Tall Ships and Big City Bustle...

Departing Tod Inlet.   Nice, peaceful, calm, quiet morning.   Just the way we like it.

Brentwood Bay as we scoot through on our way up the Saanich Peninsula and around to Victoria.

Just a pretty shot of James Island, just offshore of Sidney, BC.

The lightstation at Staines Point in the Strait of Juan de Fuca, just before Victoria.   We had only 20 knots of wind (on the nose, of course), but because we were also moving against the current, the waves were pretty small.   Maybe they were 1.5' on a 4sec period.   Not too bad.

The light at the entrance to Victoria's outer harbour.

Look what we found gracing the outer harbour, the Mexican tall ship, CUAUAHTEMOC.   Can you pronounce that?

Anyway, what a beautiful ship and in beautiful condition.

Entering the inner harbour in Victoria.  To starboard are all of these floating homes.  They look really cool.

Victoria's inner harbour is an active floatplane base, Harbour Air operates out of here, just a hundred yards away from where we are docked.

The harbour is bustling with little water taxis ferrying their people from one side to the other.   They look like beetles scurrying about.

We are definitely not in Alaska (or northern B.C.) anymore.   We miss the relative solitude, peace, and slower pace of the more off-the-beaten-path locales.

And we tie up at the Causeway Marina, right in front of The Empress hotel (owned/operated by Fairmont).

Just off to our starboard are the British Columbia Parliament Buildings.   They light these up beautifully at night.   And if you come during the Christmas holidays, the whole waterfront is lit up in all its splendor.

Karen did her part to support the local economy.

Did I mention that we love Canada and Canadiens.   They have been universally kind, helpful, friendly, conversational, and interesting people.  

The officials have been very professional and courteous.

Let's hope it stays that way irrespective of the irresponsible (and hopefully, fleeting) governmental policies in place at the moment.
The Causeway Marina and Blue Redd from the bulwark/bridge in front of The Empress hotel.

We were more interested in hiking than in shopping.  We found a number of small markets in the streets and alleys around downtown.  So, we had to check them out on our walk.
A pastry shop that specializes in cinnamon!  Wow.   I didn't try any, but it sure smelled good.
For some reason, Earl's, which is a great restaurant (at least in Whistler and Fort Lauderdale), is mostly empty here.   Earl's is just to the left in this photo.

We are on Government Street in downtown looking back towards the Parliament Buildings (which you can't see from here).
Note the orca topiary in the background, ignore the photobombing cute couple in the foreground...
Another view of the British Columbia Parliament Buildings.
We went to one of our favorite dinner places in downtown Victoria, Il Terrazzo.   They are an Italian inspired global cuisine place.   Inventive and very high-quality food; great service and ambiance too.

Do you think Karen is having a good time???
She had the halibut and I had the braised lamb shank.
Paired with this lovely (young) Brunello.




No sunset photos tonight as all was dark once we left the restaurant.


Ciao, My Friends.

Comments

  1. AnonymousSeptember 14, 2026 at 6:01 PM

    We went to Earl’s in Vancouver on Sunday night for dinner and was very good! I even picked up their cookbook to bring home…and create more tasty meals. I’ll share it with you when you arrive next week.

    ReplyDelete
  2. PeterSeptember 14, 2026 at 9:02 PM

    Sounds great! Can't wait to see you guys.

    ReplyDelete

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