Day 18 Getting to know Victoria

This morning we joined a walking tour of the city. Although the sun was shining there was a bitingly cold wind, particularly near the harbour. Most of us weren't dressed for that! According to a local who we met later on they call June Junuary here, very apt!

The British Columbia Parliament Building, designed by Francis Rattenbury who, we learned a few weeks ago, had also designed many buildings in Vancouver.

We also learned a little about totem poles and how they tell legends/stories rather than using a written language.

The Cenotaph

"Welcome Home", dedicated to the Canadian Navy personnel

We didn't manage to see any orca from the ferry, too early in the year, apparently. Will have to make do with these two!

Then finally a walk down Fan Tan Alley, narrow, quite busy and touristy.

After lunch back at our apartment we drove to Malahat Sky Walk, around 30 minutes north. We spent a lovely afternoon there. The structure is large and impressive, very Canadian!

A 600 meter walk way through the treetops 20m above the ground

We then ascended the gently spiralling walkway up the 40 meter Spiral Tower.

There were some fabulous views from the top

and an Adventure Net, a rope mesh floor, for those brave enough to walk over (not me!) The people on it looked like ants from below

But I knew someone who would!

you could slide to the base if you fancied a go....of course, we did, 7 seconds of fun!

Had a cuppa afterwards in the outdoor cafe, surrounded by trees and with the regular sound of  screeches and screams coming from the slide.

We called into Walmart on our way back for our last shop, unsurprisingly it was massive.

Followed by a beer on the balcony and a relaxing evening.