We awoke to beautiful blue skies. This should be a perfect day to explore Victoria’s harborfront.
We had breakfast at the restaurant in the hotel…
…and back in our room, we watched as the ferry from Port Angeles arrived, unloaded, reloaded and took off. This will be our vessel back on Monday.
Ready to hit the streets, I donned my cap (“I like your hat” locals keep telling me)…
…grabbed a camera (cell phone only today), and we set off on a stroll around the harbor. Our first stop was to find a jeweler who could fix a broken clip on Dianne’s pendant. That quest first took us to an indoor mall in downtown Victoria. It was the first and only shopping mall I’ve visited this century.
The jewelry store employee here told Dianne to take her necklace to a small repair guy nearby in Old Town. On our way there, we passed the standing facade of an old building being renovated. Only the front and back walls remained…
…bearing the date of the original construction.
The pendant repaired, we set off again on foot, crossing in rainbow-painted crosswalks sure to make the anti-gay folks in America consider jaywalking. Designed to demonstrate the city’s commitment to inclusivity, they’ll need to be repainted when Canada becomes the 51st state.
Ahead, we saw a bridge high in the air…
…so this high-masted vessel could scoot through.
Through the use of counterweights, 75 horsepower electric motors are all it takes to raise and lower this 870-ton span.
With the bridge safely back down, we crossed over and headed to the Delta Hotels Victoria Ocean Pointe Resort for washrooms and a brew. This hotel seems just a bit fancier than our Days Inn across the water.
Rather than return back across the bridge, we took a taxi…
One can’t go to Canada and not have poutine, so we asked around and found this little poutine and burger place down near the harbor.
Fries, cheese curds and gravy.
Oh so good!