My friend, Gabriela, stayed the night and then super early in the morning we headed in to the city centre, parked in overnight parking and joined the long line checking onto the boat! Since the boat goes to another country (Canada) we had to queue through customs and all that kind of stuff. We finally got on the boat and settled in for a three hour trip. By 10.30 we were in Victoria, although still stuck on the boat as the customs line on the Canadian side was just as long and slow. It was 11.30 by the time we actually got to the downtown area. Boy what a treat it was, arriving in magnificent sunshine. Victoria is located on Vancouver Island and it is very popular with tourists and the cruise ship crowd on their way back from Alaska (I know that all too well!). There were heaps of people around which created such a buzz and such a fun atmosphere.
After we had checked in to our hostel and had a yummy lunch of frozen yoghurt, we headed to the visitor information center to get a bus ticket for the Butchart Gardens - a beautiful garden about 45 mins from downtown Victoria. We got a great deal - $45 for the bus and admission, and we had freedom to arrive and then leave whenever we wanted. We took a brief look around the famous Empress Hotel before boarding our bus to the gardens.
The gardens were incredible, they really took our breath away. Lush grassy areas, fountains, plants of all colours and sizes, all arranged so beautifully. We also found out that there were going to be fireworks that night. Apparently they put on the fireworks on certain days during the summer and we were lucky enough to be there on one of the days! We wanted to experience the High Tea at the garden, but instead opted for a gourmet picnic dinner, which proved to be the best thing ever invented in the world!!!! More about that later.
Since we had decided to stay all day at the gardens, we suddenly had so much time on our hands, we decided to go really slowly and just enjoy every minute, so we took a long nap in the grass. It was absolute bliss, and the first time I have relaxed and gone slowly while travelling this whole year. In the afternoon we went to have our gourmet picnic dinner. We turn up and see all these lovely picnic tables laid out with checkered tablecloths in the afternoon sun. They gave us each a beautiful basket filled with little containers of food. We had five courses in total: shrimps, salad, chicken and noodles, cheese and bread, and yummy dessert treats! It was the most exciting and wonderful eating experience, and so much more enjoyable than a high tea. For me, who normally travels on the cheapest food possible, it was like a night of absolute luxury. Eating well, relaxing, taking time. It was a tonic for my soul! After dinner we watched the fireworks, they were set to music and told little stories, it was fabulous! Loved every minute. What a day!
The next day we woke up and leisurely made our way to the downtown area. It was beautiful and sunny and we ate frozen yoghurt for breakfast. We enjoyed the waterfront area, we walked to a local castle and the Governor's house. We saw everything we wanted to see and we still had time left, so, for the second time this whole year, we took a break and just relaxed and slept on the grass and people watched.
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