by We arrived Thursday night – and I must say we flew Alaska Airlines from Vegas and it was quite nice….OK no TV’s like Westjet but the prop plane we flew from Seattle to Victoria was almost brand new and was a very nice short trip – I’m thinking I’d like to check Seattle out one day – not really sure what’s there but it seemed interested what we could see. The airport is quite large – we had to take 3 trams from one gate that we arrived in – to the departure gate. It gave me the impression that I might be a good navigator on the Amazing Race as I went marching through like I knew where I was going! Add a freaky husband and it might not have been as smooth – Chloe followed along like a sheep – trusting sort isn’t she!!
We collected our suitcases & cleared customs in Victoria in a matter of under 15 minutes from the time of deplaning to walking through customs – I LOVE IT!! I am not about to reveal whether we claimed the total amount of what we spent in Vegas but we had receipts to prove what we wrote on the claims form and that’s all you need to know! The Customs agent asked if there was a big item that I spent my amount on – and I pulled out my Vanna White skills and showed off my new Coach purse! He must have a smart wife as he said they sure go for a lot less now a days don’t they – my response was Yes, Yes they sure do!
Budget was our next stop for the rental car & after a brief period of being lost in the parking lot we found the little white Ford that will carry us around while in Beautiful BC.
We’ve rented a Carriage House for the 5 days we are here – well actually we are here only 4 as we leave early morning on the fifth. It’s over by the University of Victoria – close to Telegraph Bay/Cadbora Bay. Kathleen our host is a 50 something free spirit who had decorated the Carriage House in a very comfortable feeling. It would sleep 3 comfortably – a fourth if you wanted to take over the futon in the living room space. There is all the comforts of home and it’s only downfall is the road traffic but it’s really just background noise and after Vegas it’s peanuts! We are a 5 minute walk away from Telegraph Bay and some funky shopping another 5 minutes down the road – neither we have been to. Realizing how quickly our time on the Island is going to go by – won’t get to see everyone we had hoped but I guess that’s the problem most people have when on holidays. Just means need to come back again.
Today we are off to Sydney with a side stop to Shady Creek to pay my respects to my maternal Grandparents – never come to Island without going there. It’s a pretty cool old cemetery with lots of history (http://www.oldcem.bc.ca/downloads/Shady_Creek_Cemetery.pdf). The Ghost Tour last night was full of history of the Victoria area as well – who knew it was such a shady place way back in the day! We went down lots of back alley’s and came across many late night partiers – some had colorful comments but most just looked at us like we were crazies!! We had stickers identifying us as Ghost Walkers so it was like we were a mob (about 22 of us) staggering around – as well our 2 hosts were dressed in interesting costumes. The one young fellow had a top hat, long trench coat & carrying a cane with a skull on it – the other fellow (John Adams http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0XGNuJiVaNg) – he was dressed like a grim reaper with a freaky skeleton mask on – carrying a lantern & chains. OK so it was a bit cheesy – not scary at all (except when the 3rd fellow would jump out of the darkness at us) but was very historically interesting.
After Sydney today we are going to Butchart Gardens (http://www.butchartgardens.com/index.php?option=com_frontpage&Itemid=1) to see the fireworks nights after our tour through the masses of flowers! Have been a few times in my lifetime but I always like going again. Have several of my family members who worked there – Uncle Albert for a lot of years – I’m thinking 40’ish so years!
We’ve had a nice lazy morning – done dishes, laundry and now updated the blog. Yesterday we caught some of the opening ceremonies of the Olympics with my Parents, Sister & enthusiastic nephew Zak – he had a question for everything he seen on the TV and it made me giggle! Thank goodness my kids have moved past that stage but I do remember praying that Colton would quit asking questions and Cooper would just give his lips a rest. Chloe on the other hand was quiet like a mouse…OK well those days are over now!
Ciao, Shannon