Santa Fe - Settling In

A little get-away is what we need, maybe somewhere warm, how about a state I've never been in, how about a place I've always wanted to go... that's how we came to plan a trip to Santa Fe, New Mexico. My grandparents and mom lived there in 1946 on McKenzie street, just a few blocks from the historic downtown plaza. My parents dated, became engaged, got married, and made their first home in Santa Fe. And they became pregnant with me, their first baby, in Santa Fe. Lots of reasons to go to Santa Fe, walk the streets, remember all the stories, and listen to whatever my parents might tell me while I was there where they started out life as a married couple. So off we went and from the moment I stepped off the plane (in the second smallest airport I've ever been in, second only to Whakatane, in New Zealand), I felt the warmth and beauty that is Santa Fe. First things first, we settled in at the "Old Santa Fe Inn" on Gallisteo Street which is a few short blocks from the center of the historic downtown area.

 

 

Bengal Lounge

We wrapped up this lovely trip to Victoria with a leisurely lunch at the Empress Hotel in the Bengal Lounge. Thick with rich, colorful, exotic atmosphere, this room is redolent of India in colonial times. We relaxed in wing-back chairs by the window and munched on an assortment of flat breads, tapenade, hummus and other spreads. Yummy. And then it was time to go home...

 

Day Three - Victoria in February

Unlike what we left at home in the Seattle area, Victoria's spring blooming season was well along by the time we visited in mid-February. We spent a lot of time walking the James Bay neighborhood, Beacon Hill Park, and the park-like grounds of the Parliament Buildings. One of the highlights was seeing the home of acclaimed artist and author, Emily Carr.

Visiting the Parliament Buildings

As many times as we have been to Victoria, neither of us had ever been inside the Parliament Buildings, so we decided it was high time. We had a fabulous docent who mixed interesting facts and tongue-in-cheek humor to give us a memorable tour. Here are some visual highlights.

Valentine's Day in Victoria

Because our December trip was so fun, we couldn't wait to do another trip to Victoria and Valentine's Day afforded us the perfect excuse. Armed with hard-to-get reservations at Il Terrazzo for dinner that night, we set off on the Clipper early on the 14th. This time we stayed just a little bit closer to downtown at the Hotel Grand Pacific which is just across the street from the Parliament Buildings. We had a breathtaking view at night of both the harbor and the Parliament Buildings outlined in white lights.

Odds and Ends

A few leftover odds and ends from our trip. A couple of our favorite restaurants (Il Terrazzo and Bard & Banker Scottish Pub), the view of the harbor boat traffic from our room at the Laurel Point Inn and in our last hours, a horse drawn carriage ride through the historic neighborhood of James Bay.

 

 

 

Craigdarroch Castle

One of the things we enjoyed this trip was a visit to the Craigdarroch Castle which is a nice (?), long, uphill walk out of town on Fort Street--the touristy pamphlet described this as a "leisurely" walk. Once you reach the castle, you have the opportunity to tour it--which means climbing 87 stairs all together by the time you get to the tower. Was it worth it? Totally. The castle is well maintained with much to see on every floor, not to mention a fabulous story to go with. There is even a charming gift shop at the end of the tour where we bought a souvenir Christmas ornament. Here is a brief description from Craigdarroch Castle website:

"Craigdarroch was built between 1887-1890 for Robert Dunsmuir, a Scottish immigrant who made his fortune from Vancouver Island coal. This legendary Victorian mansion, built on a hill overlooking the City of Victoria announced to the world that Robert Dunsmuir was the richest and most important man in Western Canada.

He died in 1889 leaving his entire estate to his wife Joan who lived in the Castle until her death in 1908. The immense fortune of the Dunsmuir family is reflected in the four floors of exquisite stained glass windows, intricate woodwork and fabulous Victorian era Furnishings.

Once you’ve entered the circular room at the main entrance and paid your admission fee, your self guided tour begins. You will be treated to 39 rooms, most of which are furnished lavishly in the 1890s-1900s period, so enjoy the ambiance as you climb the 87 stairs to the tower. There you’ll see fabulous views of Victoria, the Strait of Juan de Fuca, and the Olympic Mountains."