[raggedy13]

Hi all, I was over in Victoria this last weekend just in time for the "BC 150" celebrations... the celebrating of the colony of British Columbia being 150 years old this year. It was a long weekend here in BC as Monday (the day I took these pics) was "BC Day". And since Victoria is the capital city of British Columbia, there was quite a bit going on there.

Anyways, I don't get over to Victoria enough. It really is quite a nice city, especially for its size (the metro population is about 330,000 which is essentially mid-sized by Canadian standards). It has a great stock of heritage buildings, good density, lots of street front retail, and is quite bustling and urban. And of course there's the great waterfront setting.

For those of you who might not be aware of where Victoria is located, here is a wee map:

At the southeast corner of Vancouver Island...
http://imagesus.homeaway.com/vd2/propmaps/wvr/en/47/454712/Vancouver_Islandv2_454712.png
from homeaway.com

And here are my pics. Enjoy!

Had lunch here. It was quite tasty.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3275/2742604751_9ca49db156_b.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3208/2742516781_c9a7a3f084_b.jpg

One of Victoria's many great old churches (by BC standards anyways) - Christ Church Cathedral
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3265/2742607799_c65f5b8079_b.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3136/2742609481_1f55c648fb_b.jpg

The steeples of some more of its great churches
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3216/2743359400_5b43948e0a_b.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3026/2743357552_5514ab40e8_b.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2116/2742525039_1d41ec91ba_b.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3180/2742610775_2ef23f3558_b.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3109/2743365128_31f015614b_b.jpg

I didn't do a very good job at fitting entire buildings in the frame that day
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3208/2743456938_afc8baa050_b.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3158/2742531419_6dd85721e1_b.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3074/2742624301_cbb209969b_b.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3085/2743468478_2a3482a2e4_b.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3090/2743470894_208da3a353_b.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3112/2743373082_0a2c4b35ff_b.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3185/2742634727_69e7823f29_b.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3180/2742537087_d4c2c6bb38_b.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3099/2743376848_1543ff6de2_b.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3085/2743475972_b507237628_b.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3170/2743378938_c6dbb21888_b.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3172/2743478902_fb9ce78725_b.jpg

People watching some band playing across the street
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3035/2742542863_597969cf86_b.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3193/2743481606_69f98d0328_b.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3070/2743484406_32d296f45b_b.jpg

And the aforementioned band
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3040/2742544609_a9ba4824f7_b.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3257/2743384552_fb6fb2bb44_b.jpg

And here's where things really get bustling as I approach Victoria's Inner Harbour, the epicentre of the BC 150 festivities. The "Parliament Buildings" (the BC Legislature) can be seen in the background.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3125/2743388282_bc0f50a0a4_b.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3102/2743485704_64800d51a3_b.jpg

For whatever reason I really love this building
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3079/2743392236_2c1e07fb45_b.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3143/2743489722_3e9c642d08_b.jpg

Victoria's grande dame hotel - The Empress
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3076/2743394182_44eafb47e3_b.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3002/2742564277_8d65ccf826_b.jpg

Along the waterfront
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3166/2743492924_554165aabf_b.jpg

Lots of street performs around, as usual
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3163/2743494188_6789ab4569_b.jpg

Lots of booths set up to make a nice little marketplace
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2027/2742572197_a43415b2f3_b.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3219/2742573857_0fa47ae0cd_b.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3088/2742657763_c364663780_b.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3112/2743498470_1f881a6124_b.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3095/2742577623_220a1db902_b.jpg

Bastion Square
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3269/2742662929_3e117b4a20_b.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3198/2742667085_1b24ecc9f7_b.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3151/2743510228_e6abe347bd_b.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3271/2742673337_16fbc671cb_b.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3206/2742675939_e60c2bd1df_b.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3240/2743516988_7403e02c2c_b.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3070/2743518084_208c0864f0_b.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2083/2743520584_e274edf555_b.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2119/2743422624_ff0b623d2c_b.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3084/2742586703_c97ac3ffbe_b.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3071/2742592863_ec0ca68f1b_b.jpg

Market Square
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3258/2742590697_6f98764d5c_b.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3293/2743521758_acdd2268a5_b.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3227/2742684305_36eabbd48f_b.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3168/2742594707_3944a895c5_b.jpg

Chinatown
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3080/2742690689_6775c89e82_b.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3138/2742596655_2408f9936d_b.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3106/2743436542_bfd4881f44_b.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3159/2743438104_e78fbd8bb0_b.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3035/2742601627_7d20fc2caa_b.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3224/2743530320_621c83efc4_b.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3187/2742603363_fd9b817b00_b.jpg

That's all folks.

[Evergrey]

unbelievably awesome

mmm.. mini donuts...

[salvius]

Great pictures! Victoria is indeed a very nice (but unjustifiably expensive) city.

[NYC4Life]

What a beautiful city. Seems to have little resemblance to Vancouver.

[Top Of The Park]

very nice people place

[Coldrsx]

^basically a minivan hold the condos. (until nowadays)

[Cbautz]

nice shots man. love victoria

[OhioGuy]

Fabulous photos! I definitely want to get back for another visit. I didn't have enough time when I was last in Victoria.

[jodelli]

It's a great location, and it looks like the downtown area is still a nice place after all these years.
Thanks for the pictures.

[boden]

Best pics I've seen of the city. I'll definitely have to visit sometime.:tup:

[flar]

Nice shots. Victoria is indeed a beautiful city.

[krudmonk]

Now that's a city that makes the most of its size.

[peanut gallery]

It was many years ago, but I really loved Victoria. Looks like it's only gotten better!

[J. Will]

Great pics. I've been to cities with 10X Victoria's population that had less vibrant downtowns (esp. after 10pm). I won't name them though, because at least one forumer will get offended if I do :haha:

[Chelsea Spy]

looks like a very nice city - the Parliament building is spectacular!

[kcexpress69]

Nice job!! :cool:

[Ruckus]

Beautiful, an engaging scale highlighted with carefully maintained historic buildings.

Looks good :tup:

[S_B_Russell]

Victoria is top drawer.

[SHOFEAR]

My only trip there was during the long weekend last year where the symphony played on the harbour. Not sure if it is always that awesome, but I sure enjoyed it and would certainly back you up on your thread title.

[10101000]

Great photos! Thanks