The day we arrived in Victoria we had a pre-booked afternoon - evening trip out to the famous Burtchard gardens, travelling there in a double-decker hired bus along with lots of other eager passengers. On arrival, there was no prepared itinerary. It was our task to wander as we pleased. It was drizzling as we arrived and so we could all pick up plastic umbrellas if we wished and most did despite the wind. Here we see the three cousins and Bec entering the grounds.
It was a fairly dull afternoon, but one of the spectacular features of the grounds were the thousands of lights adorning trees and shrubs, not to forget the ice-skating rink which all but I and Dot tried out. I chickened out because of my age and perhaps suspect sense of balance, but the other six in our party tried out ice-skating with, in the case of Bec, Greg and Max great success. But our three and five year olds were very tentative.
After the skating, we headed into the botanical displays with gusto egged on by this blue-illuminated tree. Even the dangling icicles had flickering lights.
We ambled past a model train set that attracted the littlies' attention.
There were lights everywhere, but we found they became startlingly more beautiful as dusk approached. You can just make out the lights adorning this bush.
Here's the marvellous sunken garden, not to forget the rose garden, albeit pruned and not in flower.
Increasing numbers of illuminated trees and a rotating display of fairy-tale characters.
As a connoisseur of Japanese gardens I was looking forward to rambling through this one, but entry was closed just as we got there at about 4pm.
So it was back to the rose garden with its illuminated figures and fairy-tale trees and then on up winding paths to a lake with illuminated fountains.
This also eventually led to totem poles and a carousel on which the kids eagerly jumped.
The lake with illuminated foutains.
Past yet more brilliantly lit houses and treed - all the more spectacular in the gathering dusk.
It was a fairly dull afternoon, but one of the spectacular features of the grounds were the thousands of lights adorning trees and shrubs, not to forget the ice-skating rink which all but I and Dot tried out. I chickened out because of my age and perhaps suspect sense of balance, but the other six in our party tried out ice-skating with, in the case of Bec, Greg and Max great success. But our three and five year olds were very tentative.
After the skating, we headed into the botanical displays with gusto egged on by this blue-illuminated tree. Even the dangling icicles had flickering lights.
We ambled past a model train set that attracted the littlies' attention.
There were lights everywhere, but we found they became startlingly more beautiful as dusk approached. You can just make out the lights adorning this bush.
Here's the marvellous sunken garden, not to forget the rose garden, albeit pruned and not in flower.
Increasing numbers of illuminated trees and a rotating display of fairy-tale characters.
As a connoisseur of Japanese gardens I was looking forward to rambling through this one, but entry was closed just as we got there at about 4pm.
So it was back to the rose garden with its illuminated figures and fairy-tale trees and then on up winding paths to a lake with illuminated fountains.
This also eventually led to totem poles and a carousel on which the kids eagerly jumped.
The lake with illuminated foutains.
Past yet more brilliantly lit houses and treed - all the more spectacular in the gathering dusk.
After a quick meal in the cafe, we caught the bus home on schedule. Well, when I say home we were dropped quite a long walk from our hotel so the little people and their chaperones caught a taxi while the rest of us more athletic types used our feet. One quick observation: the US is known for its massive serves of whatever food ordered, but I though that the Canadians might reduce the calories to Australian levels. Alas no. Our serves were enormous - so large I had to give up and leave some behind on our departure.
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