Make One Last Stop in Victoria

There is plenty more to experience in Victoria than what I have, but there were only two more on my "Must Do" list.

Ride my Bike around Beacon Hill Park and along Dallas Drive

Beacon Hill Park is the city park of Victoria. I arrived around 7:30 one morning and took a spin along some of the paths and roads.

Watering Can Play Shower

World's Tallest Totem

A Putting Green for Burns

It is definitely a pleasant place to go for a ride, a stroll, a picnic, or to sit and read or knit.

Dallas Drive borders one side of Beacon Hill Park. After about 1/4 mile of pedaling, I saw the "no bicycle" symbol. Uh Oh! You are supposed to ride your bike on the street.

Bicycles Not Allowed

Actually, that is safer because the path becomes filled with pedestrians. Too bad they can't make a bike path beside the pedestrian path. The street is quite busy with commuters, visitors, tour buses, and delivery trucks. Drivers are mindful of cyclists, but the road is so far from the rim and the the traffic so heavy you can't really enjoy the view or the ride. Canadian cyclists are like those in the states and not at all like European cyclists. That is, instead of loading all the kids and groceries and pedalling leisurely along in good work clothes and high heels - Canadian cyclists are all attired in their vivid lycra (or is it spandex?) outfits and riding as if they were in training for Le Tour.

View along Dallas Drive

Take a Tour of the BC Parliament Building

The Parliament Building and grounds are very impressive.
Denver might want take note that the only people on the grounds are tourists and people with business in the building.

No Drug Dealers or Homeless on These Capitol Grounds

I am not sure if that is a good or bad thing - just saying.

On the tour, we saw the door that only the queen can enter. Of course, the rotunda is beatiful.

Rotunda I

Rotunda II

Rotunda III

After explaining the provincial flag and seal, describing the relationship between Canada government and the queen, and many other details that I found very interesting, the young guide said "And we always want to honor our First Nations.

Reflections on Missing Women

Remembrance Quilt Seen from Above

She then pointed out a Remembrance Quilt made by the families of the missing and murdered women of the First Nations in British Columbia. Surely, there is a better way to introduce this quilt to visitors and a better way to acknowledge how many First Nations are represented in the unicameral.
If you are not aware of situation of the missing indigenous women in Canada, here are some good links.

Yes, Victoria is a charming little city. Might consider returning to stay in the city.

Why Don't They Need a House Sitter