For The Love of Travel

 

The Fairmont Empress hotel sits majestically at the cornerstone of Victoria’s sparkling Inner Harbour and and features turn of the century architecture, classic beauty and an unrivalled location on the water. More than 800 people per day come to enjoy afternoon tea, a tradition that commenced when the hotel opened January 20, 1908.

Throughout its history, The Empress has played host to kings, queens and movie stars. In 1919, Edward, Prince of Wales, waltzed into the dawn in the Crystal Ballroom – an event considered by Victorians to be of such importance that almost 50 years later, the obituaries of elderly ladies would appear under headlines such as, ‘Mrs. Thornley-Hall Dies. Prince of Wales Singled Her Out.’

In 1939, King George VI and Queen Elizabeth stayed at The Fairmont Empress as part of their cross Canada Royal Tour. It was the first time in history that reigning monarchs had visited Victoria and stayed at The Fairmont Empress.

Visited the Butchart gardens this morning, still owned and operated by the family….they’ve been in bloom for over 100 years. They blossomed from an idea Jenny Butchart had to beautify the worked out limestone quarry which had supplied her husband’s nearby cement plant. There are themed sections – sunken, Japanese, rose, Italian and Mediterranean. The sunken garden with the Ross fountain was my favourite. 

Then for a floatplane ride over the south of Vancouver Island.

Tonight we are farewelling our tour guide Sinead before heading off on the Alaska cruise tomorrow. She has been great! Fun, informative and super fit!

A ferry ride from the mainland and we are back into city visiting, staying at the lovely Fairmont “Empress”. Beautiful specimen of Arbutus in the hotel grounds, often referred to as the Madrona, which is a native species of British Columbia. These evergreen trees can grow to a height of 25m with a trunk 60cm in diameter. They have a signature smooth, red, peeling bark, and shiny leaves.

Walked up Government St and window shopped…gave into temptation and bought a lovely earring and necklace combo by Honika, a local designer….very spesh! Diverted through Chinatown and then along the waterfront.

Caught a water taxi to Fisherman’s Wharf for Barb’s fish and chips tonight ….we should have these on the Yarra! They only consume 4 gallons of petrol a day….very efficient little craft.

The local gulls were vigilant for leftovers.

Walked back downtown along the pretty waterfront predominantly lit by moonlight and lights from abutting apartments and boats moored in the harbour. 

 

Parliament House was also illuminated, a very gorgeous sight…pity the poor bureaucrats, Premier Christy Clark and Minister who are up to their armpits and working into the wee hours trying to resolve a teacher’s strike over pay and conditions…yep, enterprise agreement time. 

WOWIE! AWESOME! FABULOSO!….a balmy 20 degrees and sunny….the helicopter flight over Whistler Summit and Blackcomb Mountain goes off as planned…..woo hoo. Only 12 minutes of flight in a 5 seater Bell helicopter 401 but worth every minute.

Then the Peak to Peak (Whistler to Blackcomb) gondola/chair lift ride for even more woo hoo’s…this is seriously gorgeous and I want to come back in winter around January.

Attended a late afternoon (very informative and fun) presentation by Michael Allen on brown and black bears….what amazing creatures….more detail on their mating, feeding and hibernation behaviour when we next catch up.

And I saw a lovely little hoary marmot initially peeking out from under a statue at Whistler summit, who then decided to ‘come out’ ….it is the largest North American ground squirrel and is often nicknamed “the whistler” for its high-pitched warning issued to alert other members of the colony to possible danger.