Why do I love Luxembourg Park in Paris?

Posted on June 14, 2012 by babyboomersmusings

The Jardin du Luxembourg Paris is my favorite park in that city. Why, you may ask?

Ornate gates and fences at Jardin du Luxembourg Paris

Ornate gate at Jardin du Luxemboug Paris

Well for one thing it is located on the left bank my favorite area. It is in the 6th arrondissement. It is so lovely with many statues and fountains, lots of shade trees and places to sit. You can stroll around or sit and watch the world go by. If you want to check something out or work use the complementary WiFi. There is the old Medici château that is now the senate and if you like you can give it a visit.

Jardin du Luxembourg Paris

Watch sail boats in front of the senate at the Jardin du Luxembourg Paris.

There are many viewing seats to watch the mini sail boats in the pond in front of the Chateau. There are other small museums to take a look at like the one named Medici. Also there is an orangery and a bee house. They quite often have art shows and choirs performing.

It was built by Marie de Medici the widow of Henry IV fashioned after the Pitti Palace in Florence so It has Italian look and feel. The buildings around the park are also very beautiful because in the past many noblemen lived near the park.

the Leda fountain

The Leda fountain Luxembourg gardens

I even love the very ornate gates and fences. It is also very nice to walk around the outside perimeter of the park if you are able, and there are lots of benches so that you can stop and rest. If you tire there is always a bus to hop on. If you have any physical challenges like me you can come here and rest but still are out enjoying the day.

I find it peculiar, but a very good thing that they have signs on certain days in particular areas stating in three languages that “Sitting on the grass permitted.”(Pelouse Autorisee. Aqui se puede useted sentar) Of course many people take them up on this and children get to run freely. Lie down on your blanket and take a nap if that pleases you.

It is o.k. to walk on the grass Luxembourg gardens Paris

It is permitted to walk on the grass

If you would like lunch or a snack there is a nice café with umbrella covered tables.

Luxembourg gardens cafe

Luxembourg gardens cafe

On many days when we have been there we were able to at no cost; take in a nice concert sitting in the shade. I find this a very relaxing way to spend a few hours.

concert in Jardin du Luxembourg Paris

Concert in Jardin du Luxembourg Paris

There is a bakery-deli close by and so often we had an impromptu picnic. We really enjoy picnics sometimes elaborate planned ones with wine, tablecloths and a picnic basket full of cheese and goodies and other times simple like this one.

Our impromptu picnic

One of our impromptu picnics

If you want a reprieve from the busy city or the entire hectic site-seeing ritual, this is one of the best places to spend a few hours or a day. Countless Parisians talk about how living near the Jardin du Luxembourg Paris is a wonderful thing and I couldn’t agree with them more

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A free education and it’s not just for baby-boomers!

Posted on June 7, 2012 by babyboomersmusings

Everyone is very upset these days because of the high cost of education, but did you know that it is available online for free? Baby-boomers love to learn and many continue learning new subjects throughout their lives. As I mentioned in a previous post you can do this through Khan Academy or many universities have free online courses.

http://www.khanacademy.org/
http://education-portal.com/articles/Universities_with_the_Best_Free_Online_Courses.html

Even if you desire a degree you can obtain one with very little money. I am not talking about a cheesy fake degree. This is a legitimate degree from respected universities and colleges.

Are you putting off going to university or college because you don’t want to end up with thousands of dollars in debt? This would also work well for someone who is physically challenged or a stay at home mother.

Anyone young or old can get a low-cost degree or a free education on-line. Lots of universities and colleges offer online degree programmes and while this is less expensive it is not free, however; there are ways to do it for almost free.

http://education-portal.com/articles/Universities_with_the_Best_Free_Online_Courses.html

If you want a degree you can write a CLEP exam for under $100.

Want some credit for your past experience check this out and maybe it will give you a head start.

http://www.learningcounts.org/Pages/Default.aspx

If you want a very low-cost degree here are the steps you will need to take

1. Choose a university or college.

2. Make sure that your chosen university or college accepts CLEP exams.

3. Choose a degree.

4. Take the required courses.

5. Find a location near you to take the CLEP exam.

http://clep.collegeboard.org/exams/about

6. Take CLEP exams.

7. Transfer your credits to your university.

8. Take any subjects you need to take on site e.g. Labs at the university to get the remaining course credits for the degree.

9. Tell your friends.

10. Plan your graduation party.

And Voila! You have obtained a very low-cost education.

If you just want to have fun pick subjects that you are passionate about.

If we ever stop using a monetary based society, everyone could follow their passion. If you want to succeed in the world as is, especially if you are starting out in life and want to be hired in a financially rewarding occupation, choose a career were there is a demand in the marketplace.

 

http://www.zeitgeistmovie.com/

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Recent student protests in Montreal leave me with mixed feelings.

Posted on May 25, 2012 by babyboomersmusings

The recent student protests in Montreal about the increase in tuition fees leave me with mixed feelings. What about you?

On the one hand I agree with a lot of the concepts of the free world charter and the Zeitgeist movement, I also am realistic in my expectations. Our monetary system and our government and societies are not set up to support this as yet. It is very difficult to change a pendulum when it has been gaining momentum for so long. I would love to see all people of the world no matter what their age get a free education.

Maybe Quebec is not the place for these demonstrations. Why you might ask, do I say this? Well they pay the lowest tuition in Canada sometimes half as much as other provinces. You might think Canada pays more than other countries but you would be wrong again. Our fees are lower than most  including the U.S. Canadian parents can pay into a government tax-free fund for an education savings account so that their children’s education is paid for and many do this. Did you know that Canada gives student loans, grants and a grace period after graduation before you need to start paying it back? There are a lot of government assistance programs if you are having difficulty with your payments. A lot of students declare bankruptcy to get out of repayment. Are you starting to scratch your head now? Please note that foreign students pay more.

http://www.hrsdc.gc.ca/eng/learning/canada_student_loan/index.shtml

We waste so much money on schools that are closed evenings and weekends and all summer. Students support our tenure system and increasing wages for teachers but were does the money come from. Baby boomers are taxed heavily but they are going into retirement years.

I was told by a young relative once that her friends all take the easiest road they can in order to get a fun degree. They don’t think ahead to see if there is any work for that profession. They find out later that their degree is pretty worthless in the current job market and rather than work for minimum wage they head back to school. It is partly the fault of our generation for bringing kids up to feel that they are entitled. Will we pay dearly for it or will it create a better world?

Rather than demonstrating about a fee hike maybe young people could put their heads together and try to help us come up with a solution. I also understand that no one wants to start out their adult life with debt. I believe costs could be cut considerably if delivered online. There are places on the internet to obtain a free education right now and many universities have degree programs online (most are not free at this time that I know of). It could be delivered world wide at a fraction of the cost and some day with all the money saved it could be free.

http://education-portal.com/articles/Universities_with_the_Best_Free_Online_Courses.html

What steps can we take as baby boomers to change the world education system for the better? Come on we said we wanted to change the world remember? We have changed many things throughout our lives. We still can…can’t we?

Here are a few ideas to get you started:

1. Encourage your children, grandchildren and other family members to get an online education.

2. Take a course on line yourself. Learning new things is exercise for the brain. Not ready to go back for a degree it’s also a wonderful way to learn a new language, to play an instrument, take a photography course or art appreciation or trade your skills.

http://digital-photography-school.com/

3. Write to your universities and MP, explaining that you want to see schools open 24/7 and more online degree programs. (This is a democracy isn’t it?)

