(Early) 45th Anniversary Trip

After years of talking about it, we went to see the tulips in Washington and to see the Butchart Gardens as an early 45th Anniversary trip.  Our anniversary is June 2nd, but the flowers don't wait.

We flew to Bellingham, Washington on Friday, April 15th, and travelled to Anacortes, where we spent the night at the Ship Harbor Inn.  In the morning we saw these beautiful flowers outside the motel:

We caught the ferry to Sidney, British Columbia.  The crossing took about three hours, and we went through the San Juan Islands.  We did not see any whales, as hoped. 

 

 

In Sidney, BC,  we walked from the ferry terminal many blocks to catch a bus to Victoria.  We saw more beautiful flowers, cute shops, and stopped for lunch along the way.  After arriving in downtown Victoria about an hour later, we walked a couple of blocks to the Humboldt House (a bed & breakfast).  Here's a view of it from the street:

After checking in at the B&B we walked back to the waterfront area which bustles with ships, ferries, seaplanes, cars, buses, charter tours, carriage rides, and foot traffic.  We toured the Royal British Columbia Museum, took pictures of the Parliament grounds and The Empress (a hotel) grounds, and took a carriage ride tour.  We bought food for Sunday's lunch and dinner, and took these items back to the B&B.  Later, we walked back downtown for dinner at the Old Spaghetti Company.

 

 

The Royal BC Museum has a webcam that looks down on the waterfront.  To the left (facing the waterfront, but out of view) are the Parliament Buildings.  To the right (and partially in view) is The Empress.  In the foreground is a corner we passed by a number of times.

We started Sunday with a very nice breakfast delivered to our room.

                

We took a taxi to attend Church at a ward in Victoria.  After church, and after lunch, we went on a walking tour of the Beacon Hill Park which is just behind the B&B.

The hedge between the Humboldt House (chimneys visible) and St. Ann's, a National Historic Site

 









On the path between St. Ann's and Beacon Hill Park



 





A Rock Bridge and Beautiful Foliage in the Park

 

Flowers and Pond in the Park

 

In the Park

 

              

Totem Pole

 

At the Strait of Juan de Fuca, with the State of Washington on the Horizon

 



We were invited to dinner that evening by the Merretts, a couple we had met at church.  He came and picked us up at the B&B.  Other dinner guests included a companionship of full-time missionary sisters, and a couple of the Merrett's friends.  Brother Merrett gave us a tour of the city (which included a drive to the summit of Mt. Douglas, overlooking Victoria).  We certainly didn't expect to be invited to dinner, but had a delightful time and saw parts of Victoria we wouldn't have seen.  Here are two pictures from the Merrett's apartment, one looking down, one looking out at the harbor:

                       

 

View from Mt. Douglas with Victoria Below

 

 

Lovely Tulips at a Home in Victoria
 



On Monday, the 18th, after another delicious breakfast in our room, we toured part of the Parliament Buildings complex.  We especially liked the stained glass windows.  This is one of a set as you climb the stairs to the legislative chambers.  The quotes are from 17th and 18th century English writers and thinkers.  These were to inspire the lawmakers before they conducted government business.

 

 

We walked to the street in front of the Empress Hotel and waited for a tour bus.  We first went to the Victoria Butterfly Gardens.  Butterflies are not the only residents at these gardens (as shown in the pictures below).

 

 

And here are some butterflies:

 

 



From the butterfly gardens we rode the bus to The Butchart Gardens.  The tulips, daffodils, flowering trees, and shrubs were beautiful.

  

    

 

 

 

 

 



The Sunken Gardens

 



The Fountains

 

In the Japanese Gardens

Another View in the Japanese Gardens

Moving on...

 

 

 

The Formal Gardens

 

Another View of the Formal Gardens

We returned to the downtown Victoria area via bus, driving through Chinatown along the way.  We saw a bagpiper at the waterfront.  At our request, he played "Amazing Grace".  We then walked back to our B&B, tired, but happy to have seen so many beautiful things.

Tuesday morning we had one more delicious breakfast at the B&B before checking out,  then walked a few blocks to the bus stop.  We rode a bus back to Sidney, BC, and were dropped off right by the ferry terminal, in contrast with being directed to walk several blocks into town to catch the bus when we arrived in Sidney.  Mom was thrilled to not have to walk so far with luggage.  We boarded a ferry back to Anacortes, Washington (and again, no whales were sighted along the way).  We got a taxi, and went to RoozenGaarde in Mount Vernon.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Later, we got a taxi ride to the Holiday Inn Express & Suites in Burlington.  The next morning (Wednesday, the 20th) we rode a shuttle to the airport in Bellingham, Washington, waited, and then flew back to Arizona using Allegiant Airlines.

 

A very nice trip!