Victoria -- The Last Stop

Victoria, British Columbia, Canada, was our last stop before we landed back in Seattle to start the trip home to Florida. I have crossed the border into Canada at a couple of places years ago, but I have never seen such beauty in Canada as what Victoria has.

Victoria is the capital of British Columbia with about 80,000 people and about 350,000 people including the surrounding areas. It has many institutions of higher learning, and many, many retirees. Our tour guide said Victoria has many wealthy people because when the Canadians from the plains retire from their ranches, this is where the want to go. I don't blame them. Victoria's weather is mild year round, it has flowers everywhere (it is known as the Garden City), and appears to be a clean, well cared for city. Plus, there is scads of events that take place.

We didn't have a lot of time here, but we were able to drive past the British Columbia Parliament Buildings. As you can see, many people simply walk the grounds.










We also saw a Kwakwaka'wakw "big house" built by Chief Mungo Martin. It was located at Thunderbird Park in front of the Royal British Columbia Museum.

I would have loved to have gone into the museum to see some of this lovely city's treasures, but there was not enough time. I guess that means it will be put on my list to revisit sometime in the future.

What I thought cool was going through Chinatown. It is the 2nd oldest in North America after San Francisco's. When you enter the area, there is a gate with stone lions to tell you you have entered.

This picture is a school, and the children who attend here learn Mandarin Chinese. Now, I hear that is an extremely hard language to learn. I really hand it to anyone who is from China, Russia, anywhere where they do not have our alphabet and then attempt to learn our language. Really, what an accomplishment. It's hard enough learning another language with a similar alphabet, but wow! another lettering system altogether.

After I retired, I taught a GED course through the local community college for a bit, and there was one lady there who came from China. She said she worked on learning how to speak English for 8 years, and when I met her she had been learning academics to be able to gain the high school equivalency diploma. She had been at this for over 4 years. I hope she made it. I admire anyone who has the tenacity to tackle such a challenge.

I had to take a picture of this house near the water because it had a PALM TREE. I never expected to see a palm tree in Canada.

And there was water everywhere, mountains in the background, and more than a totem pole or two. Simply a lovely city.











That night we sailed toward Seattle, and the next morning, bright and early, we were on our way back to Florida. A wonderful, awe inspiring trip I will never forget. If you ever get a chance, this trip is one to take.

I was home for a few days, and within a week, I was itching to go again. Gotta love going....

Until tomorrow...have a great day...