Trounce Alley- Victoria; image from flickr by Brandon Godfrey

Where we ate:

She said:

The town was very nice to walk through, and, thankfully, safe at night.  The Beaconsfield Inn suggested two restaurants.  The first night we went to Pescatores.  Very nice ambiance.  A little dark, but romantic, and the food was fine with entrees priced from $20-30.   

We liked the restaurant the following night better.  Nautical Nellies, is one of the best restaurants in Victoria.  Pricey, but worth it.  I have to tell you that my most fascinating memory of the restaurant was watching a woman at the next table eating her crab legs.  She refused to use the utensils for cracking the crab, but insisted on using her teeth.  She did this with such an efficiency, that I couldn’t take my eyes off from her.  Despite the repeated efforts of her table mates in insisting that she use the “crackers”, she always refused and cracked everything with her teeth.  I should add that this was a very elegant restaurant and she was dressed very nicely.  She was about our age, and I couldn’t imagine my own teeth holding up as well as hers!

He said:

I enjoyed both restaurants. The ambiance at Pescatores was definitely more romantic. It seems our meals at Nautical Nellies were a bit more to our liking, and who could forget the crab eating display! If I had to choose between these two, I’d definitely opt for Nautical Nellies. But if we make a return trip someday, I think we’d explore some additional options.

Empress Hotel; image from flickr by brianholsclaw

What we did: 

She said: 

After our visit to the Craigdarroch Castle, we went into town and walked through the Empress Hotel. It is one of about 20 Fairmont Hotels, all of which recieve Gold Awards from Conde Nast’s Readers Choices. The Empress captures all the grandeur and elegance of a by gone era amid every modern travel convenience one might request.  Just our the door to the west is The Miniature World Museum.  I’m a miniature fanatic and thought I had entered nirvana! 

Miniature Fair at Miniature World; image from flickr by EverySpoon

These exhibits were among at least 80 at Miniature World.  Aren’t they incredible? 

More Miniatures from the Museum; image from flickr by Sir Mildred Pierce

All the scenes represent actual locations and aren’t just make believe. There is a write up that one can read about each display. 

Even More Miniatures; image from flickr by Sir Mildred Pierce

They look so real! I can’t imagine the patience and discipline the people have that create these. 

Miniature Circus coming to Town; image from flickr by EverySpoon

We then walked into town for a late lunch by the water.  There was so much going on by the water - a street fair, artists, entertainment – it is a very vibrant area. 

He said: 

I don’t remember where we had lunch, but I could hardly wait for the margarita to arrive! The hotel is very impressive, but I resisted the High Tea temptation. Besides, we needed a reservation. The miniatures were intriguing, so much so, that Marla got shutter finger taking shots of every display from every angle! She was taking them so fast the camera jammed and we lost not only the shots she was taking, but all the ones from the first half of our trip!! The good news here is that once the camera jammed, we breezed through the rest of the museum in about 30 seconds! These are not really guy type spots, but hey, it is our honeymoon and I did get to play golf at Bandon Dunes for two days, so give me a break!

Craigdarroch Castle- Victoria; image from flickr by jikido-san

What we did:  

She said:  

On the way back from Butchart Gardens we stopped and saw the Craigdarroch Castle.  Construction began in 1887 for Robert and Joan Dunsmuir.  He had made his fortune in coal, and this was to be their retirement home. Its value was, at that time, estimated between 15-20 MILLION DOLLARS! (Like the U.S., there were no income taxes in Canada at this time either!) Unfortunately, he died before it was finished in 1890. His wife, Joan, lived there until shortly after WWI when it became a military hospital. The tour was self guided and was well worth the time.  

He said:  

Since we were able to get through Butchart Gardens so quickly, touring the castle fit into our schedule nicely. It is actually not far from the Beaconsfield Inn, the B&B we stayed at. Like many mansions of the era, the cost of maintaining these huge edifices often absorbed much of the family’s fortune. Family squabbles ate into the Dunsmuir’s fortune such that, after being a military hospital, in the 1920′s it began housing Victoria College. Finally, in 1979 the college’s growth and the buildings age made this unsustainable. It then became, as it remains today, a full time museum. It is available for rent to host weddings, business meetings and other public or private functions. I’m sure lucky visitors have an experience they’ll not soon forget. Most impressive to me was the intricate woodwork, primarily white oak milled in Chicago specifically for the castle, and the numerous stained glass windows. I love wandering through these marvelous old places, imagining what living in them would be like.

Butchart Gardens; image from flickr by anneh632

The Italian Garden at Butchart Gardens; image from flickr by anneh632

What we did: 

She said: 

What a wonderful day!!!!  We had a very nice breakfast at our B&B, the Beaconsfield Inn, and headed out to Butchart Gardens.  The Gardens are located about 30 minutes from town. As we arrived about 9:45am, I noticed that we were among the first few there.  We had no crowds to navigate.  Great! We could wander about, see everything that we wanted, and not have to maneuver amongst a horde of people. And it is so-o-o-o gorgeous.  July and August are the best months to be there, and I can understand why.  We saw the whole Garden  in about an hour, went to the gift shop, and were out of there by 11:30. 

