07/23/04’s illustrious band:

Vector: Victoria

Northwest Notes, Chapter 5

Brought to you by the Victoria, BC. It ain't called the City of Gardens for nothin', folks.

Friday, July 9 was the day we bid a fond farewell to the BBL&S -- but not right away. Checkout time wasn't until noon, so G-Doc and I went our separate ways for the morning. After a three-course gourmet breakfast -- did I mention the three-course gourmet breakfasts? -- he opted for a return trip to Butchart Gardens to enjoy the plants without getting detoured to the toolsheds, and got rained on for the first and only time of our trip.

I had expressed interest in getting a massage in the spa part of the BBL&S, whereupon PR maven (and fine dining companion) Jessica informed me that it would, of course, be complimentary. Of course! As were the tea in the Tranquillity Lounge beforehand and the aromatic steam shower afterward. The massage was as good as the food, and Chloe, my masseuse, earned a generous tip. Viva la BBL&S!

Come noon, we packed up the Grand Am and headed south to the city of Victoria. With G-Doc in charge of maps and me at the wheel, we drove straight into the city, straight downtown, and straight to the curb outside our hotel, the botanically named Magnolia. The Mag, as we called it, was a model of European elegance of a certain era, stolid where the BBL&S had been serene, a trifle worn around the edges. No homemade cookies, no hand-carved candleholders, no Sommelier Brian lecturing us about wine. It was the perfect location for what we wanted to do, though, so we liked it just fine.

We had reached the Mag with an hour to spare before our afternoon engagement with Joan, who was to guide us to three private gardens in Victoria. After dumping our car with the valet (!) and our baggage in our rooms (G-Doc got a corner room with a view of the bay, the lucky so-and-so), we hit the streets in search of eats. There were plenty of storefront cafes downtown offering prepackaged sandwiches and pastries, including the ubiquitous Nanaimo Bar, the composition of which we never did determine.

The problem we ran into was finding someplace whose prepared sandwiches weren't slimy with mayonnaise, a substance neither of us can abide. Eventually we did, however, and devoured half a sandwich apiece on the way back to the Mag to meet our guide. The remainders went into the little fridges in our rooms, which in my case turned out not to be such a good idea.

So we descended to the Mag lobby and immediately spotted the personage who could only be Joan, Garden Guide Extraordinnaire . . . and here we end for the day, because Joan deserves a chapter all her own. This is what's known in the media biz as a cliffhanger. See you Monday!

Next time: St. Joan and the Tangential Minivan -- for real this time, I promise.

Yesterday around the world: July 22 was Pi Approximation Day. I forgot to explain that this date was chosen because when you write it European style, it's 22/7. Sister-san points out that March 14, or 3.14, would have been an equally good choice.

Today around the world: July 23 is Revolution Day in Egypt.

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