Holland Point, Victoria BC on the strait of Juan de Fuca
It sits on the south end of a peninsula, at the south end of Vancouver Island. It faces the majestic Olympic Mountains in Washington State. I played on the beaches on the other side of this point with my sister, brother and neighbour kids. For my seventh birthday my mother organized a weiner roast on the beach. I was so happy that night I told my mother I wanted to be 7 years old forever. Today I live in downtown Victoria, the beach is a long walk or a short bus ride from my apartment. One day recently when I was looking out to sea, a man stopped to say "Isn't it beautiful!" I felt compelled to say "If you think that, you should have seen it when I was a kid. The beach was alive, schools of porpoises swam across, there were sea lions on the rocks." He said, "It's still beautiful."
Looking West to Ogden Point breakwater
I was leaning on this railing when that man approached. There was also driftwood on the beaches back in the day and the locals used it for firewood and there were crabs, mussels, jelly fish, sea anenome, star fish, and coloured glass pieces, glass floats from Japan.
Ogden Point where the cruise ships land
The only motel on Dallas Road
After this motel went up and a high rise further down the road, a community was formed to control development in this area called James Bay.
A good spot to look out to sea and meditate.
The rocky shore has many tidal pools.
As children we looked down into the the deep tidal pools in the rocks and we imagined they would take us right into Neptune's kingdom.
Across from the Dallas Cliffs lies Beacon Hill Park, and a walk though the park will bring you right downtown Victoria.
A flock of resident peacocks and peahens control the park and do not give up their right of way.
The BC Legislature Buildings
Café on Government St across from Bay Centre
Victoria is a college town and a government town. It's also a tourist mecca since we have over 200 cruise ships stopping here each season. The population changes according the calendars of the University of Victoria, the Legislature and the cruise ships.
Broad St downtown, leaving an Employment Agency
I hope you visit and when you do, enjoy the water on three sides, the old buildings and hidden Victoria, like Trounce Alley.
Trounce Alley off Yates Street
I wasn't sure how I was going to end this walk through my town. Nostalgia won me over so here is a photo of my sister and I. Notice the ladies in the background wearing hats and gloves.
My sister & I on Douglas St. downtown Victoria.