Switching gears from France, later in the Summer I ventured on a planned Canadian Rockies by Rail tour with my university alumni group. Again, to lift my spirits and give me something positive to focus on and dream about, these plans began a year earlier and really, even earlier than that when I called the alumni group during COVID and asked them to send me 'all travel brochures' - and they keep on coming!
The train ride trip through the Canadian Rockies including the Victoria, BC pre-tour interested me the most from all the brochures. The pre-tour included a 2-night stay at the glamorous Fairmont Empress hotel in downtown Victoria, a walking tour of the city, a short ferry ride on little yellow boats, and a trip to Butchart Gardens.
This grand hotel has that distinctive French chateau style and was originally built in the early 1900s to house the many guests anticipated arriving by rail from the more populous East. Of the hotels toured and stayed in on this trip, this was my favorite. The high tea experience below may have had something to do with it or it could be the decor, the furnishings, the style, and the service - but likely all of the above.
A highlight on the trip was the excursion to Butchart Gardens. I had seen a picture of it which enticed me to sign up for the pre-tour when I saw it on the agenda. It was everything promised and more. Developed out of an old depleted limestone quarry, this place now has 50 master gardeners tending to it as its perfection shows. Late July is likely to have the spectacular weather of bright sunshine and comfortable 75 degrees F (24 C) this tour experienced when the United States was enduring 90+ degree F (32 C) heat. I was certainly glad to be here.
From Victoria, the pre-tour group virtually glided over the Strait of Georgia waterway on the 1.5 hour ferry ride to Vancouver. I have never been on such a large but quiet ferry. We deboarded and headed to our next hotel which would position us for our departure on the Canadian railway portion of the trip. But first, we had some sites to see in Vancouver and to meet the other travelers joining us for the main trip.
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