Victoria's Mister Roberts

 

Actually October 1st.

At sea and at sea with a vengeance. Enough of at sea that there are the little white bags at the foot of each stairway. An obvious signal that as Bette Davis said “You’re in for a bumpy ride”. Last night we must have cleared the Juan De Fuca strait just about dinner time. The main dining room is at the very tippy back of the ship and it was up and down and then really up and down. One woman at a neighorbing table asked the waiter where the restroom was. Hurried out, and did not return the entire time I was eating. That was a prelude to future events. The night was rocking and rolling and bucking, with the occasional crash you could feel in the hull as we ran over a deadhead log, half sunken container or possible a wayward sailboat. My room (cabin? cell?) is on the 10th floor (deck? under head?) and I think 3 is at the waterline. So that puts my room at 60 or 70 feet off the water. Occasionally we would hit a wave that sent huge walls of spray several decks above my view.

Enough of the weather report.

Yesterday I woke up around 5am, the ship was totally still and background rumble of the engines was not there. The window didn’t tell me anything, except fog. Shortly we moved and the view changed to lights and noise outside, we had arrived in Victoria. Seven in the morning until 2 pm, just enough to get a taste of the city and to be able to brag “Canada? Oh, yes I have been there”. Kind of like my first Japanese experience. “Japan? Oh, yes. I went to Tokyo Disney for a day. I’ve visited Japan.”

I had a nice leisurely breakfast and then set my feet to actually touching Canada. Two days prior the forecast was for rain, but my phone app said to expect sun peeking out until about 2pm. Cool ! I can leave my clunky rain jacket on the ship. 

 

Walk out to the street turn left and keep the water on your left until you run into the Empress hotel. Sounds simple enough. It was before 10am so most of the people I passed on the street said ‘Hello’ back, except of course the dog walkers. I don’t know if they have the lawn police where I was walking, but every house or apartment looked like it was out of a visitor’s guide.

In the early to mid 60’s in Laguna Beach, California there was a local fixture at the main intersection coming into the town. An old guy who waved and smiled a welcome to Laguna to every car that entered the town. I think there might be a stature of him on that corner now. Victoria has Mr. Robert’s, for the ship cruisers. A dapper gentleman in slacks and sport jacket of retirement age, happy to pass the time with those passing by. We exchanged a few familiarities before I continued on.

Past the locked out strikers at a hotel. Yes, welcome to Canada. Where there is always a strike within a short walk.

Soon the province’s Parliament (state capital) building was on my right. A huge sandstone edifice to the power of taxation. I noticed that the national flags were at ‘half-staff’. I was told that it was National Ingenious Day. The day were the country says ‘Hey! We stole your land and we ain’t giving it back. Thank you so much. Here’s a day just for you.’

Once in downtown I wandered a bit. Bought a pen to keep notes on my daily thoughts and quickly forgotten occurances with. For some reason I left all 20 or 30 hotel pens that I’ve collected over the years at home. I wasn’t hungry. So no eating. Didn’t need a hand loomed native Indian blanket, woven in China, or another piece of something to keep the dust from settling on my counters. It was a look, no shopping day in Canada for me today.

I watched the police officer talking to the children and giving out stickers. Quite a change from my current view of the police back home, handing out free tear gas.

So after dodging the e-bikes and the leashed canines it was time to go back to the ship. It was an exact reverse, even said hello to Mr. Robert’s.

Back at the ship I wandered and explored trying to get a mental map of this floating city. Then sat on my balcony and watched the people returning to the ship. They did alright for the most part, the worst were only about 10 minutes late for the last boarding time of 130pm.

Late afternoon seemed like a good time to take advantage of my drink package and have a Mojito. A nice Rum and sweet stuff drink. I’ll drinking them again, though I don’t see them replacing my current favorite Margarita. After one the bartender asked me if I wanted another and I told him ‘No thank you, I have to drive.’ As I left he told me to watch out for the cops. Nice to know that, throwaway line wasn’t wasted.

That’s enough for now. Time to go find something else to waste the day with.