Thursday 25 February
A pleasant 2 ½ hour ferry trip from Seattle to Vancouver Island, and Victoria – the capital of British Columbia and the political home of PM Justin Trudeau.  Here is Parliament House taken  from our hotel room

Spent the afternoon at Butchart Gardens. In 1904 Robert Butchart developed a quarry and built a cement plant on Vancouver Island. His wife, Jennie became the company’s chemist and after the limestone deposits were exhausted Jennie created a sunken garden in the disused pit. This was the beginning of the wonderful gardens, still family owned but now a national historical site.
To those of you reading this blog, please note that in the past we have kept a hand written diary of our travels. This blog now replaces that, so these are our personal notes and may not interest you. We understand.

Friday 26 February
A lazy day in this truly lovely city. A balmy 14◦C made it very comfortable to be out an about. An unscheduled visit to a chiropractor for CD as a result of a twisted back from a recalcitrant suitcase which did not appreciate the cobblestones of Seattle’s waterfront, a surprisingly delightful nibble in an Italian deli and a terribly boring movie with Charlotte Rampling and Tom Courtenay called 45 Years. Like watching grass grow. Fabulous dinner at Ithica Greek Restaurant. Better than the typical North American food

Saturday 27 February
Gosh, Victoria is a lovely place. Cooler today and overcast, but a long and pretty walk around the waterfront all the way to Fisherman’s Wharf, which is largely a settlement of house boats

A taxi ride back to town

where we were picked up by a sailor

And a quick visit to the Museum where John Lennon’s roller dominates the foyer.

All in all, Victoria is a very pretty place

Tomorrow morning, a ferry to Vancouver.