Victoria, B.C.- A Schedule of Flowers

Victoria is neat.

I don't mean that the way that immediately gives away that I'm white.
I mean neat, tidy.

An official from Victoria's response when finding out that Singapore fines people who chew gum is most likely to be, "Singapore fines people who chew gum? That sounds neat, eh. Help me tidy this up, here."
This is to say, that if countries participated in the buddy system, Victoria and Singapore would wear matching shirts. This is because they see things the same way.

A good example is your common, everday sidewalk. When I see a sidewalk I see a place to avoid urine (You hear me, San Francisco?), and maybe ironically consume a beverage on the way to my next rendezvous.

Places like Victoria and Singapore do not see a sidewalk. They see concrete as a place to not litter. And as for that beverage, buddy, you better dispose of that cup in a trash receptacle. Which they have every 15 feet.

I don't wish to give the impression that Victoria (or Singapore, while we beat that dead horse) is in any way impolite. They'd spit on the sidewalk before they would be impolite. I simply mean to impart that the fine folks who run Victoria are a mite-bit twitchy about cleanliness. I suppose they have reason to be, since they have built a beautiful city. Victoria is well-thought out, there are flowers everywhere, and there is a place for everything and everything is for darn sure in it's place. You betcha.

And just so I get the point across, let me repeat: there are flowers everywhere. I get the nagging idea that for the city of Victoria, the calendar is less of a schedule of 12 months, and is rather a schedule of when the petunias are in full bloom. The weather is wonderful year-round, and perfect for flower growing. The city has taken full advantage of this by placing flowers in hanging baskets on most of the city streets.

For an example of those aforementioned hanging baskets run amok, a must-see is the Butchart Gardens National Historic Site. The fee is nominal but reasonably priced.
Butchart Gardens is over 50 acres in size, and takes over 50 gardeners working all year round. Their work is breathtaking, and any tour should be slow and deliberate. Take your time when visiting. Take lots of pictures. Stay on the sidewalk. Don't step on anything.

Another notable thing about Victoria is the Native American influence. Tribes have helped form what Victoria is today, and is akin to the influence you see in a city such as Albuquerque NM, or Cheyenne WY. One such example is the totem pole I saw on the side of the street, with a Honda parked right next to it. I found the whole thing ironic and odd. I'll leave whatever conclusions can be gleaned up to you.

As for the rest of the city, the people are friendly, the Starbucks accepts U.S. currency (but the prices are in Canadian dollars, and maple syrup is hinted at but not overtly present), and the malls could have been any mall in the States.

My time in Victoria was charming. It is a beautiful place to visit, the climate is wonderful, they drive on the side of the road I'm used to, and the people are friendly. Go see it if you can.