He said: 

The gardens, themselves, are beautiful enough, but what I enjoyed as much, or more, was the thought, planning, and construction that went into their creation. A labyrinth of pathways takes one through the 55 acres where every type of flower, tree, shrub, and bush imaginable are artfully displayed. Actually, they do an annual flower count and in 2010 there were over 21 billion blooms! These are numbers that, sadly, remind me of our national debt!! As far as viewing all the varieties goes, I have to admit I really appreciated Marla’s bias for hot-footing it through in less than 2 hours. Being totally ignorant, and largely uninterested in exactly what each flower was, this avoided making a couple of hours seem like an eternity! Thank you Marla!!

The Beaconsfield Inn

Where we stayed:   

She said:   

We checked in and had a brief tour of this fabulous Edwardian building.  It was built in 1905 as a private residence by R.P. Rithet and designed by Samuel Maclure, who also helped to design some of Butchart Gardens.  Todd took us to our room which was  the only suite on the third floor.  No elevator, so we – actually Todd – had to cart everything up three floors.  The doors were open to some of the other rooms, and all were very nice.  We rested and went downstairs for complimentary sherry, and walked down to Front Street for dinner.     

The Breakfast Room

 The menu for the wonderful, gourmet breakfast changes daily.   

He said:   

Marla chose The Beaconsfield Inn and it was perfect. The room was large, luxurious and very romantic - a perfect spot to continue our honeymoon! It was maybe a half mile back down to the harbor’s shops and restaurants, but the walk was much more desirable than struggling with parking. It also relieved the pressure of wanting, but having to fore go, that after dinner drink!

The Harbor in Victoria, British Columbia; image from flickr by palestrina55

As our ferry rounded the point and began its entry into Victoria Harbour, our delight was hard to contain. What a beautiful sight!!       

There to greet us were trawlers trekking towards fishing grounds, water taxis flitting about with tourists, and recreational crafts of all varieties – from simple, outboard engined fishing boats to regal, ocean worthy yachts and seductively elegant sailboats.       

Victoria Harbour: image from flickr by marbla123

Ashore, the stately Fairmont Empress Hotel, rising majestically over the harbor, is framed by pristinely maintained private residences, condominiums, stores, factories, office and government buildings.    

The waters edge is fronted by walkways teeming with people scurrying about. There are numerous kiosks with souvenirs and light snacks as well as full service restaurants, many with colorful, umbrellaed outdoor seating areas, each inviting one to take in all the beauty and energy.       

Our trip across the Strait of Juan de Fuca on The Black Ball Ferry was quite comfortable and was a very efficiently run process. It delivered us to Victoria in an hour and 15 minutes, just as predicted. As luck would have it, we were first off and hoped to pass through customs with a quick hello to the customs official. Oops! To our surprise, we learned that the case and a half of wine we brought from Napa would likely be subject to duties upon returning to the states! However, if only 4 bottles remained, there’d be no issue! This, obviously, was not practical given our three day visit! Lacking any plan for the wine, and, in somewhat of a panic, we followed Rosie’s (our Garmin) instructions to the Beaconsfield Inn, the bed and breakfast we were staying at.       

PS. To learn what happened to the wine go to http://boomertrippin.com/three-times-and-youre-in-port-angeles-washington/.

Saint John, New Brunswick; image from flickr by GregHickman

The Reversing Falls in Saint John, New Brunswick- Image from flickr by GregHickman

St. John, New Brunswick is about half way up the Bay of Fundy, which separates New Brunswick from Nova Scotia. It is another quaint town with plenty of shopping and interesting things to do. 

What we did: 

She said: 

Unlike Halifax, where we wandered about on our own, we decided to do an excursion. It consisted of bus trip up the St. John River to a park on Grand Bay for a VERY expensive lobster bake, with a stop at the Reversing Falls–all for $100.00/person! We could have skipped the bus trip and park visit; the lobster in the lobster bake was only a one pounder, but it was the sweetest, best lobster I have ever had in my life!! We got back to town and found out that we could have had about 15 lobsters from the market where we could have sat by the river for about the same price! The Reverse Waterfalls were interesting though. 

I loved the town of Saint John. It was quaint and and fun to walk . It was hilly and so we did get a little exercise!  

He said: 

I had read about the dramatic tides on the Bay of Fundy but to see them entailed about an 4-5 hour bus excursion north from St. John and then some hiking to a spot where they might be visible. Given they occur about 12 hours apart and we weren’t familiar with the tidal schedule, we chose a lobster bake more central to our moorage that included a stop at the Reversing Falls. The lobster was great, the park a bit boring since the fall weather precluded partaking in water sports that would be more appropo in the summer months, with the stop at the Reversing Falls being the most interesting part of the trip. 

