Welcome sign at the Victoria port. Photo by P. Rickrode September 2014.
The final port stop on our Alaskan cruise was Victoria, B.C., known for it’s amazing federal building, the Empress Hotel and thousands and thousdands of flowers and plants at Buchart Gardens.
Our exploration of Victoria began with a bus tour of the city on our way to Craigdarroch Castle, a masterpiece of Victorian architecture built in the 1800’s as home to coal baron Robert Dunsmuir.
Here is a photo of the front of the castle, but I believe it might actually have been the back of the castle. You’ll see why in the second photo.
Modern-day entrance to Craigdarroch Castle, Victoria BC. Photo by P. Rickrode September 2014.
This photo looks more like the front of a home than the back to me.
Craigdarroch Castle, Victoria BC. Photo by P. Rickrode September 2014.
Here we took a self-guided walking tour of the four-story mansion complete with: an abundance of intricate woodwork believed to be western and red cedar (can you see the faint orb hovering on the right side of the arch over the door?,
Porte-cochere entrance, original main entrance of Craigdarroch Castle, which was actually on the side of the house. Victoria BC. Photo by P. Rickrode September 2014.
this intercom system (speaking tubes as they called them),
The “speaking tube” intercom system in Craigdarroch Castle, Victoria BC. Photo by P. Rickrode September 2014.
massive stone fireplaces like this one in the main hall (notice the orb on the paneling near the mountain goat’s right horn,
The main hall fireplace inspribed with this phrase from Shakespeare’s Troilus and Cressida, “Welcome ever smiles and farewell goes out sighing.” Craigdarroch Castle, Victoria BC. Photo by P. Rickrode September 2014.
amazing staircases with an oh-so-obvious orb sliding down the banister,
Me and my sweetie on the staircase from the first floor to the second. Yes, that is an orb floating just above my hand. Craigdarroch Castle, Victoria, BC. September 2014.
mosaic tile floors,
Amazing tile work floor. Craigdarroch Castle, Victoria BC. Photo by P. Rickrode September 2014.
painted ceilings,
Lovely original painted ceiling in the first floor main hall. Craigdarroch Castle, Victoria BC. Photo by P. Rickrode September 2014.
exquisite stained glass (this picture does not do this lovely nook justice),
Beautiful stained glass windows. Craigdarroch Castle, Victoria BC. Photo by P. Rickrode September 2014.
lavish Victorian-era furnishings,
A guest room at Craigdarroch Castle, Victoria BC. Photo by P. Rickrode September 2014.
and — did I mention — orbs.
It should be noted that not once on our journey to, or throughout the tour, did anyone ever mention the presence of these floating balls. It was not until I returned home and downloaded my pictures on to my laptop that I noticed an extreme concentration of the milky spheres.
While there are some orbs in these pictures, to see more pictures of Craigdarroch Castle’s orbs, visit my FB page, photo album Craigdarroch Castle.
After touring the castle, we headed into town where we opted to spend the final leg of the journey walking along the water’s edge. We enjoyed a lovely lunch of fish and chips and an amazing glass of stout beer at an authentic Scottish pub,
Bard & Banker, a Scottish Pub in Victoria, BC. Photo by P. Rickrode September 2014.
wandered through the Empress Hotel
Empress Hotel, Victoria BC. Photo by P. Rickrode September 2014.
A courtyard at the Empress Hotel, Victoria BC. Photo by P. Rickrode September 2014.
Empress Hotel, Victoria BC. Photo by P. Rickrode September 2014.
and strolled along the water’s edge, past the Parliament building
Federal Building, Victoria BC. Photo by P. Rickrode September 2014.
and several beautiful bed and breakfast inns,
Huntingdon Manor, Victoria, BC. Photo by P. Rickrode September 2014.
back to our ship, admiring wooden boats moored in the quiet wharf
Wooden boat. Victoria BC. Photo by P. Rickrode September 2014.
and watching sea planes land and take off along the way.
The sea plane taxi. Victoria BC. Photo by P. Rickrode September 2014.
All-in-all, a very relaxing and enjoyable day in Victoria.
So, what say you lovely readers: ever discover any orbs in your photos? Which picture do you think most looks like the front of Craigdarroch Castle? Ever been to Victoria BC? Ever traveled by float plane? Inquiring minds want to know so please take a moment to post a comment below. I love to know your thoughts.
Fun fact about me: I love egg salad sandwiches for breakfast.
Word of the day: Kunzite.
Original post by Jansen Schmidt November 2014. Original photos by P. Rickrode.
jansenschmidt 
I haven’t been to Victoria since I was 18 – such a beautiful place! Your Craigdarroch Castel pictures are fabulous. Someday, I’ll live in a castle. Oh yes. I took pictures at Winchester House (spooky place) and had a couple spine-shivering photos of hazy forms with super-creepy faces. Shudder. Just thinking about them gives me the willies. Thanks for sharing your vacay with us!
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Hey CJ! It’s been a long, long while since I’d been to Victoria as well, probably 35 years or so, but I remembered it being beautiful. We enjoyed touring the “castle,” although I’m not sure I’d want to like in one. A mansion perhaps, but I’m not sure about a castle.
Aren’t those ghostly images creepy? Neither my husband nor I felt any sort of presence while we there there, which is why I was so surprised to see all of the orbs in my pictures. Kind of a cool thing to discover after the fact.
Any who, thanks for visiting this morning. Have a lovely week my friend.
Patricia
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Never been to Victoria, though I have a second cousin who lives there. That castle is awesome. I think the top pic looks more like the front, though, either would do! If I see orbs in my photos, I just think they’re a reflection. But who knows about these?
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Hey Jennette – so good to see you. Victoria is beautiful. If you ever get a chance to visit, I hope you do. The castle was very pretty and big. Interesting thing about the orbs in the pictures: I was chancing my camera settings alot because the lighting was so poor in most of the rooms. The pictures that turned out the best are actually the ones without the flash. Which leads me to believe they are not reflections. The pictures with the flash do have some bright white spots that look different from the milky orbs. Some pictures have both the flash reflections and the orbs. So weird.
Anyway, it was a fun experience and an awesome house to walk through.
Until next week – have a wonderful few days.
Patricia
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Traveled by ship from Seattle to Victoria back around 1972(?). Met Sebastian Cabet from Family Affair on the ship and got his autograph. Thanks for the pics of your time in Victoria. I love the one with the orb. I captured one with a huge orb in it at one of our shows a few years back. It’s very cool to capture an orb.
Nikki
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Hey Nikki. Welcome back. This is just a smattering of my Victoria photos. I’ll catch you up with the rest when next we meet.
I captured lots of orbs in my pictures from that old house. Really kind of neat.
I’m wondering if we weren’t traveling that same ferry route at the same time. It was around then that I first visited Victoria from Seattle as well. I, however, did not have the pleasure of meeting Sebastian Cabet. Mr. French no? How cool is that?
Thanks for visiting. Have a wonderful week.
Patricia
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Gorgeous! I’ve never been to Canada, but I’ve always wanted to go.
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Hey Kitt. I’m glad you took a little virtual vacation over here at The Edge of Eternity. Canada has a lot of beauty and cultural experiences to offer. Victoria was pretty clean and there was an abundance of flowers. I didn’t get to take too many pictures of the city itself since I saw most of it from a moving bus, but it was indeed lovely.
Thanks for stopping by.
Patricia
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