Vacation to Victoria & Kelowna ~ March 2005

We first spent the weekend in Victoria celebrating my mom's birthday with family.  The first thing that knocked my socks off were these stunning cherry trees everywhere!

Right behind the cherry tree is this building.  I was so excited to go inside - a glass studio with glass blowers & lots of beautiful glass art pieces & lampwork beads.  If you're in Victoria & you like glass, this place is a must.

We spent a day walking around downtown Victoria.  Eventually we stumbled into Chinatown, which is rather small but very charming.  This is part of the entrance gate to Chinatown.

One of the coolest things I saw in Chinatown was this tea brick - the brown, rectangular brick in the back middle of this picture.  This is tea, pressed & was used in ancient times as a form of currency (I think they still use it as a form of currency in Mongolia today).  It had a beautiful landscape relief on it.  I don't think I could rip little pieces off for tea - it's just too pretty.  What a great gift idea though.  This is the shop we spotted them in. 

Cool building ~ downtown Victoria

Inside a brightly decorated store in Victoria.

First sign of spring in Kelowna...can you spot the robins?

I was hoping to see this bald eagle.  The last few times I've visited in Kelowna, we've gone on this walk through Mission Creek & spotted him resting on this tree.  It must be his favorite hangout. 

This is the wonderful & inspiring Mission Creek.

A beautiful shot of the Kelowna mountains & more creeks winding through a wildlife sanction.

I love this Heron statue in the creek.  It's elegant & very dramatic.

More Mission creek shots.

Mom & I spotted a little otter swimming in the creek, but most my pictures of it didn't turn out so you just have to imagine one swimming along the side of the creek here.