Victoria, B.C. Harbour
Over one million seagulls live with the people of Victoria...this is a professional window washer washing the windows on the top of the hotel pool.
This is no easy feat as the hotel is several stories high....my friend was in a room on the 8th floor...Hmm...our tour guide told us no building in Victoria is over four stories because of the Juan de Fuca plate and other surrounding faults and plate lines and ridges....which means there is a prediction that Victoria is overdue for an earthquake.
These beautiful boquets adorned the conference tables and were provided from the garden of the one of the ladies who helped organize the conference.
At one time, these totems were located at the entrance of every village and sent a message to those who wanted to enter or who were passing by. The message said who lived there and if the visitor was welcome or not.
An aboriginal long house near the parliament buildings and is owned by a family who gave our conference hosts permission to visit.
A typical Long House
Open areas in the roof allow for blazing camp fire. Our master of ceremonies explained that the bottom creature on the totem is a grizzly bear and the top is a type of bird that eats people. He says no one has those birds any more. In between was where the drummers sat and drummed on what looked like the bottom of a canoe.
The feast we were served included bannock, elk stew, sweet potatoes, and bison to name a few of the delightful dishes. Of all the choices, I had pineapple upside down cake for dessert.
Dancers included little children
and even a baby
Walking back to our hotel....inside that tower is nothing but a winding staircase in the middle of the street....maybe just for enjoying the view of the harbour?
Parliament Buildings
The Empress Hotel
Harbour craft - this is where the cruise lines dock. I guess the cruise season is over because the late night shopping downtown has been scaled way back this month.
Back to the hotel
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