Victoria

Today we took a ferry from Port Angeles, WA to Victoria, British Columbia, Canada.  It was a 90 minute trip across the Strait of Juan de Fuca.  Victoria is the capital city of British Columbia and is located on the southern tip of Vancouver Island off Canada's Pacific coast.   The weather was perfect today.  Sunny and no smoke in the air.  Once we set foot in Canada, we took a "hop on-hop off" bus tour around the city to see the sites.  Our driver narrated during the entire trip and we learned so much about the city.  

A sea plane getting ready to take off from the harbor.  Approximately 100 sea planes take off from the harbor daily.  Many of them take their passengers to Alaska.

The Legislative Building for the British Columbia government

The Harbour

The Empress Hotel.  It is one of the oldest and most famous hotels in British Columbia.

The world's 4th tallest Totem Pole at 127 ft.   

We visited Chinatown in Victoria and experienced a group performing a "Lion Dance".  The "lion" will dance and approach the entrance of the store.  There will be some lettuce and a red envelope containing money hanging from the opening.  The Lion eats the lettuce but then spits it out, but keeps the "red envelope" which is the reward for the lion troupe. The lion dance is believed to bring good luck and fortune to the business.  While the dance is taking place a group plays drums while the lion performs.

The lettuce and red envelope

"Fan Tan Alley" is the narrowest street in Canada.  There are shops, offices, a café and a barbershop along the street.  It is only 35 inches at its narrowest point.

Harbour boats.  They give tours to the tourists.

There are hanging baskets on just about every lamp post. Our driver told us there was over 1500 hanging baskets.

Floating houses in the harbor

An outside men's urinal