Beautiful Victoria, Vancouver Island

I arrived back in Switzerland yesterday at noon. Managed to stay awake till 5 p.m., fell asleep and am wide awake now, at 4 a.m. due to jetlag, writing my second last post of this trip.

After saying goodbye to Salome, I headed to Tsawwassen to catch the ferry to Swartz Bay and then drove to Victoria on Vancouver Island. I did this trip already three years ago and was really excited to be there again. The ferry ride was as beautiful as I remembered it.

Crossing another ferry in between beautiful and wild Islands.

I checked in at a hostel in Victoria, in which I was supposed to stay for two nights, but I cancelled after one night, because I have slept so badly, due to extremely loud noises from the ventilators in our room and the street, since we had to keep the windows open all night, otherwise it would have been too sticky and hot in our bedroom with six people. I’ve been extremely and unusually exhausted the past few days of my trip, so I just wanted more privacy and a much needed good sleep. I found a really nice hotel in Victoria, close to the harbor and the beautiful parliament building.

Actually I booked hostels for the rest of my trip on Vancouver Island, but cancelled it all and booked hotels instead. It’s not, that I don’t like staying at hostels, in fact, I stayed at really nice and good hostels throughout my trip and loved it, but since I didn’t feel very well, I figured it would be the best to get some peace and rest in a hotel room of my own. Also all the private rooms of these hostels were fully booked unfortunately.

I’ve seen so many beautiful things on Vancouver Island, like the Butchart Gardens, located in Brentwood Bay near Victoria. It was layed out in 1904 and remained a family business until today.

The Rose Garden.

The Sunken Garden.

^

I went places, that I already visited those three years ago and was pleased to see again. Like the creative and colorful house boats at Fisherman’s Wharf in Victoria.

Of course I had to get me the best Fish and Chips at Red Fish Blue Fish at the inner harbor in Victoria. There is always a long queue, because it pretty popular around town. It was totally worth the 40 minute wait.

Since I am a sentimental person and a sucker for traditions, of course I drove out to Kitty Islet to eat my fish and chips there, as I did the last time with a friend of mine. I just love the good feelings that come up with good memories you made once.

I drove back to the city and went to see the parliament building.

Then I drove to Mount Douglas to enjoy the evening mood and hoped to see the sunset shining through the clouds, but I didn’t have luck, but the views were gorgeous anyway.

As I came back to the city I happened to see the beautiful city lights, I missed to see those the last time I visited, so I really enjoyed walking the streets to the parliament building and back to my hotel.