T13 Victoria by Land and Sea

1. We had a little time to kill before the ferry took us back to the mainland, so we decided to take a short tour.

2. We were originally planning on taking the double decker red bus because it would give us the most control over our time, but this is what was parked in it’s slot. After they assured us wed be back in time, we took the tour.

3. Our tour guide. I wish I could remember her name. She told a bunch of “yuck-yuck” jokes and some entertaining stories as well as pointing out the city’s landmarks.

4. First we drove around somewhat randomly. This is the entrance to the city’s China Town. The district is only a few blocks long, but very appropriately named.

5.

Apparently at one time it was the center of local gambling. To find the action, you had to go down one of these tiny alleys. So in order to leave the “straight and narrow” you had to find… “yuck, yuck -knee slap-”

6.  Then we hit the water. Literally.  We drove up to a ramp, spent a while hammering at something in the back, then drove right in.

7. We weren’t the only thing on the water.

8. Some ships were huge

9. And some pretty small. These tiny “water taxis” could really move. Also, notice the curled up silver thing on the left? It’s a drawbridge.

10. There were plenty of interesting things to see on shore. The thing caught in the stalks is a kind of skeletal boat. If you get it, feel free to explain it to me.

11. This is a training ground for the Canadian Navy. Apparently there is some sort of rule saying you can’t set foot on land in the first two years of service – so they make the buildings shaped like boats.

12. They have an entire neighborhood of houseboats. At some point a bunch of hippies found out they wouldn’t have to pay taxes if there wasn’t any land under their houses, so they moved onto the water in mass. They have everything there, including a restaurant.

13. Back on shore for the last part of the trip we passed “The Tallest Totem Pole In The World.” That’s the official name of it. Unluckily, between when the pole was registered and when it was erected another totem pole even taller was erected elsewhere. As a result, it never once lived up to it’s name.

BTW, about that building on the top? That’s the capital building. Our tour guide had a great story about it, but I’m saving it for Monday. Come visit. 🙂

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