Beautiful Victoria

The nice thing about traveling is that you can travel anywhere. I mean it. A walk to the grocery store, a bus ride to another part of your city or an escape on a ferry – it’s all about perception.

When my mom was visiting me a few weeks ago we did just that – got on a ferry to Vancouver Island and visited the beautiful capital of our province – Victoria.

It was my third time coming here and each time I discover something new about this tiny city. And each time I fall in love a little more.

Victoria to me is a perfect marriage of European chic and a chill West Coast vibe. Old and stately architecture and cobblestone streets work in harmony with the ocean, the beach and the Fisherman’s Wharf.

Fun fact: I probably saw more old school cars in this town than anywhere else.

Our trip to the island started with a little detour: to Brentwood Bay and the beautiful Butchart Gardens. It was amazing to walk around what years ago was someone’s home and land. Japanese Garden, Rose Garden and Sunken Garden were my favorites. Each with its own character and mood, all three are very well taken care of and keep the heritage of the late owners.

Go to Japanese Garden to think, meditate and relax. To Rose Garden – to inhale and admire the pure beauty of many types of roses from all over the world. To Sunken Garden – to be enchanted with the fountain in the middle of the lost lake and to walk through the tidy alleys.

We headed to Victoria around 5pm that day. Exhausted, but fulfilled we still managed to walk to the Fisherman’s Wharf  before crashing at the hotel for the night. The wharf like many places in Victoria has its own character. Not mentioning the fact that people actually live here in tiny (and not so tiny) float homes, the site is truly unique. All houses are colorful, with so much attention to detail and creativity that Martha Stewart would be jealous.

The next day as soon as we woke up, we headed to the Beacon Hill Park. I was told that peacocks walk around freely here – SOLD! And it was true, look at this beauty.

Then me and my mom left the main road and cut straight through the field to the ocean. There’s nothing quite like the first glimpse of the water through the tree branches.

The rest of the day was spent strolling downtown Victoria. Up the Cook street from the ocean shore all the way to Pandora, left to hit the oldest Chinatown in Canada and finishing it off in between Yates and Fort streets.

As a cherry on top we can’t forget about a ferry ride back to the mainland. Always such a pleasure taking BC Ferries. And the question that always comes across my mind is: How do  people live on those little islands?!

Xoxo,

Sasha