Archives for category: Travel

Afternoon coffee break

April 25, 2012 //

Walking around the downtown on a lovely spring day completing errands. Hey! Let’s stop for coffee! So we went to the new location of Macchiato Caffe and Paninoteca at The Juliet on the corner of Johnson and Blanshard streets. GJ’s americano was very good and I tried their Callebaut Spiced Chocolate Chai which was amazing! It looks like they have nice sandwiches and treats too.

This part of town is becoming a bit of a food hub with this new place, Pig, Shine Cafe, Habit, Jackalope, Zambris and a block further Clay Pigeon, devour, Delicato’s, Special Teas and a large array of Vietamese, Thai and Indian places to name a few. Macchiato’s other location is on the corner of Broad and Broughton.

Yum! My Callebaut Spiced Chocolate Chai was a rich yet mild hot chocolate with spiced chai and a sprinkle of cinnamon.

Tags americano Macchiato Cafe, chai, chocolate, dining, restaurants, Victoria BC

Categories Food, Travel, Uncategorized

Cats of Fan Tan Alley

April 24, 2012 //

These two lovely brothers reside in Fan Tan Alley and seem to be at home in most of the shops there.

Afternoon cuddle nap.

Tags Chinatown, cute cats, Fan Tan Alley, Victoria BC

Categories Travel, Uncategorized

GJ’s new piece goes out in the world

April 23, 2012 //

Took the ladder and the new piece (See The World Without Leaving Home) over to Dales Gallery, a block from our home, on friday. It waits there to delight and inspire, and with any luck, will find a new home and someone else to love it! We’ll be posting a video of it in motion within the next few days.

From below; a long pull cord sets the piece in motion.

It looks so beautiful hanging at Dales, a gorgeous space.

Ship detail from below.

The moths to the flame.

Detail of the flying ship, upon which sits a tiny mansion.

The main body which houses the motors.

Detail of the globe.

Tags art installation, Chintown, Dales Gallery, flying ship, GJ Pearson, kinetic sculpture

Categories Art, Travel, Uncategorized

Another new restaurant, steps away from our front door!

April 21, 2012 //

We’ve been watching a space very near our front door transform for the last couple months. They opened yesterday and today we went. Jam Cafe on Herald Street serves breakfast all day; we were not disappointed! The menu had nice variety and some interesting dishes. I had their Huevos Rancheros, which was very good; bright fresh flavours. It consisted of a fried corn tortilla piled with black beans and sour cream or cream fraiche, then another tortilla, two perfect basted eggs with a very lovely fresh cut guacamole and delicious green salsa. It was served with chorizo sausage (which I gave to GJ) and corn cakes, which was two slice of a yummy corn bread that had been grilled. GJ tried the Charlie Bowl, I think it was called, which was a big bowl full of yumminess: crumbled biscuit, hash browned potatoes, gravy and eggs and some other perfectly placed ingredients. The decor was lovely and inviting. We will definitely be back to sample more.

Jam Cafe, breakfast all day. open 8 am to 4 pm in the 500 block of Herald Street, Old Town, Victoria BC.

Sweet decor: very inviting; not overdone; nice attention to detail.

More decor.

As usual, I excitedly dove into my meal before I remembered to take a pic! The presentation was very nice.

Charlie Bowl, with addition of my sausage.

Tags basted eggs, breakfast, corn cakes, eggs, food, huevos rancheros, jam cafe, Jam Cafe Victoria BC, restaurant, restaurants

Categories Food, Travel, Uncategorized

Birds of spring

April 20, 2012 //

Our walking outings have been providing a lot of bird sitings lately. On April 1, I reported that we saw what I thought was a flock of American Goldfinch. Further research in the bird book revealed that they were more likely Evening Grosbeak. I wish we had been able to get close enough to them to take some pictures. At the waterfront last week we saw two Hummingbirds and a pretty little brown bird I cannot identify. He was sparrow-sized, maybe slightly larger, quite evenly brown with a slightly crested head; very pretty. The coolest sighting lately were the two Black Oystercatchers in the picture below. We were very close to them and they weren’t bothered at all. Ah nature, even in the city it abounds.

Black Oystercatchers in the Inner Harbour, Victoria BC. Very distinctive red beaks.

Tags bird watching, black oystercatcher, evening grosbeak, little brown bird, nature, outdoors, oystercatchers, walking, Wild birds

Categories Travel, Uncategorized

Walking adventure: Oak Bay to home

April 16, 2012 //

Another gorgeous spring weekend. Our friend Brad Pasutti was having an opening of his new work at Winchester Gallery in Oak Bay, so we hopped on the bus. Amazing paintings and a well-attended opening with red dots! After a while, it was time for coffee, but the delicious bakery (Ottavio) next door to the gallery was packed. So off we trundled into the depths of Oak Bay searching for sustenance. Luckily, not too far along, we found Demitasse Bakery Store on McNeill Avenue. Great little bakery-shop-deli-garden centre where we had a yummy snack. Then we wound our way through the side streets until we reached Beach Drive. Crossing into Fairfield we walked through the beautiful and peaceful Ross Bay Cemetery and then along the water, through the park and home. Wonderful delightful day!

Winchester Galleries Oak Bay location showing the work of Brad Pasutti until April 28; 2260 Oak Bay Avenue.

The Demitasse Bakery Store at 2164 McNeill Avenue, Oak Bay.

Plants to purchase at Demitasse.

Sweet little gate plaque in Oak Bay.

Hard to see in the pic, but the pink snow has begun. Delicate pink petals dance in the air and gather along the curbs. Another good wind will bring them all down.

Kite surfers and others enjoying the beach just west of Clover Point.

The camas are just beginning to bloom at Beacon Hill Park.

Rhododendron season! These are at Beacon Hill Park.

Tags beach, Brad Pasutti, Demitasse Bakery Store, garden, kite surfing, Oak Bay, Ottavio Bakery, spring, walking, Winchester Galleries

Categories Art, Food, Travel, Uncategorized

The cats of Fan Tan Gallery

April 16, 2012 //

These adorables reside at a quaint shop in Chinatown, Victoria BC.

Brother and sister. Cole, on the left, is enormous; the photo doesn't give a true depiction of just how big he is!

Tags cats, Chinatown, cute shop, Victoria BC

Categories Travel, Uncategorized

Perfect spring

April 11, 2012 //

Another gorgeous spring day yesterday. Caught a few shots of floral beauty near and around City Hall.

The long planter on the Pandora Avenue side of City Hall, full of colour!

Gorgeous magnolia in full bloom at City Hall.

Round two of the cherry pinks; in front of the McPherson Playhouse, Victoria BC.

Tags bright colour, cherry blossoms, flowers, magnolia, McPherson Playhouse, spring, Victoria BC

Categories Travel, Uncategorized

First Moss Street Market today

April 8, 2012 //

Gorgeous spring day (!) so we walked over to Fairfield and the first Moss Street Market of the new season. They are holding only half markets for April, so it was just the farmers today, but still very abundant: produce, seeds, plants and preserves. What a treat to have this market on Saturdays, the Downtown Public Market on wednesdays and a new health food store, Ingredients, just a block from our home! Food bliss.