Vancouver Boarding and Victoria
Let me start with the hotel we stayed in Vancouver. I found this hotel on the internet. As usual I searched through reviews etc., but found nothing to indicate the reality. The reviews all said Patricia Hotel was a basic hotel nothing fancy. Which was fine with us as it was only intended to be a place to sleep since we were getting in late.
Well, our eyebrows started to rise in the cab ride to the hotel.. It became rapidly apparent we wouldn't be doing a lot of walking outside the hotel. The sidewalks were filled with cardboard homes and shopping carts, I n a several block radius around our hotel. This area was also evidently an area to party as we heard revelers all hours of the night outside.
The hotel itself was clean, staff was friendly. Patricia is in need of a facelift, but nice enough. It did not have air conditioning so we had to leave the window open. Since the party crowd was out, it didn't exactly help our rest.
Since we couldn't walk, we grabbed a cab around 1030 and headed for cruise dock. When we were on our Alaska cruise in June out of Seattle, boarding began at noon, we got there about 1230 and it took us about two hours of standing to snake through all the lines and get to our room. When we got to the terminal, our bags were taken curbside, or would have but we carried them as we were going to try for an upgrade.
We waited about 10 minutes for the security scan to open, which was scheduled for 11. It opened early, we walked through filled out our firms got our key cards, and sat for about 20 minutes then boarded the boat. We were on the ship in our room at 1130. It was the epitome of boarding experience. We spoke to a couple at dinner, we were remarking on the boarding process, they said their luggage was at their room when they got there. So I don't know if it was that we got there early, if it was because we were early, or a combination of the two. I guess we will just have to go on another cruise to find out!
We had booked an inside stateroom and we're not able to get an upgrade. A little tight for my claustrophobia. Probably won't do this again. I need a window.
Now for Victoria. We were awakened to the sound of us docking. Our cabin on this trip is located at the very font of the ship, near where the lines are stored for mooring the ship. So we get that noise. It was ok, as room service, free for us on board gotta have my coffee to kick start, arrived just a few minutes later.
We had a leisurely breakfast, then got off the boat. We did not book any trips on the boat. Our Alaska trip taught us that we could get the same thing off the ship at dramatically less money. We had decided we would get off, get a cab or shuttle, head downtown and walk around.
Right outside Canadian Customs, a mere formality, was a variety of folks dressed in Victorian era attire. The one lady looked so cute, we had to shoot our picture with her. Then we walked towards the shuttle, found out we could hire a car and driver for the entire day for $150. It was a very personalized way to see everything we cared to see. Deal! This was bout what it would have cost us for one of us to have an activity booked on the ship.
It was fabulous, our driver Chris is a retired baker. Steve's Dad, Mom, and both sets of grandparents were bakers. He grew up working in his parents bakery in high school, so they had a lot in common with that.
So Chris started our day with a driving tour of some exceptional sites. A look at some of the many beautiful parks around Victoria. We went through a University campus, home to a lot of wildlife, we saw deer, peacocks, and rabbits. We went by the Governor's house. This is where the royal family stays when they come to Victoria. We got to ride under the portico that would shelter the Queen when the arrive while the security forces guard her. It was a cool experience arriving in our town car!
Then he took us up to Craigdarroch Castle. This castle was built by a tycoon in 1887-1890. He was a Scotsman, with a Scottish wife. Unfortunately, he died about a year before the house was complete. Once it was complete his wife and daughters came to Victoria and they lived in the home for about 18 years. It was later used as a hospital for veterans returning from World War I. Then it was used as a university, a music school, and other community related activities.
There are four floors to the castle. It was designed by two Oregon architects. There is gorgeous milled woodwork throughout. This woodwork can't be described. It was ornate, gleaming, and just amazing. For example up from the fourth floor is a turret with glass doors out to what is essentially a widows walk. The doors from several sides of the turret, with rounded doors and glass! The grounds are beautiful, enhancing the panoramic views.
We then drove out to Butchart Gardens, we chose not to go through it. It was a bit rainy, my knee was aching as I had forgotten to take my meds. We made a quick stop for coffee at Tim Hortons, a blue collar version of Starbucks. No Dutch Brothers here. We then drove out a peninsula, we saw where the big ferries come in from the mainland, then we went to a small town called Sydney. We got out and strolled up the streets, poking around in some of the quaint little shops. A cute town and the sun came out to make it better.
Then Chris wandered around the countryside a bit, showing us a small RV park tucked into a small inlet, and right on the water. It might be fun to come back and stay there a couple days. There was much more to explore here than we really had time for in one day.
We finished our time with Chris, Steve had an appointment on the ship at 4, with a quick harbor tour and a viewing of Chinatown, the Legislative Buildings, and Fisherman's Wharf. It was nice, and we'll worth the money.
As I said Steve had an appointment at 4, I had one at 5, we had dinner, then went walking to downtown. It was a beautiful walk with the buildings all lit up, especially the Legislative buildings, and The Empress Hotel. Then we caught a cab back, my knee was still giving me fits. We watched a great juggling/acrobatic act in the Piazza then an hysterical comedian named Oscar Carlos. It was fabulous family friendly act. If you can, catch him on the tv, do it. He is SOO funny.
Today we are in Seattle, not planning on much here. We will likely hit the Pike Place Market,then come back to the ship. I want to rest my knee as today is formal night, a Captains Circle dinner, and dancing. I get my hair done at 3. We will likely get formal portraits done since we will be dressed up for it.
More tomorrow from Astoria.
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