Victoria

in boat Hiking sailboat san juan on June 16, 2014 June 16, 2014 with 1 Comment

Victoria, Canada was freaking awesome! Seriously, this place has so much stuff to see and do… We didn’t even scratch the surface of it and are already planning a long weekend later in the summer to come back and catch the things we didn’t have time for during this trip. We had one day in Victoria due to gale force winds in the forecast. (none of us wanted anything to do with that nonsense!)

Lighthouse at the entrance to Victoria Harbor

Lighthouse. The harbor was crazy busy. Cruiseships, boats, planes, water taxis... it's ridiculous. — Lighthouse. The harbor was crazy busy. Cruiseships, boats, planes, water taxis… it’s ridiculous.

Very brave kayakers

Otter tied up in front of the Empress Hotel. Feelin' pretty classy! — Otter tied up in front of the Empress Hotel. Feelin’ pretty classy!

Plasterman. This guy was good! Didn't even have an ipod. — Plasterman. This guy was good! Didn’t even have an ipod.

The waterfront is lined with street performers and artists.

One man band. I should have bought one of his CDs... he was really talented. — One man band. I should have bought one of his CDs… he was really talented.

The Empress Hotel

The Empress. My new wide angle lens still wasn't big enough to get the whole hotel in one frame! — The Empress. My new wide angle lens still wasn’t big enough to get the whole hotel in one frame!

huge!

Back entrance to the Empress. We went inside to get some tea and to snoop.

Colorful carpet

The expansive (expensive!) tea room.

Stained glass dome ceiling

Totem pole in the convention center part of the hotel

Ivy up the side

Be neat to stay here sometime

Roses in the garden

Orca topiary

I love palm leaves

Red climbing rose

We did, in fact, stop and smell all the roses!

Hydrangea

Statue of an old guy. Would have more information but no one likes to stop and let me read signs.

Statue of a guy with a monkey in a dress. mmmmkay

Found this little Mini Cooper for sale at the Empress.

More epically amazing street art! — More epically amazing street art! This guy does more with chalk on bricks than most people do their entire lives. He earned a few bucks for being freaking awesome.

Same guy. Interesting perspective!

Random girl with guitar

Rocks in a coffee shop window sill

Hilarious hodgepodge of magnets on the fridge

I love graffiti. Especially when it's a cat — I love graffiti. Especially when it’s a cat

Dark moody graffiti. Just abstract this time.

FATBURGER

Inside one of the markets

We found an olive oil store and stocked up

Fountain

Very subtle graffiti. I love meaninglessly amusing vandalism

Hand with a mirror that says "you are here". — Hand with a mirror that says “you are here”.

I LOLD

I love coffee.

Rainbow stairs

HA! Survey marker from Canada! I was wondering if I'd find any... — HA! Survey marker from Canada! I was wondering if I’d find any…

Stencil graffiti... Not very original, but still fun — Stencil graffiti… Not very original, but still fun

Seagulls can't read... — Seagulls can’t read…

Water taxis

...you can take the tiny water taxi to your tiny floating house.... — …you can take the tiny water taxi to your tiny floating house….

Moose mountie

Chinatown

Dragon

I think the asian districts are my favorite part of most towns. So much fun.

Don Don Mee Mee

Sculpture

Really realistic mural

Chinese school

City Hall

Memorial outside the parliament building.

Parliament

Really a neat looking building

My favorite shot of this one

The entrance

Parliament at night

and now in black and white because I think it's cool looking and I want you to see it. — and now in black and white because I think it’s cool looking and I want you to see it.

Church

Pretty blue doors

Door handle

I like this one

Architectural detailing

We snuck inside

Graves outside

Stained glass windows

Another grave. All late 1800s

Craigdarroch Castle

Underneath the carriage parking area

Door knob detail. They fascinated me this time.

Stonework details

Canada!

Built by some rich guy. We didn't have enough time to do the inside tour. It would be neat to go back and see it. — Built by some rich guy. We didn’t have enough time to do the inside tour. It would be neat to go back and see it.

Victoria Harbor at night

Last taxi in for the night

Goodnight Otter!

Epic end to a pretty stellar day!

Lawrence Mecklenburg June 17, 2014 at 9:41 pm

Your pictures are AWESOME Ashley, thanks for sharing!