Victoria, BC
We slept in today...for real. You know...that’s something we’ve noticed about the Alaskan cruise, it’s much more laid back than the every minute party that is the Caribbean cruise. While this does ad some downtime, it also gives your body a chancye to recharge. Give and take I guess.
SHOUT OUT! Last night, we left a message at the Purser’s desk for the Cruise Director to give a shoutout to Aubrey in the morning on the Morning Show...Some wires got crossed. Instead of, “Congratulations Dr. White on your doctorate from the other Dr. White.” It was, “To Jesse Shapiro and Jason White: Hey guys! What’s up!?” It was funny...and Aubrey laughed too...so all is good. Soooo....
Right before Brandi and I went to the Windjammer for breakfast, we called Shpuck and Aubrey to see if they wanted to go. They said, “Sure! See you there.” We got up there around 10:45 and Shpuck and Aubrey showed up at around 11. Shpuck was disappointed that it was still breakfast. I laughed. I told him if he ate slow enough, he could have lunch in about 30 minutes or so. He was not amused.
The 4 of us decided that Victoria would be the one port with NO Royal Caribbean excursions. We would just walk around and look at stuff. Fine with me. We wanted to start to save a couple of bucks and wanted to take it easy anyway.
We took the shuttle downtown and started walking around. We eventually made it to the waterfront where we agreed to get tickets for a little ferry service that toured the harbour and offered historical information. It was also inexpensive and we didn’t have to walk. 2 major plusses.
We purchased our ferry tickets and then were told we had a 20 minute wait until the next ferry. During the wait we went up the wharf a bit and found a street performer/juggler/comedian guy. I was chosen to be a helper along with another dude from our cruise. Cool. Brandi got some cool video and then it was time to grab our ferry.
We took the ferry around the harbour and decided to get off at Fisherman’s Wharf. Don’t think that that’s a gran area the size of Pier 39 in San Francisco. Fisherman’s Wharf in Victoria is about the size of well...4 businesses. We patronized one of them and Jesse had, for the VERY FIRST TIME...Fish and Chips. Not ANY fish and chips. Halibut from the Pacific Ocean. It was quite tasty.
Footnote: Jesse has now had 2 servings of fresh fish on the trip and enjoyed both.
For those of you who aren’t familiar with my (Jesse) diet, I don’t eat seafood...except tuna fish from a can. It was the first time I had real fish, and it was good. I would have it again, if it was fresh, from the ocean. That’s the rule from now on. No fish from fish farms for me. I want the fish that were plucked from their home in the sea and slapped on my plate. I’m serious.
After our very yummy meal, a seal in the harbour was dicovered...just hanging out under the water looking up and posing for the tourists. Most likely, he was looking for food...but I prefer the “he was just posing for pictures” story.
We decided that instead of taking the water ferry back to the main wharf, we would walk to the next ferry station and THEN take the ferry back. It was a nice stroll along the waterfront.
We hopped on the next water taxi and headed to Parliament. Cool! Parliament is open for visitors. You can take pictures, walk around the first 2 floors, go to the bathroom, pick your nose, and even pass gas...just no talking too loud.
After the stop at Parliament, we looked at our watches and decided it was time to make it back to the shuttle top downtown. On the way, we had to get some souvenirs. By the way...we got souvenirs EVERYWHERE! Yay!
We took the shuttle back to the pier and got back on board right before the ship was to leave port. Perfect timing! Brandi went to the room and I went to the Centrum to write some blog stuffs. The jazz trio l like was there. Nice...
After some writing, I went back to the room, got ready for dinner and then we went to the farewell show. That’s always the best how of the cruise because it has a little of everything...including Los Ponchos Gauchos. Seriously...totally awesome...highly recommended entertainment. They are also the group called, “Flourescence.” Great show all around!
Then dinner...our last one. So....it had to be good...and LARGE! Brandi and I had 2 servings of Royal Caribbean’s spinich artichoke dip with fried tortilla chips. Brandi started her main course with a NY strip steak as did I, but it wasn’t very good...so we switched to the top sirloin. Yup...that’s how it works...you don’t likw what they bring? Have them bring you something else!
I saw that Pam was eating a cheese calzone so I told Edi, our waiter, that I wanted one of those. So he brought me one. For dessert, Brandi had some chocolate cake and I had some vanilla and chocolate ice cream. Whew! What a meal!
Oh...how could I forget, Aubrey was brought a graduation, celebration mousse cake and took a bite and then it ended up on Shpuck’s plate. I bet him $1 he couldn’t eat in one bite. His mom threw in another $5 and Slick threw in $1 as well...Shpuck failed. It’s fun to make Shpuck to embarrassing things.
Once dinner was completed, we went to the photo gallery to make a final ruling on which pictures we would buy, we purchased 3 more and then Brandi went to bed and I went to the casino to see if I could make some money back...
...I did make some money back...but apparently, for Brandi, it wasn’t enough. She said, “Next time. Be up by $500 or don’t come back.” She smiled. I laughed. Then we collapsed.
