Victoria, BC to Vancouver, BC - Day 4

July 3 

We went to Cora’s for breakfast as recommended by the bus driver and wow was it good. I had 1889 brioche cinnamon toast with and egg and bacon on one side and tons of fresh fruit on the other side and Greg has a breakfast panini with the same wonderful fruit. I wish we could get fruit that fresh and good here. We made it back to the hotel before it started to rain. It sprinkled, but we didn’t really get wet.

It was quite rainy on and off all day. Not a total downpour, but steady. It also was much cooler. UGH! We didn’t have much planned today but had planned to walk around before the Car Ferry to Vancouver at 3:45.

We got packed up and out for the 11:00 checkout. We hung the lobby in case the rain stopped we’d venture out. It didn’t stop but we headed out for lunch at the Flying Otter Grill right on the water with inside seating, but they were closed due to a private function. They had outside seating, but due to the rain they closed the restaurant. So, we walked over to Red Fish Blue Fish again on the same pier. Some of the seating is under cover, but it was pretty wet out. We headed back to the hotel to hang out until it was time to go.

We had planned to walk the short distance to the ferry terminal, but due to the rain we took advantage of the hotel’s free shuttle. For some reason we were not allowed to check our carryon luggage even though they did not fit in the overhead space on the bus. So, we had to straddle them for the bus ride. The bus drove onto the ferry and after we were under way, we were OK to get off and get some lunch or sit in the more comfy chairs. (which were all full after lunch)

It is a pretty sail away on a normal day, but the pouring rain ruined that.

It was dinner time, so we waited in the long line to get food. Greg did manage to spot a new bird on the way out while we were standing in line for food. I wasn’t expecting much in the way of food but was pleasantly surprised with the salmon burgers. I expected something like a crabcake, but it was a lovely grilled salmon on a bun. We didn’t have much time after we ate before we had to board the bus. It’s a 90-minute trip from Victoria to Vancouver.

We stayed on the same bus, and it dropped everyone at their various hotels. We were dropped a couple of blocks from Rosedale on Robson Suite Hotel. It was just sprinkling at this point. It was kind of a crappy weird hotel built like a shotgun house or a motor coach. The weirdest thing were the sheets. They were almost a plastic material that made noise with each movement and not comfortable.

We walked a short distance to a Gelato place which was quite good. Then it was early to bed for our very early pickup tomorrow morning.

Gelato Express

Sorry, we really took very few photos due to the rain and we didn't do much of anything. The hotel in Vancouver had a small sign, but due to the rain I didn't bother, and it was dark when we left the next morning. (and still sprinkling....)

We had spent several days in Vancouver on our last trip, so we chose not to spend any time here this time. 

Tomorrow our Rocky Mountaineer adventure begins!

Hop On Hop Off Bus Tour – Victoria, BC – Day 3

July 2

Greg picked up pastries from Crust while I showered. We grabbed the first HOHO and had planned to stay on until we got to the castle. It was cloudy, cool, and breezy today and unlike other days it did not warm up. We did sit up top for most of the day.

waiting to board the bus

stuffed bears - First Nations people honoring the 215 children killed in schools (there were removed when we went by later)

close to where we walked to from the park

Lots of deer seen today. The lady across from me on the bus joked we were on the great North American safari.

petting zoo in Beacon Hill Park

lots of wild deer in the fields

Christ Church

performance outside the church

We did enjoy the Craigdarroch Castle visit. (masks required) It is not really a castle, but a multi-storied Victorian-era Scottish Baronial mansion. It has been meticulously restored and they were currently working on the kitchen. It was also used as a Military Hospital. Some rooms were left to show that.

was the lady's master bathroom - it used to be part of the hospital, which is why there are so many sinks and there were many toilet stalls and urinals

Dark-Eyed Junco

Then we got off at Oak Bay and had a lunch at Oak Bay Beach Hotel at Faro for wood-fired pizza.

We had some fresh baked bread with olive oil & rosemary and a Gamberi pizza which was wild Argentine prawns, garlic cream, parsley, lemon and cashew romesco. Wow, was it good.

We had an hour until the next bus (we just watched it drive off as we were paying the bill) We walked back to the little town of Oak Bay to find the chocolate shop we passed on the bus. We walked right passed it, so we never got chocolates before it was time to board the bus. As we drove away, we noticed it almost right across the street. (it was recessed and hard to see when beside it) It was a cute town. 

Oak Bay

We took the bus back to the starting point and went around again this time stopping at Fisherman’s Wharf which was a charming area with many colorful liveaboards. (Houseboats) We had planned lunch here at Barb's Fish & Chips, but the timing did not work with our castle stop. 

the driver joked he was going to land on our bus

Fisherman's Wharf

We had some ice cream and wandered around before it was time to walk back to the bus.

ice cream stop

old boat is part of the houseboat attached to the ice cream shop

It had gotten colder and windier, so we tucked in up front under the covered part out of the breeze, but still on top.

Our next stop was the Christ Church, but it had just closed, and they were having a concert so we couldn't go in. We shot some pics through the windows since we were there.

war memorial across the street from the church

We were close to the hotel, so we just walked back and put some warmer clothes on. We still had 2 neighborhoods to explore. The buses had stopped, but the neighborhoods were walkable from the hotel. We started at Market Square. Lots of bars, restaurants and shops. Most of the shops had closed.

why didn't I wear that?

Next up was Chinatown where we went in search of dinner. We walked the narrow Fan Tan Alley. The HOHO driver recommend the Fan Tan Cafe which didn’t disappoint. I had honey garlic pork, pork fried rice and an egg roll and Greg had spicy vegetables, chicken fried rice and an egg roll. It all was very tasty, and we had not had “real” Chinese food in a long time. We were stuffed and wandered around the small Chinatown area.

me in FanTan Alley

lunch

Honey Garlic Pork & chicken Fried Rice & Egg Roll

Spicy Vegetable Combo with Chicken Fried Rice & Egg Roll

We then walked back and heading for the Harbourfront, for a walk along the harbor and to check out the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia.

pretty hall of shops

1 chair barbershop

jazz vs rock chess set

back at the Empress

street performer

Legislative Assembly of British Columbia

Emily's Javanese monkey 'Woo' perches on her shoulder and her dog 'Billie' stands nearby. The statue was erected along Victoria's Harbourfront on the grounds of the Fairmount Empress Hotel was unveiled during Women's History Month in Canada, on October 13th, 2010.

After walking off some of the dinner we headed for BeaverTails, we split a cinnamon sugar and an apple one.

pretty rose peeking out of the fence

mother & baby dolphin topiary

apples

cinnamon sugar

We walked back to the hotel where we tried the gummies we bought on the first day. Unlike the space cakes in Amsterdam these had zero effect. We'll chose differently next time. (ratio of THC vs CBD)

Tomorrow is a travel day. We take the afternoon ferry to Vancouver.

For larger photos: 

HOHO Vicotria https://photos.app.goo.gl/BwjEVg6RA1trJJBF8