Victoria BC ; Being a resident tourist

(re-post)

  (click on Img to get photo)  The photo does not do justice to the SIZE of the cruise ship at Ogden Point but I wanted it from a distance in order to show its location.  Thousands of people are on cruise ships such as this one.  Big.

I wonder how many people get off a cruise ship for their time in Victoria and do not get on the buses that take them to attractions such as Butchart Gardens and Craigdarroch Castle and The Empress Hotel.

I know some choose to check out Ogden Point Cafe  and chat with the friendly locals,   wander down to  the beach, stroll along Dallas Road,   meander up into the James Bay neighbourhood,  look at the diverse architecture and the creative home embellishments,  exchange pleasantries with on-site gardeners,  compare products in the small corner shops and large grocery store in the village with their home town or country, browse the bookstore/coffee shop,  chance on the weekly farmers/artisans market or the Friday church thrift store,  sit on the cob bench in front of the Seniors Center,  watch a ball game in the park,  walk the docks at Fisherman's Wharf and admire the floating homes,  pick up a local newspaper,  discover Beacon Hill Park and reflect on the ponds........

Being a resident tourist is how I travel and memories of people and houses and gardens and items purchased from the artists  and menus and newspapers and email addresses are the souvenirs I bring home.  And when I am one of the locals with whom  resident tourists to Victoria converse, then I feel I have been on a trip as well.

Posted on May 05, 2008 at 04:22 AM | Permalink

  (click on Img to get photo)  The photo does not do justice to the SIZE of the cruise ship at Ogden Point but I wanted it from a distance in order to show its location.  Thousands of people are on cruise ships such as this one.  Big.

I wonder how many people get off a cruise ship for their time in Victoria and do not get on the buses that take them to attractions such as Butchart Gardens and Craigdarroch Castle and The Empress Hotel.

I know some choose to check out Ogden Point Cafe  and chat with the friendly locals,   wander down to  the beach, stroll along Dallas Road,   meander up into the James Bay neighbourhood,  look at the diverse architecture and the creative home embellishments,  exchange pleasantries with on-site gardeners,  compare products in the small corner shops and large grocery store in the village with their home town or country, browse the bookstore/coffee shop,  chance on the weekly farmers/artisans market or the Friday church thrift store,  sit on the cob bench in front of the Seniors Center,  watch a ball game in the park,  walk the docks at Fisherman's Wharf and admire the floating homes,  pick up a local newspaper,  discover Beacon Hill Park and reflect on the ponds........

Being a resident tourist is how I travel and memories of people and houses and gardens and items purchased from the artists  and menus and newspapers and email addresses are the souvenirs I bring home.  And when I am one of the locals with whom  resident tourists to Victoria converse, then I feel I have been on a trip as well.