Time to go home – Wednesday, July 27, 2016

We all met for a final breakfast in the Main Dining Room. Mixed emotions, as always.

Marion and Barry were first off the Serenity at about 8AM. They parked right there in the garage of Canada Place, so they were off and running on their drive back to Kelowna.

Alison and I hung out until 9:30, when we were ushered to a bus that would take us to a hotel waiting area at the airport for our 3:15 flight.

Johnathan Seagull - a very loud bird who made himself comfortable on the railing right below our cabin
Johnathan Seagull – a very loud bird who made himself comfortable on the railing right below our cabin
Final view of Vancouver from Serenity.
Final view of Vancouver from Serenity.
Interesting sight as we were disembarking...
Interesting sight as we were disembarking…

The trip home was uneventful. Vancouver to Denver, and Denver to Philadelphia – landing just before 2AM Thursday, and getting home a little after 3AM. Thank you for making the pickup, Lauren!

Victoria, BC – Tuesday, July 26, 2016

 

I am not a big fan of the last day of a trip. Are you?

Victoria is an historic and beautiful city, made even more beautiful by the clouds vacating and allowing the sun to do its thing.

We had breakfast in the Main Dining Room for the first time, while docking in Victoria. Our excursion to Butchart Gardens, including high tea, didn’t leave the ship until 11:45, so we had time to wander a bit and get some exercise. We took advantage of a free shuttle from the Serenity into downtown, which gave us more time to wander around, and then walked back to the ship.

Packing is one of the dreaded chores. Alison and I dragged the suitcases from underneath the bed and started the process of gathering and organizing our bags for the trip home. Lunch consisted of a power bar.

Victoria is a good size – the BC Capitol, so the bus transportation and associated “tour” was enjoyable. Butchart Gardens evolved much as Longwood Gardens did. We had about 90 minutes to wander the gardens before tea time. I enjoyed the sunken garden, the Japanese garden, the Rose garden and the Italian garden.

I would consider Butchart Gardens on-par with Longwood Gardens - super-fantastic.
I would consider Butchart Gardens on-par with Longwood Gardens – super-fantastic.
The Sunken Gardens
The Sunken Gardens

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Marion and Barry at Butchart Gardens
Marion and Barry at Butchart Gardens
Alison and Scott attending High Tea at Butchart Gardens
Alison and Scott attending High Tea at Butchart Gardens
Flowers everywhere
Flowers everywhere

Marion and Barry announced that this was awards night right after dinner. There was quite a presentation of simple household items (from the cabin + some dried salmon) that would enable us to survive and thrive. Hmm.

We all retired to our rooms to finish packing and putting our suitcases out in the hall, where they magically disappear – seriously, hundreds of bags, and we never heard a sound — again.