North America - Canada - Victoria - Walking in Victoria, BC

Canada - Victoria, BC

Here are a few tips for Cruisers who would like to take a walk in Victoria. We were on the Island Princess repositioning the ship from Vancouver to San Francisco. I know this is the end of the cruise season in Alaska, but here are a few tips for future travelers to Alaska.

We arrived in Victoria with only a few hours to see the City. We decided to walk off the ship and walk to town.

The cruise ship terminal at Ogden Point is 1.49 miles from the City Center of Victoria, There are tourist information people standing on the dock with maps and information.

Get a map, walk up a small hill above the terminal. You will not need it, the signage is excellent.

Take the Walking Path Downtown Route (approximately 15- 30 minutes)

Follow the Signs

Walking downtown, there are many architecturally interesting buildings along the way.

Fisherman’s Wharf - the Wharf is made up of a group of small shops, cafés, and restaurants - then there are a couple of arms of houseboats (each decorated in different ways and great to see)

Welcome to Victoria

Walking downtown 
When you reach the Black Line Ferry Terminal, get the Outdoor Self-Guided Walking Tour. It details 14 notable statues, fountains, gardens, and memorials surrounding the 12 ½ acre Parliament Building property. Being a tourist, we stopped at the terminal as we were walking back to the ship. Missed a few things.

The British Columbia Parliament Buildings were constructed in 1893.

Empress Hotel - Situated over Inner Harbour, this is a National Historic Site.

Emily Carr, Canadian painter, and writer

The Royal BC Museum

Totem Poles – Government Street

Walking back, you can either take the same route along the waterfront, or take Oswego Street – it will bring you to the water – the ship will be to your right.

If you are still in the mood for Walking, take the Unity Wall and Breakwater Walk. The Ogden Point Breakwater is a narrow and spectacular walkway jutting out about 800 meters from the shore, with a lighthouse at the far end. The return trip is almost exactly a mile. It is located next to the Cruise Ship Terminal.

 Island Princess

North America - Canada - Vancouver - A Day In Vancouver

Vancouver, Canada - A Day in Vancouver

We caught the Big Bus on Howe Street – There are 23 stops on the Hop-on, Hop-off City Loop.

English Bay – Sculpture of Giant laughing Statues - 14 enormous bronze statues – in all different poses – of a shirtless guy laughing hysterically.

At Stanley Park, we got off the bus and took the extra Stanley Park Tour, which is part of the package. The First Nations Totem Poles were terrific.

Brockton Point Lighthouse

Girl in a Wetsuit is a life-size bronze sculpture by Elek Imredy of a woman in a  wetsuit, located on a rock in the water along the north side of Stanley Park.

Prospect Point

Lions Gate Bridge

Gastown

We got off the bus and took a walk – we saw the working steam clock, one of only a few in the world, located in Vancouver's Victorian Gastown.

The statue of Gassy Jack, the founding father of Vancouver, Captain John "Gassy Jack" Deighton
.

Coal Harbour – Downtown Vancouver

The Digital Orca is a 2009 sculpture by Douglas Coupland, located adjacent to the Vancouver Convention Centre.

The Olympic Caudron located in Jack Poole Plaza

Granville Island

I know this is a very Touristy place – but it is so colorful.

We took the False Creek Ferry back to our hotel.

Yaletown

We went to Happy Hour at the Flying Pig, one of Vancouver's best neighborhood restaurants in Yaletown. 4-6pm

App's were $6-8, selected wine and beer $5-6.  We had Truffle Mac n Cheese, Salmon Cakes Halibut poppers and Brussels Sprouts

We had a beautiful day in Vancouver – can't wait to come back and see more of it. Here's one final photo that was taken on Burrard Bridge at sunset.



 

North America - Canada - Vancouver BC - A Monday Night In Vancouver BC

Welcome to Vancouver BC

We arrived late afternoon to our hotel located in the Yaletown District of Vancouver Island. There were 35 in our group. A few of us decided to take a walk over the Granville Street Bridge to have dinner.  It was a beautiful warm evening. Being typical tourists, we walked over the Burrard Bridge, instead of the Granville Street Bridge.  I was able to get this photo of the Burrand Bridge Harbor.

We walked around Granville Island.

 

We stopped for dinner at The Sandbar – it was crowded for a Monday night. The food was decent after a long travel day.



We caught the False Creek Ferry back to our hotel. It was a lovely way to start our stay in Vancouver!

We caught the False Creek Ferry back to our hotel. It was a lovely way to start our stay in Vancouver!



September 22, 2014

Europe - Switzerland - Basel -A Day Trip to Basel, Switzerland

From Interlaken, we used our Swiss Rail Pass for a day trip to Basel. The Express Train was 1 hour 45 minutes, there was so much to see along the way – time flew by.

Basel is located on the Rhine River near the borders of France and Germany, it is Switzerland's second-largest city. At the train station, we went to the Visitor's Information Desk – requested a walking map of Basel's main highlights.

Our first stop was The Bank of International Settlements.  Frank read a book called "The Tower of Basel" by Adam Lebor. He was interested in seeing the building.

We walked over the Middle Bridge to the Rheinufer Basel and walked along the waters of the Rhein. There were many towers, buildings, museums, and restaurants to see.

There are many spots where one can sit, have lunch or a snack, and watch all the happenings on the water's edge.

We crossed the Rhein River on the cable ferry from underneath the Basler Pfalz.  It was inexpensive and fun.

Basel Munster Cathedral, made of red sandstone with a multi-covered tile roof dating back to the 13th century.



Rathaus, Marktplatz Square 

This unique City Hall building stands out among the row of buildings at Marktplatz square. The brick-red walls with colorful facades are striking, the decorations were done in the style of Art Nouveau.

The Basel old town is lovely as there are so many small streets where you can turn a corner and see more and more impressive buildings.

The Kunstmuseum Basel is home to one of the largest and oldest public museum collections in Europe.  Admission to the museum is included in your Swiss Pass, free museums. 

A collection of impressionists, from Monet to Van Gogh and Cezanne. The works thereof Picasso, Manet, Chagall, Klee, are seldom seen works. A delightful museum with an outstanding collection and an extensive and pleasant display. Also, the last hour is a "happy hour," so free.

Auguste Rodin's Les Bourgeois de Calais

Walked passed the very unusual Tinguely Museum which had many sculpture's that rattle, shake, or twirl, we did not know what to think about it  –  we only took one picture.

Walking back to the Basel Main Station, there were so many sights to see!

  

We stopped at a Café to rest our feet.  2 coffees, 1 pastry = $13.00, Switzerland is pricey.

Near the Basel Main Station, we passed the Union Bank of Switzerland.

We took the 4:30pm train back to Interlaken.  We had an enjoyable and exciting visit to Basel!

I have not been everywhere, but I believe Switzerland is one of the most beautiful countries in the world!

March 2014

During a walk through the old town, past small boutiques, antique book shops but also shops of modern designers,

lmost 40 museums make Basel the city with the highest density of museums in the country. Internationally known museums, such as the Basel Art Museum,