Victoria, BC, CA

It's hard to believe that this huge capital city is only 25 miles across the Strait of Juan de Fuca from Port Angeles. After a 90-minute ferry ride on Saturday afternoon, Tom and I found ourselves in the gorgeous Victoria, British Columbia. Victoria reminded us both a bit of Melbourne with its European vibe and Victorian-style homes.

In the photo above is the Empress Hotel, the ritziest place to stay in the city, and at $500 a night, a bit out of our budget.
 

Although it wasn't the Empress, Tom and I still had some nice views of the city from our hotel,

 including of this weird, horseshoe-shaped Victorian mansion:

 

We enjoyed a couple of child-free days thanks to G & GG, and it wouldn't be a true Helen Lovejoy mini-vacay without some margarita . . .

 

and some over-the-top dessert. What you're looking at here is a slice of New York cheesecake, wrapped in a flour tortilla, deep fried, sprinkled with cinnamon and powdered sugar, drizzled with honey, and served with a large helping of whip cream.

 

 Thank you, Canada.

 

Below are few more touristy shots. Victoria at night:

 

A cool statue of a giant avocado and chopsticks:

 

Yours truly and the parliament building:

 My better half and the parliament building:

 

Tom, a view of parliament, and a pioneer workin' hard, all at the Royal BC Museum:

 

Yachts!

 

Coffee break!

 

Tom loved these little ferries that zipped about the harbor giving tours:

 Little ferry zipping:

 

Two last shots of the parliament building: