Hmm, chair on the roof. Image of Beverly Hillbillies heading to LA. Actually, I walk a bit every day, so as not to feel welded to the chair.
Victoria is great, and downtown hotels go for $39.95 Cdn at this time of year. Even in summer, they're only $10 or $20 more. It's not "Lost Wages, Nevada", but we do have a casino, as well as lots of whale watching. You can fly in direct, but if you land in Vancouver, the hop over to the Island only takes about twenty minutes, and the commuter plane (40-seater?) only climbs to 4000 feet or so, meaning great views of the small islands it passes over. If you like scuba diving, there's a dive center on the waterfront. If you like drinking, some bars have $1 shooter nights, but I haven't checked it out. There are several brews only available on the Island. Some ads feature Customs agents removing bottles of a local brand from a departing visitor's suitcase, saying, "The beer stays here!" Some parts of downtown Victoria are as picturesque as old Quebec City, and the downtown's small enough to walk around. I spent three weeks here in 2001, returned to Toronto just long enough to attend a couple of family events, then came back to stay. Thirty years in Toronto is enough for anyone. Never ride your bicycle in the snow again, Frank! You'd be amazed at the number of recumbent bikes rolling around here. Uh-oh, I'd better stop before half of Ontario moves here. Pat White