4. Talk to teachers to show them how they could use my favorite the khan academy along with their current curriculum.

http://www.khanacademy.org/
You may find these links interesting or amusing.
http://www.assnat.qc.ca/en/travaux-parlementaires/projets-loi/projet-loi-78-39-2.html
http://nodogsoranglophones.blogspot.ca/2012/05/quebec-descends-into.html
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/story/2012/05/22/pothole-opens-on-sherbrooke-after-march.html

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Does this describe you? The Eiffel Tower is on the bucket list but you’re a baby boomer with some challenges

Posted on May 15, 2012 by babyboomersmusings

Are you a baby-boomer, a bit challenged physically, but have the Eiffel tower on your bucket list? I know this is not as exciting as someone that wants to climb Kilimanjaro or run a marathon but it can be daunting for some. This was me back in 2010. I new that I could not climb the stairs to the top and even though some would say it is a very touristy thing to do, it was on my list.

Entering under Eiffel Tower

Under the Eiffel tower

The way around this of course is to ride up in the elevator. The other problem is standing in line to purchase tickets and then another line for security and entrance.

I found that the best way around all these small difficulties of course was to plan ahead. If you can then do as I did and go a little off season, buy your ticket on-line and make a reservation for your time of day to enter it, makes it much easier.

I booked at 9:00 A.M. to be in the first group. Certain times of year 9:30 A.M are the first entry time, just check at the website.

I rested a bit for a couple of days before-hand.

Trocadero from up in Eiffel Tower

Trocadero viewed from Eiffel tower

We went by metro to the Trocadero station and walked across the bridge towards the tower so we could get a nice view of it ahead of time. You can also get there by bus and boat. We did the boat the night before to see it light up.

Eiffel Tower had lots of places to rest

Bistro table and chairs in Eiffel tower.

If you dilly dally on the way up like I did you might defeat the purpose.  I stopped to get a beverage at the snack shop and the hoards of tourist were right on my trail. Had I taken a few minutes longer I would have ended up in a line for the elevator to go up to the next floor!

Looking at the Seine from Tour Eiffel

Looking down at the Seine from the Eiffel tower

Don’t skip doing this; it was really worth it as the view is spectacular and just seeing it from the ground is not near as nice. We didn’t have the best weather or we would have picnicked in the park afterward. We had lunch at a café nearby.

You can see the Tour Montparnasse in the distance.

View from Eiffel Tower with tour Montparnasse in the distance

Go to there official website www.tour-eiffel.fr and buy your ticket and make a reservation and then you can cross it off your bucket list like I did. There is no waiting for the ticket to be delivered to your home you simply print it out and take it with you.

I was able to walk around, after we came back down to the ground, and enjoy the rest of the day because I didn’t wear myself out doing this one activity.

This is also good advice for anyone that has limited time in Paris. Why waste it in line ups. You can even book ahead if you are taking the stairs.

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Outside my door in Paris

Posted on April 27, 2012 by babyboomersmusings

Rue Delambre was the name of the street where I rented my vacation apartment in Paris. It was perfect! It had everything I could have imagined and more.

It was located up a quiet side street in Montparnasse between the 6th and 14th arrondissments, a very lively residential area of Paris. What attracted me to this part of the city was the fact that it was located on the left bank where intellectuals’ artists and writers of the past met lived or worked, like Picasso and Sartre. It was a short walk to the beautiful Luxembourg gardens.

Luxembourg gardens

Chair at Luxembourg gardens

Medici fountain Luxembourg gardens

Medici fountain Luxembourg gardens

There are many cafes and restaurants, some very famous nearby. The Rosebud across the street was like stepping into the past. Le Dome was on the corner, La Couple on Montparnasse, creperies a few blocks away and Café La Rotonde not far.

Cafe Montparnasse Paris

Cafe Montparnasse Paris

The American dingo bar now Auberge de Venise next door was the meeting place for Hemmingway and Fitzgerald.

Fresh fish was available at Poisssonnerie du Dome, and a Nicolas wine shop and fromages delambre just below us.

Section stained glass window poissonnerie de Dome Paris

Section stained glass window poissonnerie de Dome Paris

Yes, there was even art in the windows of the fish market!

We also found rotisserie chicken, patisserie shops, a small grocery and street markets with produce.

