From the ferry we got a very different view of Seattle and Elliot Bay as we departed.
Our ferry left through the Seattle fog at 8:30am. The cruise from Seattle to Victoria takes just under 3 hours and passes through Elliot Bay, Puget Sound, and the Straight of Juan de Fuca. The Victoria Clipper claims to be among the fastest passenger ferry boats in the world. I the wake and spray from our boat as we sped through Puget Sound is any indication, then I believe it.
As we entered Canadian waters, the clouds dissipated and the sun came out for the first time on our trip. We soon passed in sight of Victoria and rounded the end of the breakwater to enter the harbor.
Oh, Canada!
The harbor town area of Victoria is full of activity. From the crowds of well-dressed people coming in and out of high tea at the Empress Hotel (first below) to the throngs of tourists filing into fishing boats, water taxis, and float planes (second below) for harbor tours, the waterfront was packed on this sunny day.
I tried to convince Brittany that we should take an aerial tour of Victoria, but she was content to keep her feet on the ground. Small planes are not her thing. (In addition, the flights were REALLY expensive for a half hour tour.)
We walked out to the end of one of the docks to get a closer look at two beautiful tall ships in port: the schooners Pacific Grace and Pacific Swift.
The placard on the ships said that the vessels are operated by a Christian youth organization called SALTS (Sail and Life Training Society). We didn't have the opportunity to go aboard the ships, but seeing these beautiful vessels from the dock was still fun.
The most prominent landmark in Victoria is the Parliament of British Columbia, which overlooks the harbor area. The Neo-Baroque style building was built in 1893. When parliament is not in session, the building is open to the public. We went on one of the free guided tours of the interior.
After our tour, we decided to leave the harbor area and walk southwest across the point to the beach on the Strait of Juan de Fuca. We walked on the rocky beach and in the (really freaking cold) water.
Large pieces of driftwood (whole trees, really) had piled up on one of the smaller points of rock, which allowed for some nice photo opportunities.
We walked all the way around the northeast end of the point on our way back to the harbor area. As we came around to the end of the point, we were able to walk all the way out to the end of the breakwater.
The waves were crashing against the breakwater wall, so I leaned out over the edge to make a photo, which made Brittany very nervous. "You can't fall in. I'm not ready to be a widow yet."
When we got back to the harbor it was time to board the ferry for our trip back to Seattle. The timing of the trip back was perfect to get a bunch of different late day and sunset photos. Click any of the photos in my blog to see them on Flickr. If you click it again on Flickr you can see it on black.
The lighthouse in this last photo is located on Point No Point, one of my favorite place names we encountered on our entire trip.
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