Victoria BC

This was the second part of our pre-deployment leave.  We took a trip up to Victoria, B.C.  Our first stop was Butchart Gardens.  This was an amazing place; the gardens were gorgeous!

Alex got to experience his first carousel ride.

After an early morning start and ferry ride, Alex was clearly in no mood after the carousel so we worked on getting him to take a stroller nap before proceeding to the rose and Japanese gardens.

The Rose Garden

Entrance to Japanese Garden

He is back and happy after a nap and some gelato.

After Butchart we headed back to checkin to our hotel.  This was an amazing hotel.  It's design is based on Green Building principles.  For instance, the floors are heated in the bathroom and uses Geothermal Heating (heat captured from deep beneath the ground's surface).  They try to use as many sustainable or recycled building materials/furnishings as possible.  

Alex's favorite part of the hotel; these round sofa pillows that he called "Cocoa".  Don't ask me where he got that name from; I have no idea.

Today we started the morning off with mass and breakfast at the Inner Harbor.  After a brief toddler nap at the hotel we went back to the Inner Harbor for some sight seeing and a trip to the Royal British Museum.  

The Empress Hotel

These "mime" acts where everywhere at the Inner Harbor.

The Parliament.  I wanted a night time shot because it is covered in lights and it is gorgeous, but with a toddler it is sometimes difficult to plan night shots when the sun doesn't completely set until after 9pm.

Alex running off some energy in front of the Parliament.  

We had a wonderful time there, but as with so many trips we needed more time.  There is so much to do; you really need 4 or 5 days.  It was nice to be able to take a ferry vs flying.