Tuesday, December 08, 2015

V is for Victoria

ABC Wednesday
December 9th, 2015

The letter is V
for VICTORIA

V is also for Vancouver, Vanderhoof and Valemont, but I chose Victoria because it is such a pretty city and has probably more history than any other town in British Columbia.


Before the arrival of the Europeans in the late 1700s the Victoria area was home to several communities of Coast Salish people, including the Songhees.

The Spanish and the British began the exploration of the northwest coast of North America with the voyage of Captain Cook in 1767, and the Spanish sailors who visited Esqimalt harbour, just west of Victoria in 1790.

In 1843 the Hudson's Bay Company was looking for a place to establish a fort and chose a spot on the western shore of Victoria Harbour, calling it Fort Camosun, after the 'camosack' a type of wild lily native to southern Vancouver Island.

Later he renamed it Fort Victoria in honour of Queen Victoria, that elegant and doughty lady whose long reign has now been surpassed by Elizabeth the Second.


With the discovery of gold on the British Columbia mainland in 1858 the city became a port supply base for miners on their way to the Fraser Canyon gold fields and the city grew from a population of 300 to over 5000 within a very short time.  However, with the completion of the Canadian Pacific Railway terminus in Vancouver Victoria lost its position as commercial center and began cultivating an image of 'genteel civility'.

The construction of the Empress Hotel by the Canadian Pacific Railway in 1908 contributed greatly to that impression.


and the establishment of The Butchart Gardens in an old coal mining site



Sir Robert Dunsmuir, a leading figure in Victoria, constructed Craigdarrock Castle and his son built his own grand residence, Hatley Castle,  which is now the Royal Roads University after having been used for several decades as a military college.


Craigdarrock Castle


Hatley Castle

Victoria is home to two major Universities and famous for its many museums covering everything from Aboriginal culture to science and nature.

It is also the home of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia



Known as 'The Garden City' Victoria also has many historic sites and heritage architecture.


Brightly painted Victorian era shop fronts flank both sides of busy Lower Johnson Street - shops which were once home to hotels and stores supporting the gold rushes of the 1850s but which are now local boutiques and restaurants.


the biggest China Town north of San Fransisco


the inner harbour



and at Festival time


Yacht  races


and High Tea each day at the elegant Empress




Totem Poles


Whale watching


Lounging on the beach


A visit to the spas


A wonderful Pacific climate - what more could one ask!
I assure you, you will love it.  We were there many, many times
in our busy days,  mostly going to meetings and seeing government officials, 
but sometimes just visiting.

In these early days Charles was very involved with College business, 
and we were off to Camuson College, which was just being established.
It was a rush to leave home, the children and the farm, -
we were late getting the ferry and in arriving for our booking at the Empress.

The desk had let it go, thinking we would not arrive,
but when we did, at midnight, off the last ferry
they kindly gave us the 'bridal suite' up at the top of the Hotel!!

What elegance - the bathroom was enormous, all tiled with marble,
and the beds...pure heaven....



How to get there.....by ferry from Vancouver (a wonderful sail)|.   Or plane...



Come and be gently civil....

more great Vs here at ABC Wednesday, with thanks to Denise and Roger
and all valiant helpers.


12 comments:

Anonymous said...

daybyday, many writing activity appears cool to play.
thanks for the take on v word.

EG CameraGirl said...

I have never been to Victoria but I would love to visit this lovely city one day!

Unknown said...

Never been there, but your photographs are not only wonderful but colourful too.

Thank you for participating again!

Have a nice abc-day / - week
♫ M e l ☺ d y ♫ (abc-w-team)

Photo Cache said...

In my bucket list!

My ABC WEDNESDAY

carol l mckenna said...

What a beautiful place and so well photographed by you ~ Great post for V

Wishing you the magic and love of the Season ~
artmusedog and caro

Roger Owen Green said...

Someday, maybe I'll visit!
ROG, ABCW

Reader Wil said...

What a wonderful place and with so much culture. Captain Cook was there also, even before he got stuck in the Great Barrier Reef off the coast of Queensland Australia. In1770.
Thanks for your visit Hildred!
Wil, ABCW Team.

ellen b. said...

Great choice for V and it makes me want to go back to Victoria!

Dina said...

Your post really makes me want to visit (Canada, Victoria, and your blog). :)

fredamans said...

Beautiful, Victoria!! One of the few places here at home I have left to visit!

Joy said...

An interesting place with fine buildings, looks like a photographers delight. I'm just sorry that I can't make it to high tea, the menu sounds delicious.

Barb said...

Hildred, you've brought back fond memories of a lovely city. I stayed in Victoria at a B&B many years ago. I was with a biking group - we sailed and ferried from Victoris to the Gulf Islands where we biked for a week. What a beautiful area!