Day 4 Victoria and Butchart Gardens

Day 4 

I had to wake up super early to ensure I'd be ready to be picked up at 7:30 AM for a day trip with a tour group to Victoria and Butchart Gardens. The drive from downtown Vancouver to Tsawassen Ferry Terminal took some time. Due to operational issues with BC Ferries, the tour guide informed all of us 18 passengers in the tour group that we would need to wait 2 hours at the terminal before our shuttle bus could get on the ferry. That's a lot of time to be waiting at a ferry terminal. Fortunately there were coffee shops and other shops were we could spend some time. When it was time to get on the ferry, it was interesting to see all the vehicles that could just drive onto the huge ferry to be brought to Vancouver Island. 

The ferry trip took 1.5 hours. On top of that add additional driving time for the guide to drive us down south towards the city of Victoria, capital of the province of British Columbia. Victoria was ok, but not much to do given the very limited time that I had in the city. It was just enough time to snap some pictures of Fan Tan alley in Victoria's Chinatown and walk down Government street, which is their touristy street in Victoria. I also got some pictures of the Parliament building. 

After Victoria, the next stop was Butchart Gardens. The drive there once again took some time. Once I arrived, we all only had 1 hour 45 minutes to explore the gardens. That's not nearly enough time for people who want to take pictures. Since I didn't want to miss the tour bus back, I rushed through the garden and took whatever pictures I could for future enjoyment. Highlights from the garden were the sunken garden and the rose garden. See pictures below. 

By the time I got dropped off at my hotel, it was 9:15 PM or so. It was quite a long day. My recommendation to others would be to maybe skip Victoria and spend more time at Butchart Gardens.  

                            Fan Tan Alley, a narrow commercial street in Victoria's Chinatown

                                                        Gate to Victoria's Chinatown

 
   Inside the ferry on the level for the vehicles
                    Plenty of time to snap this picture due to operational issues with the BC Ferries

                                                                    On the way to Victoria

                                                                             Parliament 

  

Butchart Gardens 


                                                                            Rose Garden





 

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