Weekly market Edgar Quinet market Paris

Weekly market Edgar Quinet market Paris

Le Dome Paris

Le Dome Paris

We dinned at Bistrot du Dome located across the street, a place where you find lots of locals unlike the famous Le Dome on the corner that mostly attracted tourists and was more expensive.

Under the awning at Bistrot du Dome

Under the awning at Bistrot du Dome

On the way home from the park we stopped very often for some very delicious gelato.

Amorin gelato Paris

Amorin gelato Paris

The area had great bus stops and the best metro connections. There are three main metro stops nearby, Vavin Metro number 4, Montparnasse-Bienvenue no12, which is a large station with many connections to other lines, and Edgar Quinet no 6. They got us everywhere we wanted to go as there were stops near most sites in the city.

Transit maps posted at bus stops Paris

Transit maps posted at bus stops Paris

We had a pleasant walk around the cemetery Montparnasse. It was like a park with streets you could go through for short cuts to other areas.

Montparnasse cemetary Paris

Montparnasse cemetary Paris

The tour Montparnasse was also within walking distance. The building is so high you can see it from almost anywhere in Paris. We celebrated our anniversary on the 56th floor in the restaurant Ciel de Paris with views of the Eiffel tower at sunset.

There are many museums and points of interest in the area and if you wanted you could spend a whole vacation just exploring this section of the city.

I would definitely recommend this area.

Everything has been figured out, except how to live.
Jean-Paul Sartre
Read more athttp://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/j/jeanpaul_sartre.html#wGSpX46Ot0x8xbyE.99

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Paris Vacation rental…will all go well?

Posted on March 30, 2012 by babyboomersmusings

Booked an apartment for our Paris visit on the internet, but will it actually be there?

We had arranged with Vicky by email to meet her on our arrival to pay for the apartment and get the key. The driver of the Shuttle bus called her from his cell phone informing her of our arrival.

He let us off in front of the building at 8 Rue Delambre . Al had a smoke while we waited.

She arrived very quickly and gave us the number for the security door and told Al he could not smoke in the apartment. He assured her that he doesn’t even smoke inside at home ( which is true). She explained that everyone smokes outside in Paris now because of the new laws. It is the same in Canada.

We went in and she showed us how tho scan the key and then use it in the entrance door. Vicky made a comment about the elevator that worried me. She hoped that the elevator was working as it had not been earlier. Oh Oh, I needed that elevator! It was  the only reason that I could take an apartment on the 4 th floor. (five in Paris)  It was the smallest elevator  I had ever seen in my life, but it was working. I took the elevator with the two suitcases and Al and Vicky walked up the stairs. It held two people or one plus luggage it was such a hoot. It only malfunctioned once while we were going down one morning.

The apartment la Coupole was  just the way it looked on the internet no surprises at all. We were relieved. Vicky and I sat down at the table and I paid her the rent in half cash and half travel cheque’s and she wrote me a receipt in my small note-book.

She wrote down bus routes and I told her we were going to be mostly taking the metro. She said that most people find the metro challenging. I am used to subways in Toronto and Montreal so I thought I would be fine. She talked to us about things to do etc and when she saw my tickets and notes she said she had never seen anyone so prepared before. (that’s me)

She showed us how to use the washer dryer, t.v, and other things in the apartment. She explained not to fill the tub above the overflow as it does not work and floods the apartment below. We set up the key code for the internet on my computer so I was all set.

She took us out for a walking tour of the area. Told us what bakery not to patronize, showed us where she lived, and took us to the gate of the park. She asked if she should write down the code for the building but I had memorized it so she said, ” Oh, you will be o.k.” and we went back to our new home.

The second week we were there we were invited to have coffee with Vicky at her favorite coffee shop, cafe Vivan. We had been to Versailles the night before and we were so tired that we slept late and missed her. I was disappointed but maybe next time.

They provided  maid service once in the second week.

