Our Little Holiday (1)

This Summer was a quite one for us but we did go on a wee holiday to Vancouver Island. Our friends have moved there in the last year and a half and in the past we have gone to their house most summers. Last year we did not go so had not seen their new house. This time we were able to and it was a really wonderful time. We got up at 4am to catch an early ferry and started off the day with a smokey beautiful sunrise on the ferry. We than arrived in Victoria and spent the day there. We went to the Parliament buildings and took a tour, went to Butterfly Gardens and Butchart Gardens (in two days) and then stayed at our friend's home where we went horse back riding and swimming in the river. I, as usual, have many pictures so here they are! Can I just say though...our friend's place did not have cell phone reception and that, THAT, was magical. If you are addicted to your phone....You might be surprised at the person you become if you go somewhere where you can't access it and give yourself about two days to adjust and then see what happens...you may become a totally new person with new eyes and a new heart. It all crashes back down as soon as the cell phone takes over again but in the back of your mind you'll remember...who you could be...who you might really be..without that dang cell phone ruling your world!!!!  Since there are a lot of pictures I will put them in a couple posts.

We were trying to escape the smoke that has blanketed our town because of distant wild fires but it was there as well. However on day three it all cleared away and blue sky appeared. These pictures however are hazed by the smoke.

When we got off the boat we headed straight for the Parliament buildings. I feel a special love of these buildings I think because my great grandfather was in government. Also these buildings are so rich with history and so beautiful they make my heart sing.

Here is my family sitting on the steps. The stroller which is going to break in minutes is at the bottom of the stairs. We entered through the brown side doors you see on the left and went through security before we roamed parts of the building inside.

                           This is looking from the front lawn towards the Empress Hotel.

  The buildings from a bit farther back. When I took this picture I had my two middle children quickly scaling a tree on the parliaments grounds right by the busy main road and so pictures were snapped quickly!

                                           This is inside the buildings ~ a heat register

                                                              Looking out the exit door 

We got a new stroller that proved to be a dud as well but it helped us get through the trip.

      After our trip to the Parliament buildings we went to Butterfly Gardens. See next post xo