Canadian Impressions (last of three parts)

After I came back from my vacation, somebody (upon knowing that I visited British Columbia) asked me whether I had gone to Victoria. When I said yes, she enthusiastically shared her impression of the place. She had visited the place sometime ago, according to her. Obviously she enjoyed very much her visit as much as I did. I guess everybody who had gone to the place will not have enough of it. The whole island is simply a tourist’s haven. For a nature lover, the place is paradise. On weekends, the place is packed not only with foreign visitors but also Canadians coming from the mainland who spend their weekend on the island whale watching, fishing, swimming or surfing.

There are least two ferry terminals in Victoria that service motorists to the mainland and another three that service those coming from Washington, USA. It is a pleasant ride of one and half-hours on the Strait of Georgia from Vancouver to Victoria.

Victoria is located on the tip of 300-mile long Vancouver Island and regarded as the vacation capital of British Columbia. There are many interesting sites and historical landmarks in the city. One of these is the Bastion Square, once the site of public hangings in the 19th century. The buildings around the square are former warehouses and hotels, most of which had a wild reputation in those early days. Today, however, the square is a cosmopolitan meeting place where boutiques, souvenir shops, galleries, offices and restaurants are an added attraction.

Another place that must not be missed in Victoria is the Butchart Gardens, world renowned for its exquisite display of flowering plants throughout the year. There are various flowers on display according to seasons. The garden is situated on 50 acres of land, part of the 130-acre estate of Mr. and Mrs. R.P. Butchart for whom the garden was named. According to history, it all started in 1908, when Mrs. Butchart filled with topsoil an abandoned quarry near their house and planted it with beautiful flowers. This later on became known as the sunken garden, one of Butchart Gardens’ main attractions.

This island city is also called the city of gardens because of the abundance of flowers growing not only in one’s own backyard but also along the roads. Wild flowers grow profusely along the highways. It is a common sight to see flowers for sale along the roads.

The island is so quiet and laid back. But I guess it is one of the many things that make the place so appealing. It is no wonder so many artists and writers reside in the island. For anyone who has been born and bred in the city, this place offers a totally different feeling and ambience.

As locals would wont to say, the visit to Victoria and the whole of the island is guaranteed to fill not only one’s camera with wonderful pictures but also the heart with wonderful memories.