Victoria, BC - January 2000
By Barbara Ballard
Winter in Victoria usually means rain and cloudy skies with an all-pervasive grayness to the weather. Hours of daylight are short, and the city does seem to lose its ambiance. However, there are advantages to off-season travel. Room rates can be almost half the high season ones - and there's still lots to see and do.
If wind and rain don't bother you, it's a perfect time to put on your waterproof boots and walk the ocean-front path to Ogden Point to watch the waves crash over the breakwater. Stop for a warming cup of coffee or other goodies at the Ogden Point Cafe. From here walk along the oceanfront Dallas Road walkway to Douglas St, and you'll be at Mile Zero of the Trans-Canada Highway. A quick turn to the left leads you along Beacon Hill Park and back to the city centre. If you've really got your boots on, you can continue the waterfront walk for several miles to Oak Bay where you can catch a bus back to downtown.
Really brave souls can join the Polar Bear Swim at Elk Lake (just off the Pat Bay Highway) at 2pm on New Year's Day.
Art lovers can keep busy for days visiting the galleries that dot the city. The Art Gallery of Greater Victoria is presenting three exhibitions. "Sword of the Samurai" will showcase swords, suits of armour, masks and more. The art of Emily Carr, a native Victorian and one of Canada's most significant 20th century artists, will be on display. And something really unusual - eight monks from Tibet will be creating a three dimensional wooden mandala, a ritual performance in Tibetan tradition. They will also create a 16-foot high sculpture in butter, and a Tibetan astrologer will be on hand for consultations.
If you're in the mood for art shopping, the Gallery features a gift shop or try Out of Hand Gallery in Market Square, a craft shop featuring handmade, one-of-a-kind art objects from Canadian artists. They feature glass, pottery, jewelry, sculpture and fabric art.
Victoria has its own symphony orchestra and two special millennium events are planned. On January 16 and 17th, the Greatest Hits of the Millennium will be presented. Music will range from Gregorian chant to the musicals of the 60's. A classical and jazz trumpet program with highlights from three centuries of music takes place on January 20/22. Both are at the Royal Theatre on Broughton St. To book tickets, contact them at 250-385-6515.
An Irish dance and music concert happens on January 7/9th at the same theatre. Call 250-386-6121 for details.
The Royal British Columbia Museum is well known for the quality of its exhibits. Learn more about British Columbia in its three galleries: Natural History, First Peoples, and Modern History. A special exhibit, "Out of the Mist", is currently highlighted. This historic world premier exhibit showcases the culture and heritage of the People of the Nuu-chah-nulth First Nations. Their history dates back 7000 years. General information: 1-800-661-5411.
Happening in February - you may want to plan ahead for it - is an unusual trip, "Storms that Shape Us", with the Museum's curator, Dr. Hebda, to the Institute of Ocean Sciences. You'll learn about El Nino and global warming, then head off to the east coast of the Island to see the effects of winter storms and help museum staff take earth core samples at a research site. The museum says, "Bring your camera and hope for a stormy day."
The trip runs Friday, February 11 from 9am to 5:30pm. $95 + tax. Note: This field trip is meant for adults in good physical condition. There will be travel on some possibly slippery terrain.
If the weather's really bad, cozy down at the National Geographic Imax Theatre attached to the Museum. January's films are Wolves, The Living Sea, and Mysteries of Egypt.
And, of course, cold weather uses up so many calories, you'll have to refuel. Indulge at Roger's Chocolates in a 1903 heritage storefront on Government St. Their chocolates are still made the old-fashioned way. Or try Bernard Callebaut, my personal favorite, at 623 Broughton, just off Government St. Callebaut was awarded the prestigious Grand Prix International Artisan Chocolatier, the top award presented at the International Chocolate Festival held in Roanne, France.
Quirky Stuff
Winston Churchill planted a tree in downtown Beacon Hill Park in 1929. Supporters toast his memory with the annual Churchill champagne toast at the foot of the tree on Quadra St. at 2pm Sunday, January 23rd.
©1999 Barbara Ballard. Reproduction of this work in whole or in part, including reproduction in electronic media, without documented permission from the author is prohibited.
Questions?
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