Hello from Seattle! So much has happened since I last updated
this blog!
Here goes:
Wednesday – left our hotel
with Allie and Owen at 6:30, checked in at the Victoria Clipper and off we went
for a 2 hour, 45 minute catamaran excursion to Victoria.
Weather was cool and very overcast.
The ride was pretty smooth and we had breakfast of cinnamon rolls/coffee/tea
along the way. A bus took us to the Butchart
Gardens (45 minutes) and our driver was a great narrator. And
then the Gardens…..cannot begin to describe the beauty of this phenomenal place
(55 acres of non-stop, gorgeous, overwhelmingly spectacular flowers.) Took so many pictures, but really need to
visit here; everyone should add this place to their bucket list There are 4 gardens
(Sunken, Rose, Japanese and Italian) and open year round with 5 seasons (including
Christmas). To say we were totally “blown
away” is a big understatement!!! And
2 things that made this all extra special, was that shortly after we arrived at the gardens, the sun came out
and it was a perfect day for strolling! And, got to share it all with Allie and Owen!!!
Sunken garden
Raspberry hydrangeas
Zinnias
Ian Ross waterfall - named after the great grandson of Jennie and Robert Butchart. The garden grounds were left to Ian in 1939 when Jennie and Robert retired.
Black-eyed Susans
Japanese Garden - red bridge
Spectacular window boxes
Empress Hotel
We had a light lunch of
soup/sandwich and then 2 hours to ooh and aah. Back to the bus for 45-minute trip to
Victoria (different route). We had 3
hours to enjoy this charming city and just meandered up and down Government
Street and enjoyed some gelato. We also walked thru the
beautiful historic Empress Hotel. Allie
and I really wanted to have Afternoon High Tea, but nothing available. Next time….
We had a great late lunch
at Bard and Banker (Scottish Pub in an old beautiful bank building). Then the 2 hour 45-minute ride back to
Seattle arriving at 9:45.
It was a very memorable day
full of sooo much beauty!!!
Thursday –
We checked out of the Loyal Inn, stored our stuff in the car and walked to the
Washington Athletic Club with a stop at Specialty’s for breakfast – gooey pecan
rolls/coffee/skinny vanilla latte. Met
the Blues families in lobby of The Washington Athletic Club and we took a
shuttle to the Diamond Marina where we boarded the “Walkabout”, a 57’ cruiser owned
by Kay and Craig (friends of the Blue Angels). They provide this boat trip/luncheon each
year on the Thursday practice for the family members – there were around 20 of
us. It was a gorgeous day with deep
blue skies, we cruised on Lake Union and onto Lake Washington where we saw the homes
of….Bill Gates, Dale Chihuly (glass designer), Nordstrom, Amazon, Costco,
Dollar Tree, Value Village (big consignment shops in this area and Anchorage)
and on and on…..so much fun. We had all
sorts of beverages, wonderful lunch prepared by Kay and enjoyed the practice by
the Blues in a prime location! On the return to the marina, we passed the home where "Sleepless in Seattle" was filmed!
What a fun day hanging out with our Blue Angel family! We were back in the marina by 3ish, had our shuttle take us back to the WAC (where we are staying next 3 days). Traffic was horrific. Mark walked to the Loyal Inn to pick up our car and we settled in…. Had dinner with Ryan at The Carlile Room – really different type menu, but we all enjoyed our tasty dinners (steaks for the guys, salmon for me) and visit. Had after-drink drinks at Torchy’s (WAC) and then said good-night ending a very enjoyable day…..each and every day out here has been soooo incredible!
What a fun day hanging out with our Blue Angel family! We were back in the marina by 3ish, had our shuttle take us back to the WAC (where we are staying next 3 days). Traffic was horrific. Mark walked to the Loyal Inn to pick up our car and we settled in…. Had dinner with Ryan at The Carlile Room – really different type menu, but we all enjoyed our tasty dinners (steaks for the guys, salmon for me) and visit. Had after-drink drinks at Torchy’s (WAC) and then said good-night ending a very enjoyable day…..each and every day out here has been soooo incredible!
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