We felt very comfortable in our new apartment. It was everything that we wanted and more. Vicky was very nice and helpful and she anticipated everything that a person might need while staying there. It was very clean and nicely decorated. The kitchen was well equipped and the bed was comfortable. In Paris hotel rooms and apartments can be small but this one felt very spacious for the two of us. There were lots of guide, travel books and maps in the cupboard for reference.

The location was perfect with three different metro lines a few minutes walk away and all the shops and services right below us.

It was sunny in the daytime with lots of windows and we had a view of  Tour Montparnasse  out of the court-yard window.

We went down to the street and bought wine and cheese, a baguette and fruit and coffee for breakfast and made it our home for the next two weeks.

“We were snug as bugs in a rug.”~unknown

If you are ever thinking of a vacation rental in Paris France I highly recommend Vicky, Thierry and Parisbestlodge.  I definitely would rent from them again

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It is scary renting an apartment in Paris, France.

Posted on March 27, 2012 by babyboomersmusings
Deutsch: Paris: Eiffelturm und Marsfeld

Paris: photo creditt: (Wikipedia)

Renting an apartment in Paris France could turn out to be a disaster. 

I am planning another trip to Europe and it got me started on reminiscing about a previous trip. I rented an apartment in June of 2010. I was very fortunate that everything turned out well for me. I have heard of people that lost their money. Either no such apartment existed, it was nothing like the pictures or the person renting it had no authority to do so or one of many other scams.

It was scary believe me. I wanted to go budget but still wanted it to be nice. I wasn’t able to get a home exchange or a time share exchange and I wanted a kitchenette. I looked at citadels and that is a good option but it was a bit pricey for what you get.  I thought I could do better. I am used to doing time share exchanges and have got used to the apartment type accommodation and I really love it.

I searched the internet and found lots of sites that rent apartments. Either they were not in my budget or they had complicated rental agreements. Some of them wanted really large deposits and there were hidden costs like extra for utilities,WI-FI or local telephone calls. Sometimes I just didn’t like the attitude of the person I had to deal with or they were slow answering emails.

There was one website  Parisbestlodge I kept returning to over and over. I checked out Thierry,  the owners reputation on-line and everyone spoke very highly of him. I never found one complaint. I read reviews of people who had stayed in his apartments and they were all good. I decided to start corresponding.

It was a pleasure to deal with him and he answered the emails promptly. The actual deposit was reasonable and the contract was simple. It was March and so I left it too late to get one of the smaller apartments and had to go for one that was a little more money than some that were already booked, but still reasonable for Paris.

I had a lot of specifications for this rental. I needed it to be on the ground floor or have an elevator, (not easy to find in the old buildings in Paris) because of health issues at the time. I wanted a real bed not a pullout and not on a mezzanine as I did not want to climb a ladder or steps and when it is close to the ceiling I feel claustrophobic. I wanted a kitchen because I needed to cook some meals.  Al wanted it to be quiet. I wanted to be near Luxembourg gardens. I wanted a metro stop, services and shops near by. It was a tall order.

The palace of Luxembourg, in the Luxembourg ga...

The palace of Luxembourg, in the Luxembourg garden, Paris, at sunset. credit: Wikipedia)

Well as it turned out an apartment 10 minute walk to the park was available. La Coupole  I went to Google maps street view and checked it out and it had everything I wanted. Apartments in Paris are very small but this one was larger than I expected, 38 square meters. (not that I needed large for just the two of us)

I showed it to Al and he liked it also so I started the booking process with Thierry the owner of the rental site. He faxed the contract, I signed it and mailed it back with a deposit cheque. The cheque was tho be cut up if there were no damages. The cost of the rental was to be paid in cash on arrival.

The actual apartment was one that was not owned by Thierry but by one of his friends. Vickie got in touch by email to answer any questions that I had. She would meet me on my arrival and we would get the key from her and give her the agreed upon amount of 1600 Euros for  a two-week stay for the two of us. The apartment could accommodate three for the same price as there was a small cot. This price was all-inclusive with no hidden charges.

I printed out the pictures from the internet website and started dreaming.

 

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Would we stay at Aviawest in Vancouver B.C. again?

