Started with an early morning cruise on the Victoria Clipper catamaran. The journey takes about 3 hours from Seattle north through Puget Sound, crossing the Strait of Juan de Fuca into Canadian waters.
The Strait is a busy shipping lane connecting the Sound to the Pacific Ocean. Often treacherous and windy, many mariners have come to grief on the Strait. But no problem for the Clipper, as we bounced along through a "light chop." (The Clipper is notorious for memorable seasick journeys to Victoria.)
I was seasick once on a Pacific Ocean cruise, and hope to never repeat the experience. I'm always a nervous when the crew recommends "taking the pills" as you leave the dock. I found nice seats in the very front of the boat, while John patiently explained the physics as to why that was the worst place to sit in rough waters. However, all my worries were for nothing, as usual. It was actually fun to sway along with rain and waves splashing the front windows.
It was a bit disconcerting when the woman sitting next to us suddenly flopped down on the floor (deck) and then spend the rest of the journey laying at our feet. She said she was too dizzy to sit up. We called the crew and they brought her cold compresses, a piece of ginger candy and then went on their busy way. Ho hum. The cruelest thing about seasickness is the lack of sympathy from those who don't suffer from it (I know this.) Especially those people who must see it all the time.
Anyway! How nice it feels, arriving at last at Victoria's calm and picturesque inner harbor.
We checked in early at the Empress Hotel, and had the entire afternoon to start enjoying our lovely room. Complete with complimentary luscious cake and a new friend outside the window.
Here is John relaxing in the lobby bar that evening, enjoying a glass of wine, looking like the lord of the manor.
We had an interesting dinner at a tiny but highly-recommended downtown restaurant called The Fish Hook. It was jammed, so we basically shared a table with another visiting couple. None of us knew what to order from the fresh board, but I don't think you could go wrong on anything. John had the safer cod and chips, while I had an Indonesian? inspired noddle dish with asparagus and prawns.
Sunday was rainy and windy, but who cares? We spent the afternoon indoors at the Royal Theater. It opened in 1913, and still has the original Rococo style decor. With only 1416 seats, it was a nice venue for opera. Many performers have appeared here, including Sarah Bernhardt,
Carlos Montoya, Mikhail Baryshnikov, Luciano Pavarotti, National Ballet
of Canada, Crosby, Stills & Nash and Tony Bennett.
We attended the popular and entertaining opera lecture in the lobby...
And then found our seats in the balcony. Unlike our uptight concert halls in Seattle, you are encouraged to take your drinks inside while you watch the performance-- they even provide a plastic sippy cup. So much more civilized than bolting down a glass of wine during intermission.
I loved the decor, especially the "Royal Ladies" statues looking down on the stage. The La Boheme performance was excellent, with a talented young cast.
After that, dinner on the waterfront, then a walk back to the hotel past the British Columbia Parliament Buildings at night...
And the day view on a lovely Monday morning. The weather was cold, but clear and bright.
We had time to kill before the ferry at 5 pm, and spent several hours at the
Royal British Columbia Museum.
One of the highlights of a trip to Victoria.
And finally, back to Seattle on a mostly empty Clipper, with smooth-as-glass seas all the way to Seattle. We were home before 9 pm.
Goodbye for now, Victoria.
