Like so many others, I take my home town for granted.Returning from my US tour with a fresh appreciation for Victoria, I have been ooo’ing and ahhh’ing at the beauty of springtime, the sights in the harbour, and the city’s attractions that draw tourists from all over the world.
Throughout the city the blossom cycle continues to drape city streets with rich pink flowers that are now interspersed with the pale green of unfurling leaves.As petals from the first round of cherry and apple blossoms drift to the ground, gathering in the gutter like a fresh pink snowfall, the late bloomers are bursting forth.It’s a tough life when you have to brush the petals off your car before driving away!
Each year nearly a million people visit the 55 lush acres known as ButchartGardens.The Garden is planned for uninterrupted bloom from March through to October, has spectacular lighting at Christmas and fireworks on summer Saturdays.Sadly, like so many Victorians, I only go there once every few years and only if I have visitors from elsewhere. Meandering through the Gardens is about as relaxing a walk as a person can take so, with my sweet daughter Jodi (visiting from Vancouver), I meandered through the Gardens, camera clicking like a first-time international visitor.
Last weekend I took the ferry to Vancouver to spend a few days with my children. We had great fun; shopping, laughing, lunching, story-telling, wandering around downtown and several hours of virtual bowling. On the return ferry,I went to the advertising rack and picked up brochures for all of the Victoria tourist attractions that I might ever want to visit (bungy jumping, naked or otherwise, is not on the list).Upon returning to Victoria from my travels, my mission for the remainder of my time off is to visit each of the attractions; castles, gardens, museums, walking tours, etc. and I may even splurge for afternoon Tea at The Empress.
Between visiting friends and overseeing the comings and goings in Victoria's Harbour, I've generally been happy and lazy for a whole month. Right now, I'm monitoring the arrival of a Canadian military submarine which has arrived from Halifax onboard a cargo ship.
To my own surprise, I have even been enjoying the ordinarily annoying seagulls that screech me to wakefulness at sunrise.Many are huddling on rooftops all over town, hatching another brood of projectile-pooping scavengers.
The days of the past month have flown by.It feels like I barely arrived home and I’m already focused on “the list” of what needs to be crammed into a suitcase for my WestCan Tour.Three more sleeps and I will be on my way!
Originally created chronicle the excellent adventure of a year off from work; this blog is again being called into service as I plot the great California get-away of 2011.
Throughout the city the blossom cycle continues to drape city streets with rich pink flowers that are now interspersed with the pale green of unfurling leaves. As petals from the first round of cherry and apple blossoms drift to the ground, gathering in the gutter like a fresh pink snowfall, the late bloomers are bursting forth. It’s a tough life when you have to brush the petals off your car before driving away!
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