Posted on October 28, 2011 by babyboomersmusings

While in Vancouver we stayed at Aviawest on Robson

Robson Street

and Hamilton. We used a timeshare exchange and they explained ahead of time that we would register at the office on Hamilton.

We pulled into the entrance but had to ask at the hotel desk where the office was. It is right next door on the Hamilton street entrance. There was a small convenience store next to it. A market was close by and lots of bakeries and cafe’s.

The staff at Aviawest were very nice and very helpful and we got checked in quickly.

The one bedroom suite that we got was small and would not have been very good for four people even thought there was a pullout couch. There were only two chairs at the table but for the two of us it was fine.

The kitchen was well equipped but we had to put our snacks in the living room t.v. cabinet as there was no cupboard for food in the small kitchen. The bedroom was a good size and the place was clean except the carpets were really stained. It is not a good idea to put carpet in the kitchen or under the dinning table and I believe they should change that. I always wear flip-flops in a hotel anyway so it didn’t really bother us.

If you have any mobility problems this hotel would be fine. They had level entry from parking and ramps and elevators.

We stayed at the wall center through our exchange the last time and it is much nicer and more modern. We have also stayed at many hotels in the city before both luxury like the Four Seasons and the Pan Pacific down to normal like The airport Sandman and even one night at the airport Travel lodge and everything in between.

If you have a question about a hotel leave a comment and I will answer you.

The great thing is that the location could not be beat being right on Robson in the heart of the shopping district and right near Yaletown

Yaletown, as seen from False Creek

Yaletown as seen from False creek Image via Wikipedia

with all the restaurants. You could also walk to Chinatown easily. We walked to the Art gallery with no problem and I have inflammation in my feet but I was o.k. So the location was perfect. We don’t spend that much time in our room so location is very important to us.

We used the kitchen and it was adequate for our needs. I like to have breakfast and sometimes lunch in the apartment because I have food sensitivities and have to be careful.

I love to swim and the pool was great with a hot tub saunas and small exercise room. It was off-season so some days we had the pool all to ourselves. The Aviawest office would give you more towels between cleaning if you needed them.

We used their free internet service in the Aviawest office one day. They had a computer but I used my portable so this was convenient.

If you are looking for a large suite with luxury and pampering you may be disappointed as it is not as nice as most other time share I have used. The great thing was that with the R.C.I point system we did not have to exchange many points for this. Our home time share is very luxurious and so we get a lot more points for ours.

The Vancouver Art Gallery

Vancouver art gallery Image via Wikipedia

It is difficult to get time share in urban areas so we were really happy when we got the exchange on pretty short notice. Also if you are the type that cooks a lot you may find the kitchen small. It worked out perfectly for us.

Would I stay there again? I am not sure. I would definitely try for one of the other time shares in the city. I would not pick them as a hotel. However you never know if they were the only exchange that I could get at the time I probably would stay there again as you cannot find a better location and we enjoyed our time there very much because of this.

aviawest

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Taking the ferry to Vancouver, B.C. Canada

Posted on October 21, 2011 by babyboomersmusings
Boats at the Horseshoe Bay marina, with a ferr...

Horseshoe Bay marina-Image via Wikipedia

Line-up of cars at the Horseshoe Bay ferry ter...
line up at ferry-Image via Wikipedia
Lions Gate

Lions gate bridge-Image via Wikipedia

Greater Vancouver
Vancouver-Image via Wikipedia

This vacation to Vancouver, B.C. was a short 1 week get away. We traveled by car and ferry so I could have packed anything I liked, but instead I kept it to my basic travel wardrobe  In fact I used an even smaller bag than I normally do ( a 22 inch ). The only thing I did, that I would not have if I had been flying is I took one of my old leather carry bags that I love. It worked out fine as I was able to mix and mach.

The ferry going into Vancouver’s Horseshoe Bay Is very spectacular on a sunny day and we were fortunate to have glorious weather. October can be very unpredictable in Vancouver but I was prepared with lots of travel clothing that I could layer.

