Thursday 27th August - Victoria

Up at 5:30 this morning to walk down to the waterfront and catch the 7:00 'Harbour Air' floatplane flight to Victoria on Vancouver Island. Saw two skunks running around in the street just near the hotel. Had a great flight (a very clear morning). So much water and so much forest and a smooth take-off and landing from the water.

After breakfast at the 'Blue Fox' we went to track down a friend of Geoff Matthews who manages a pub but found he was on holidays in Chicago. Back to the waterfront to the Royal BC Museum and three hours later we walked out. In addition to the BC exhibitions including the flora and fauna, the Aboriginal population (the first nation's people) and European settlement they had an exhibition from the British Museum on Civilisation from Egypt to the present day.

All most interesting. Lunch (fish and chips) at 'Red Fish, Blue Fish' and a little time for site seeing - the parliament house building and the amazing old hotel, the Fairmont Empress, then it was time to catch the coach back to Vancouver at 3:45 (Victoria to Swartz Bay; 90 minute ferry ride from Swartz Bay to Tsawwassen; back on the coach from Tsawwassen to Vancouver, arriving at 7:30 pm). Sky train from the bus depot to Granville Street and walking half a dozen blocks to 'The Canadian' - no wonder we're exhausted.

Our week at 'The Canadian' is up tomorrow and we have a couple of nights at a hostel, the 'HI - Vancouver Central'. Will be slumming it a bit compared to this place.