Aug 7th, Victoria, BC

We began at 6 AM taking BC Ferries to Victoria, BC to spend the day 

sight seeing.

Our first stop was Craigdarroch Castle built between 1887-1890 for Robert 

Dunsmuir a Scottish immigrant who made his fortune from Vancouver coal.

The Victorian mansion was built on a hill overlooking the city of Victoria on 

28 acres. The Castle has 25,572 SQFT including the basement, 17 

fireplaces, 14 rooms and three bathrooms. The Castle was built with electric 

and gas lighting and indoor running water. The wealth amassed is reflected in the 

Castle's four floors of exquisite stained glass, intricate woodwork and lavish 

Victorian era furnishings. 

Robert Dunsmuir unfortunately died before the castle was finished leaving

his wife his entire estate valued at $15-$20 million dollars in 1888.

Our second stop was near the historic Empress Hotel built 1908 for the Canadian

Pacific Railway. The gardens and view of the harbor are an impressive

site.

Across the street is the British Columbia Parliament Buildings that are described

as "free classical" and "Romanesque". The raw materials to build the buildings came

from throughout British Columbia. At night the building is illuminated by more than

3500 energy efficient light bulbs. The twelve and half acres has been the site of

government in British Columbia since becoming a Province of Canada in 1871.

We worked our way down Government street taking in the many shops and 

enjoying the flowers in the hanging baskets on the lamp post.

We strolled thru China Town and ate an enjoyable lunch before proceeding 

to Butchert Gardens.

Butchart Gardens once was the home of Jennie and Robert Butchart and was 

started with sweet pea seeds and a rose bush. Jennie began a lifelong project

to create a garden. With a great vision, she transformed the barren limestone quarry

which had supplied limestone for the nearby cement factory. Now 55 acres of 

breathtaking gardens the 130 acre estate is visited by close to a million people

each year

The Butchart Gardens was passed from Robert and Jennie Butchart to their 

grandson on his 21st birthday.  When returning from WWII he was torn between 

returning to care for the gardens or Law school, the garden won.

The garden is still family owned and has been designated a National Historic Site 

of Canada.

Aug, 6th Vancouver, BC

We managed to make it out the Pacific Spirit Regional Park which comprises 1880 acres of forest and foreshore immediately west of Vancouver. The park's forests stretch across Point Grey separating the city from the University of British Columbia. Its thin foreshore wraps around the tip of the peninsula and touches he Fraser River, the Strait of Georgia and Burrard Inlet. The park's closeness to both the university and the city entices visitors to venture out and explore the park.

Stanley Park is recognized around the globe as one of the great parks of the world! Vancouver's first park and one of the city's main tourist attractions, Stanley Park is an evergreen oasis of 400 hectares (1,000 acres) close to the downtown core. Its natural west coast atmosphere offering a back drop of majestic cedar, hemlock and fir trees embraces visitors and transports them to an environment rich in tranquility. The park abounds in wildlife and its features appeal to the naturalist, the plant lover or one who would do nothing more than relax in beautiful surroundings. There is always something happening in the park to entice visitors to explorer the park.

Aug 6th Vancouver, BC

We left Seattle and traveled the 150 miles to spend 10 days in Vancouver, BC.

Who would have known that it was during Pride Fest?? Supposed to be 

the largest celebration of Pride drawing hundreds of thousands.

We also were lucky to have been here to see something they call

Festival of Lights where they have a fire works display over the 

bay, shooting fireworks off of a barge. Pretty nice show and 

I think the entire city of Vancouver was there.

Been on a bike ride which was an excursion in that the terrain 

here is hilly and it can be difficult to always peddle to the top 

of some hills without walking our bike.

We have also become mass transit professionals riding

their Skyrail and city buses and I tell you that can be

interesting.

The life in the city!!

We plan to take the BC Ferries over to Victoria tomorrow

and we'll do the typical visitor sites, Empress Hotel, Butchart 

Gardens and just walk the streets. We understand it will be 

an all day journey since we are about an hour from the ferry

and then the ride on the ferry is almost two hours, so our

commute time is at least three hours each way. WOW

when do we get to sight see??