpipe… we took a night-time walk through the streets of Victoria.

In search of food we came across this great restaurant called The Old Spaghetti House – which was exactly what we were looking for – salad, pasta, garlic bread, dessert… all for $12 – great price and great tasting food.

On the way back from the restaurant to the hotel we walked behind the Houses of Parliament and ran across a family of Raccoons that were hanging around a tree.  They are a lot bigger than we thought – either that or we just came across some mutant ones.

Today was another sleep in day on the tour where we could do our own thing. After we woke up we went for a stroll around Victoria – and came into contact with one of the colourful locals – a guy dressed up as Darth Vader playing the violin! Although it was up there, gerontologist it wasn’t quite the highlight of Victoria!

In the afternoon, otolaryngologist we hoped on one of these little water taxi’s and took a tour around Victoria Harbour. Paul loved this as the harbour is one of the busiest airports in the world (take off and landing wise, not passenger wise) as all the sea plans from Vancouver and Seattle come in regularly.

Once we jumped off the water taxi we were back on the bus towards dinner about 20 minutes down the road by the water. Lets just say the view from the table was amazing!

After dinner we headed up to Victoria’s equivalent of Mt Coot-tha for a view of the city lights… before heading back to the hotel

Today was another sleep in day on the tour where we could do our own thing. After we woke up we went for a stroll around Victoria – and came into contact with one of the colourful locals – a guy dressed up as Darth Vader playing the violin! Although it was up there, medicine it wasn’t quite the highlight of Victoria!

In the afternoon, we hoped on one of these little water taxi’s and took a tour around Victoria Harbour. Paul loved this as the harbour is one of the busiest airports in the world (take off and landing wise, not passenger wise) as all the sea plans from Vancouver and Seattle come in regularly.

Once we jumped off the water taxi we were back on the bus towards dinner about 20 minutes down the road by the water. Lets just say the view from the table was amazing!

After dinner we headed up to Victoria’s equivalent of Mt Coot-tha for a view of the city lights… before heading back to the hotel

Today was another sleep in day on the tour where we could do our own thing. After we woke up we went for a stroll around Victoria – and came into contact with one of the colourful locals – a guy dressed up as Darth Vader playing the violin! Although it was up there, medicine it wasn’t quite the highlight of Victoria!

In the afternoon, we hoped on one of these little water taxi’s and took a tour around Victoria Harbour. Paul loved this as the harbour is one of the busiest airports in the world (take off and landing wise, not passenger wise) as all the sea plans from Vancouver and Seattle come in regularly.

Once we jumped off the water taxi we were back on the bus towards dinner about 20 minutes down the road by the water. Lets just say the view from the table was amazing!

After dinner we headed up to Victoria’s equivalent of Mt Coot-tha for a view of the city lights… before heading back to the hotel

Today was another transit day more or less. We hopped onto the bus to head back to the ferry terminal, denture
and did the reverse crossing we had taken a couple of days earlier.

Once we were back in Vancouver we said goodbye to most of our tour group. They were all hopping on ships to cruise the Inside Passage up to Alaska. Instead of spending 7 days in retirement home luxury on a cruise ship like everyone else, advice we decided to spend some more time in British Columbia, and take in some of the United States as well.

The afternoon was pretty lazy – nothing to exciting to report – apart from the fact that TV is pretty crap here in the summer! However the good news is that no matter what night of the week we have been able to find at least two episodes of Family Guy to keep us going!