Afterwards, we did a couple of hours walking the town near our ship. There were lots of shops, two indoor market places with fresh foods, lobsters and local arts and crafts, and many restaurants serving very inexpensive lobster. A couple from Texas we had met on the ship related to us, after departing St. John, that they had hired a cabbie to give them a “local’s perspective” tour instead of doing an excursion or wandering on their own. They got to see all that we did – and more – while enjoying great lobster at a couple not so commercial spots, and all for less than we spent on our excursion! We will be far more selective when choosing excursions in the future, making sure they offer experiences that can’t be had any other way. 

P.S. Where’s your favorite lobster spot?

Theodore the Tugboat- Image from flickr by Kelly Nigro

Halifax, Canada; image from flickr by baekken

Old Town Halifax       

Downtown Halifax: image from flickr by baekken

New Town Halifax   

Our first port was Halifax.   I loved to get up as we were pulling into a port early in the morning.  It was always so peaceful and beautiful and the little islands were so facinating, especially if they had little houses on them.       

What we did:     

She said:     

We opted to do our own walking tour of Halifax, and our first stop was  the Maritime Museum located a little ways from our dock.  It has a wonderful Titanic exhibit.  The ships from Halifax were the first ships to reach the Titanic when it went down and they have many artifacts in this Museum.  There is a movie that you can watch after seeing the exhibit.  The Museum and the movie are something very worthwhile.       

We then walked up Citadel Hill, which is a very long incline, about a half mile. Great exercise after being on the ship, and the views from the top were incredible!  The gardens were next on our walk, and even though the season was almost done, it was still beautiful with fall flowers, and cute bridges over creeks, and a tiny church on an island in the middle of the creek.      

Public Gardens Image from flickr by tlbcml

We then walked to the center of town and found a small intimate restaurant called Sebastian’s Bistro.  It was French organic-gourmet.  I had a special seafood crepe, and Bill had the special of the day, a lamb burger which was to die for!  Loved this restaurant. Unfortunately, it is now closed, so we’ll have to find a different spot if we ever go back!       

He said:       

Although it was a bit chilly, the many Waterfront restaurants and shops were a delight to wander through. Moored along on of the docks was Theodore Tugboat, which reminded me of Little Toot, a book that was a staple during my childhood readings. The Maritime Museum, with Halifax’s role in the Titanic disaster at its heart, was informative, yet not so overwhelming that it couldn’t be viewed in an hour or so. The town obviously caters to the cruise industry as many things were within walking distance. I like searching out a bit of history and, not far from the Waterfront was Citadel Hill, a key geographic location for Britain during the 1700′s. It provided a nice complement to the area’s involvement with the Titanic.     

Public Gardens Bandstand- Image from flickr by dmealiffe

A short distance from Citadel Hill were the Halifax Public Gardens. The garden’s origin also dates back to the 1700′s and, true to the Victorian style, contains many statues and fountains as well as a meandering stream amid the flora and fauna. A bandstand for concerts can also be found along the labyrinth of walking paths. Both Marla and I were surprised at the amount of flowers in bloom even at this late fall date. I imagine it is magnificent in the spring and summer.       

We were now a bit away from the docks, so the area was a little less touristy. Our lunch spot was wonderful. It sated our palates and thirsts perfectly and provided enough energy and inspiration to get back to the ship for a nice adult nap!       

New England Cruise; image from flickr by Greg Hickman

We sailed on the Caribbean Princess with 3,100 of our nearest and dearest friends. The ports we visited were Halifax, Saint Johns, Bar Harbour, Boston, and Newport.    

What we did:    

She said:    

The first day we sailed at sea, which was wonderful because we needed some “down time” after racing around New York City.  Our veranda style room was nice as we had more living area, including a couch, and less deck area, which for this cruise was perfect!  We didn’t need to spend much time on the deck as it was fall and not all that warm.  Fall, however, is the perfect time to visit New England.  The temperatures are nice and the color is beautiful.  Also, the prices are a little better.  Getting back to the room—our first night was not so great.  The twin beds were pushed together and it was like each of us had our own canoe.  We were also sitting in the bed watching a movie on T.V. and felt and heard thumps against the headboard.  This was the result of darling little children jumping like crazy on the beds in the next room.  That may explain what happened to the beds we were sleeping on.      

The food on this cruise was good.  There were some complaints, but I thought it was definitely better than the last cruise.  The bed situation was somewhat fixed, so we were on our way.  I never did hear the kids next door again.  Life was good!    

He said:    

Finally, after The Big Apple, I can relax!! We had chosen a suite with a sitting area and smaller deck since we anticipated cooler temperatures and not much time sunning! This proved to be a wise choice, although it was nice to simply go out our slider to witness arrivals and departures from the various ports. By booking through Vacations To Go, unexpectedly, we received a complementary bottle of champagne along with a $100 ship credit, so everything was off to a great start! We opted to save the special champagne we’d purchased in NYC for another time during the cruise.    

The views leaving the Brooklyn terminal were stunning. While sipping on the champagne we watched the NYC skyline fade into the distance as we passed by the Statue of Liberty and proceeded into the Atlantic under the Verrazano Straights Bridge. The views off our port afforded peeks at Long Island and the Hampton’s, although it was difficult to see a lot of detail. Next cruise I’m bringing my binoculars and perhaps a telephoto lens for better pictures.