Another day before I fly on to Montreal, Quebec. We take the early BC Ferry from Tsawwassen Terminal, Vancouver, a one and a half hour journey pass some very beautiful scenes of little islands and private homes by the water, all with their own little bobbing boats moored at private jetties; then on to a bus ride to the city of gardens and Capital of British Columbia: Vi
ctoria. We dock at Schwartz Bay on Vancouver Island on the Pacific side and take the Big Bus tour that drives through picturesque countryside of Sydney, B.C., north of Victoria. A one and a half hour ride past some very beautiful landscape of farmland and cattle; even horses in corrals and preserved heritage homes and we are in downtown Victoria. We jaunt towards Victoria’s Inner Harbour area; walked passed well preserved heritage buildings/homes, where streets are decorated with hanging flower baskets on English styled lamp-posts. We pass by the Fairmont Empress Hotel which also houses the Miniatures’ Museum. We have time to just have a quick peek at few of 
the exhibits and they are fascinating. Soon we are at the Inner Harbour, the hub of Victoria. The Marina makes a pretty picture with sail boats and whale-watching tour boats, a plaza where hawkers sell fast food and at artisan stalls, hippies sell their paintings; either the work itself or prints. Some sell hand crafted oak curios like whales, eagles and the maple leaf and even jewelry. There are portrait artists and cartoonists who you can pose for: something 
special to carry back home. And there are buskers doing their thing: blue grass or country on the fiddle or usually a one-man-band. Since we have to be back in Vancouver to party the night, we choose to have lunch at the hip and happening Milestones, a grill bar looking over the marina and skip the choice of High Tea at the Empress. When it is only a day trip, one has to choose a
nd pick from various attractions available to the visitor in Victoria. Done with lunch, we walk to the other end, towards the Legislative Buildings - the architecture is typically English. We take the short staircase from the harbour to the street 
above and we are pleasantly confronted with a father/daughter team of street performers; Dad in kilt playing the bagpipe and his teenage daughter also dressed traditionally doing the Scottish Highland dance, a little battered suitcase has a flyer propped up that said ‘‘towards university fees’’. We toss our change in and look around – it’s a beautiful view of the Inner Harbour back down there--- and the imposing buildings around us, flower baskets hanging on lamp-posts…everything delightfully English. It’s time to catch the Big Bus and head towards Schwartz Bay to embark on the journey back to Vancouver. The Ivory Gulls are calling, the Ferry sets sail…..©
Marinella Proença
ctoria
the exhibits and they are fascinating. Soon we are at the 
special to carry back home. And there are buskers doing their thing: blue grass or country on the fiddle or usually a one-man-band. Since we have to be back in Vancouver to party the night, we choose to have lunch at the hip and happening Milestones, a grill bar looking over the marina and skip the choice of High Tea at the Empress. When it is only a day trip, one has to choose a
nd pick from various attractions available to the visitor in 
above and we are pleasantly confronted with a father/daughter team of street performers; Dad in kilt playing the bagpipe and his teenage daughter also dressed traditionally doing the Scottish Highland dance, a little battered suitcase has a flyer propped up that said ‘‘towards university fees’’. We toss our change in and look around – it’s a beautiful view of the 
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