the honeymoon-Friday

I think this was the morning I actually managed to sleep later than 6 am. It was pretty nice. Breakfast I think was french toast which was good but far to sweet for me since I don't eat sugar. Luckily we had cheese and nuts in the fridge in our kitchen.

We left after breakfast to hit the local shopping center. I wanted to pick up a few things for the wedding and my sweetie did a load or two of laundry. Those bikes were so great for using around Victoria. I bought some red roses and tied myself up a bouquet and we got dressed. The weather was fabulous, sunny and warm, we were so happy we would be able to get married outside in the garden right near our patio.

It was a lovely simple wedding. I wore a simple dress it was ivory [again] which really surprised me. My sweetie decided to wear just black pants, white shirt and her black silk blazer, a totally different look from the wedding at home. There were two witnesses, new victorian friends who brought gifts and our two hosts present. It was short and sweet. We all toasted everything we could think of as we stood on the patio and signed the paperwork. The we went out for a late lunch.

Our Canadian wedding was totally different from the one with family and a big party but still very meaningful for us.

the Honeymoon-Thursday

So we arrive to the Thursday report of our honeymoon. I was up at what feels like dawn. My dress still hadn't arrived but the tracking number was now working but unhelpful. My dress went to New Brunswick?! then to Seattle, then to Vancouver then finally it says it's on its way to Victoria.

We ate our breakfast quickly because we had an appointment with Whales that day. Breakfast = some kind of fritata which didn't do that much for me, I ate it though for the protein. My DW can't eat it at all because it had broccoli in it.

Our arrival time and place was too early and away from the harbor. I understand that they don't want people to miss the boat but what a waste. And why we didn't just meet at the dock I don't know. it's a very cool and gloomy day. After we get going on the boat, I was still cold even with all my gear on so I gratefully took an extra coat from the boat's supply. We picked the boat with a cabin and bathroom so there is a way to get out of the cold when needed.

The trip was fun. I love being out on the water no matter what. My sweetie was radiant with joy, she loves the water too, and animals. We saw 5 humpbacks and sea lions galore. And really had a great though chilly 3 hours on the water.

We got back in time for a late lunch, we took our bikes to China town and had lunch at the place that had been closed the day before. It was great, and we had a leisurely time eating and drinking hot tea. We then walked our bikes down Government street looking at all the stuff we had been missing when we biked by.

We got home and my dress had arrived safely though so wrinkled. I hung it up to steam. I now have my cord for my laptop and can catch up on computer stuff easily. Though not in the room, because for some reason the wifi would not work in our room. My sweetie takes a nap and I wander around taking tons of pictures on the B&B. I spoke to our host about a dilemma, is it really worth it to visit Buchart gardens? I explain that we can't bike quite that far, and renting a scooter or taking a coach bus is very pricey. He looks at me quizzically, 'why not just take a city bus?' The man is brilliant. The city bus route takes you right there! For $3 round trip. What a deal. We make plans to do that on Saturday.

Then we set off for a bike ride on the coast to work up appetites for dinner. I keep thinking oak bay is just around the next outcropping but wasn't. After about half an hour we have done a lot of hills and are ready for the trip home. Especially since we don't have lights on the bikes.

We wander down to the fisherman's wharf to eat at Barb's Place, I had been resisting going there because I thought it would all be fried fish and chips. But you do not have to get your fish fried there. We had some great fish and salads and fries and it was all yummy. Barb's is an outside eatery, but there was 3 sided pavilion to eat in so we were cozy. We got there just before they closed and enjoyed a peak of sun with the sunset.

Walked home hand and hand. Really looking forward to the wedding the next day.

the honeymoon-Wednesday

Up early again. I don't think I ever really got on Victoria time. But I loved hanging out in our kitchen and our patio drinking tea and doing qi gong.

Eventually it's 8:30 and breakfast time. It is ricotta pancakes this morning which are seriously yummy. We laze around a bit in the morning and get stuff together. I visited a fabulous yarn store the afternoon before because I came to Canada without my knitting. So I had a perfect excuse to buy something like hand painted silk yarn. So I do a bit of casting on... It's a lovely, sunny day.

We bike to the harbor and lock the bikes up. We have forgotten our helmets again. We take a long walk all along the north side of the harbor and cross the seriously funky blue bridge, we walk back through town and poke around a bit. We visit the old established Roger's chocolate store. We ponder buy presents for people at home, but then we decide it will be best if we take some home to test before buying gifts.

Next we had reservations for tea at the Empress, we figured you have to do it once. This a seriously beautiful, old hotel. We have a great table at the window overlooking the harbor. The tea is yummy, the service wonderful, the food just ok. Really not worth the price but fun to do for once. Afterwards we tour the public rooms of the hotel, they are truly beautiful. Then we take lots of pictures in the neighboring rose garden. Victoria is still full of flowers in the first week of October. We seriously thought about going to the museum but the weather is so great we can't bear to go inside no matter how many fabulous things we hear about it.

Then we took a harbor ferry on a gorge tour. It was beautiful out on the water. Afterwards we poke around Chinatown, we wanted to have dinner at the Chinese cafe we found on Monday but they were closed on Wednesdays. So we end up at Nautical Nellie's. My sweetie indulges her oyster love. I had scallops, my serious sea food favorite. They are the tiny ones and so yummy. Not having much luck with my wine choices though.

There was quite an exciting ride home in the dark. Luckily it is not far, the bikes do not come with lights. We have a great cozy evening. Wednesday was another lovely honeymoon day.