You can book in advance if you must be in Vancouver at a certain time for instance if it is for business or to catch a flight. There are busy time periods especially on holidays or summer. One time we had two ferry waits. Check the ferry schedule

The ferry is a little expensive it cost $75.00 each way for the car and driver and one passenger from Nanaimo to Vancouver. $150.00 return is a big chunk of our travel budget but better than flying with the little float planes as flights can be cancelled for fog. This has happened to us before. Flying can take 15 minutes but the ferry is about 1 1/2 hours.

On past trips we have taken less expensive ways onto the ferry like walking on or catching a bus that takes you right onto the ferry. This works well if you are going right to the airport to get a flight. There is a bus at the ferry terminal to take you to downtown Vancouver and a sky train to the Airport.

It is very pleasant and the time goes quickly enough. Don’t sit in your car. There is a passenger deck with a nice cafeteria, snack shop and gift shop. The gift shop has a good selection of made in B.C. items. There is a rack of free pamphlets and you should have a look and pick up a few including a map of the city.  The seats are comfortable and there is an elevator if you have mobility problems. If you are a smoker or you want to get some great pictures there are outside decks.

If you sit up front you get a great view of the mountains coming into horseshoe bay. On more than one occasion we saw the sun come up and even whales nearby in the ocean.

It is a short distance from horseshoe bay to the city center of Vancouver and the highway is well signed. You go over the Lions gate bridge and you get a glimpse of Stanley park as you drive through. We went right into the center of the city as our time share apartment was on Robson and Hamilton.

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Sunny day in Victoria, B.C.

Posted on September 30, 2011 by babyboomersmusings
Free entertainment in Victoria, B.C.

Enjoying the free entertainment in Victoria, B.C.

We went to Victoria a couple of weeks ago for  business. It was a sunny Sunday.  We have been to Victoria many times before for week-long getaways but this time it was just for the day. We were very lucky as it turned out very warm for this time of year. It seemed more like August than September.

I haven’t been to Victoria in a couple of years and I almost forgot how really nice it is. We decided to go to Murchie’s for tea. Lots of other people were heading for the same place. A lot of the senior couples were dressed very nicely, women in dresses men in jackets.

I liked the way the young  people were dressed also. Then I realized that I liked their style because everything this year seems to be retro 1970’s. I remembered wearing some very similar outfits. I would like to wear them again. The sun dresses looked cool and comfortable. Baby boomers may want to wear a sleeve and have them at knee-length but I think we could pull it off.

Dressed in Sunday best.

Couple strolling to Murchies for tea.

Victoria is a very British type of city in North America. It was a previous colony. Even today there are still a lot of the old shops that sell Irish linens and British goods but I noticed that many have closed since my last visit and have been replaced by  souvenir shops. Not to worry there was not enough change to spoil it so you will still feel the old world atmosphere.

They still have lots of British style pubs and the Empress still serves high tea it is expensive but we went a couple of times . It is worth it to do this at least once. You can take a horse-drawn buggy or the hop on hop off bus to get around but I find that it is really much better just to walk. It is a very easy city to get around in and the traffic is crazy in the downtown. This time of year is off-season but still quite busy.

Riding in a horse and carriage

Around Victoria in a horse and carriage

Their was a great market with salmon grilling and lots of organic vegetables, crafts and live entertainment. We really enjoyed strolling around and looking at all the stalls. I was tempted to buy a mask for the upcoming ball but thought it may be better to wait until I go to Venice.

Th Royal B.C. museum usually has great exhibits and in the past we saw one on  Whaling, Egypt, and Leonardo da Vinci along with the IMAX show. The inner harbor is always full of activity and you can go whale watching.

This time after we finished with our business, we just enjoyed the rest of the day strolling around eating and people watching. If you want to reduce stress as you age this is a great way to accomplish that. Spend a day in a nearby city as a tourist. It is so relaxing.

For more pictures of the day see my facebook or click on the streaming like box in the right column.

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