I hope I get to go back soon -- a fabulous vacation!

wildebeasts of canada

Dad pondering university politics in the back seat.

blue skies over the countryside of british columbia

blue skies over the countryside of british columbia

mom and linds behind the empress hotel

country flags rock!

real cowboys in the countryside of b.c. -- take note george dubyah -- REAL cowboys!

the countryside of british columbia

new hat, old poop stick

blue skies over the countryside of british columbia

victoria, b.c. -- poppies in the empress hotel garden

vancouver, b.c. -- granville island

vancouver, b.c. -- granville island

vancouver, b.c. -- granville island

vancouver, b.c. -- granville island. this is the coolest cement mixer i have ever seen

vancouver, b.c. -- granville island

vancouver, b.c. -- granville island

vancouver, b.c. -- granville island (even the parking signs are cool)

vancouver, b.c. -- granville island

vancouver, b.c. -- granville island, these guys were great and reminded me of something eclectic from the late '80s. Note the stove pipe the string bassist is using as a hat.

vancouver, b.c. -- granville island, outside the public market

vancouver, b.c. -- granville island, inside the public market

vancouver, b.c. -- granville island, inside the public market

vancouver, b.c. -- granville island, inside the public market

vancouver, b.c. -- granville island, inside the public market

vancouver, b.c. -- granville island, inside the public market

vancouver, b.c. -- granville island, inside the public market

vancouver, b.c. -- granville island, inside the public market

vancouver, b.c. -- granville island, outside the public market

vancouver, b.c. -- granville island, sally the schnauzer

vancouver, b.c. -- granville island

victoria b.c. -- a brazen pigeon

Since we didn't get to see any whales during our whalewatching tour, I was certainly glad at least got to see a couple of blowholes.

(KIDDING DAD!)

victoria, b.c.. -- mallard duck family on the pond. the babies were so small they could walk on the lily pads.

victoria, b.c.. -- mallard duck family at beacon hill park

victoria, b.c.. -- goose in residence at beacon hill park

victoria, b.c.. -- out on a limb with shirley mcclain

victoria, b.c.. -- beacon hill mallard with lilypads

victoria, b.c.. -- another view fromt the james bay inn balcony

victoria, b.c.. -- the view from the james bay inn on goverment street

victoria, b.c.. -- a water taxi

victoria, b.c.. -- dad in the hood on the king salmon

victoria, b.c.. -- "i say old chap, you think you have enough sunscreen and a big enough bonnet?"

victoria, b.c.. -- a three hour tour (repeat)

victoria, b.c.. -- sydney, the lab --- skipper of the king salmon

victoria, b.c.. -- our whale watching boat, the king salmon

the brown 4 at canoe restaurant in victoria

victoria, b.c.. -- irresistable license plate

victoria, b.c. -- chinatown

victoria, b.c.. -- totem mother and baby

victoria -- rosebud in the empress hotel garden

victoria b.c. -- take that! she whaps him with her travel guide tragically breaking the poop stick in two!

victoria, b.c.. -- dad give props to a mallard

victoria, b.c.. -- the empress hotel's bengal room

victoria, b.c.. -- empress garden rose

victoria petunias

victoria post box

lunch in victoria

lunch in victoria

victoria, b.c.. -- feed the birds, tuppence a bag. the beacon hill park birds expect a handout. i think people who enter the park without bread disappear under mysterious circumstances because they are flown off somewhere.

victoria, b.c.. -- race rock with mountains in the background. this is from our whale watching tour. although we didn't see any whales, sites like these more than made up for it.

victoria, b.c.. -- race rock, off victoria bay. this tiny island serves as a home for all kinds of interesting wild life including sea lions, seals, oyster catchers (birds related to sand pipers) and other bird life. we saw a massive bald eagle in its nest to the left of this island. i was unable to capture a good picture without a telephoto lens.

victoria, b.c. -- look kids it's parliament! lindsay and I were reminded of "european vacation" so many times we lost count. we had many griswald family moments.

victoria, b.c. -- double dutch bug comin' down the street -- with parliament funkadelic in the background

victoria, b.c. --the empress hotel --- covered in boston ivy

victoria, b.c. --the gate of harmonious interest -- chinatown

victoria, b.c. -- chinese public school in chinatown -- This school was built in 1909 so the chinese could teach their children in their native language.

victoria, b.c. -- Canada goose (they love tourists)

victoria, b.c. --totem poles at thunderbird park

victoria, b.c. --totem pole at Thunderbird Park

victoria, b.c. -- rhododendron bush at the empress hotel gardens

victoria, b.c. -- the james bay inn on government street. we stayed here two night and this was my favorite hotel of the trip.