Tuesday 9/13 - Victoria, BC

This was our third visit to Victoria (we'd stayed here two nights back in '01 before that year's Alaska cruise). We didn't book any excursions, but reserved a car to tour on our own. When I picked up the car, the mid-sized Grand Am had metamorphosed into a Lincoln Town Car - thank you, Mr. Hertz! We drove up to Craigdarroch Castle, a house built by a Scot who came over and made it big in the coal business. Like many another magnate, though, he died before the house was completed and so never lived in it - but his widow did (see also, San Jose's Winchester House). It was very nicely furnished and decorated, for a Victorian mansion.

Later we stopped at the Six Mile pub (Victoria's oldest public house) for a lovely pub lunch.

We also visited Fort Rodd Hill, built in the mid 19th century (probably to defend against the Americans) and used up until the end of WWII as part of the defense of Victoria. Also on the same site is Fisgard Lighthouse, the oldest in western Canada.

Only one more day, alas, and then we have to return to the real world.