Sleepytime.
We slept in today...for real. You know...that’s something we’ve noticed about the Alaskan cruise, it’s much more laid back than the every minute party that is the Caribbean cruise. While this does ad some downtime, it also gives your body a chancye to recharge. Give and take I guess.
SHOUT OUT! Last night, we left a message at the Purser’s desk for the Cruise Director to give a shoutout to Aubrey in the morning on the Morning Show...Some wires got crossed. Instead of, “Congratulations Dr. White on your doctorate from the other Dr. White.” It was, “To Jesse Shapiro and Jason White: Hey guys! What’s up!?” It was funny...and Aubrey laughed too...so all is good. Soooo....
Right before Brandi and I went to the Windjammer for breakfast, we called Shpuck and Aubrey to see if they wanted to go. They said, “Sure! See you there.” We got up there around 10:45 and Shpuck and Aubrey showed up at around 11. Shpuck was disappointed that it was still breakfast. I laughed. I told him if he ate slow enough, he could have lunch in about 30 minutes or so. He was not amused.
The 4 of us decided that Victoria would be the one port with NO Royal Caribbean excursions. We would just walk around and look at stuff. Fine with me. We wanted to start to save a couple of bucks and wanted to take it easy anyway.
We took the shuttle downtown and started walking around. We eventually made it to the waterfront where we agreed to get tickets for a little ferry service that toured the harbour and offered historical information. It was also inexpensive and we didn’t have to walk. 2 major plusses.
We purchased our ferry tickets and then were told we had a 20 minute wait until the next ferry. During the wait we went up the wharf a bit and found a street performer/juggler/comedian guy. I was chosen to be a helper along with another dude from our cruise. Cool. Brandi got some cool video and then it was time to grab our ferry.
We took the ferry around the harbour and decided to get off at Fisherman’s Wharf. Don’t think that that’s a gran area the size of Pier 39 in San Francisco. Fisherman’s Wharf in Victoria is about the size of well...4 businesses. We patronized one of them and Jesse had, for the VERY FIRST TIME...Fish and Chips. Not ANY fish and chips. Halibut from the Pacific Ocean. It was quite tasty.
Footnote: Jesse has now had 2 servings of fresh fish on the trip and enjoyed both.
For those of you who aren’t familiar with my (Jesse) diet, I don’t eat seafood...except tuna fish from a can. It was the first time I had real fish, and it was good. I would have it again, if it was fresh, from the ocean. That’s the rule from now on. No fish from fish farms for me. I want the fish that were plucked from their home in the sea and slapped on my plate. I’m serious.
After our very yummy meal, a seal in the harbour was dicovered...just hanging out under the water looking up and posing for the tourists. Most likely, he was looking for food...but I prefer the “he was just posing for pictures” story.
We decided that instead of taking the water ferry back to the main wharf, we would walk to the next ferry station and THEN take the ferry back. It was a nice stroll along the waterfront.
We hopped on the next water taxi and headed to Parliament. Cool! Parliament is open for visitors. You can take pictures, walk around the first 2 floors, go to the bathroom, pick your nose, and even pass gas...just no talking too loud.
After the stop at Parliament, we looked at our watches and decided it was time to make it back to the shuttle top downtown. On the way, we had to get some souvenirs. By the way...we got souvenirs EVERYWHERE! Yay!
We took the shuttle back to the pier and got back on board right before the ship was to leave port. Perfect timing! Brandi went to the room and I went to the Centrum to write some blog stuffs. The jazz trio l like was there. Nice...
After some writing, I went back to the room, got ready for dinner and then we went to the farewell show. That’s always the best how of the cruise because it has a little of everything...including Los Ponchos Gauchos. Seriously...totally awesome...highly recommended entertainment. They are also the group called, “Flourescence.” Great show all around!
Then dinner...our last one. So....it had to be good...and LARGE! Brandi and I had 2 servings of Royal Caribbean’s spinich artichoke dip with fried tortilla chips. Brandi started her main course with a NY strip steak as did I, but it wasn’t very good...so we switched to the top sirloin. Yup...that’s how it works...you don’t likw what they bring? Have them bring you something else!
I saw that Pam was eating a cheese calzone so I told Edi, our waiter, that I wanted one of those. So he brought me one. For dessert, Brandi had some chocolate cake and I had some vanilla and chocolate ice cream. Whew! What a meal!
Oh...how could I forget, Aubrey was brought a graduation, celebration mousse cake and took a bite and then it ended up on Shpuck’s plate. I bet him $1 he couldn’t eat in one bite. His mom threw in another $5 and Slick threw in $1 as well...Shpuck failed. It’s fun to make Shpuck to embarrassing things.
Once dinner was completed, we went to the photo gallery to make a final ruling on which pictures we would buy, we purchased 3 more and then Brandi went to bed and I went to the casino to see if I could make some money back...
...I did make some money back...but apparently, for Brandi, it wasn’t enough. She said, “Next time. Be up by $500 or don’t come back.” She smiled. I laughed. Then we collapsed.
Sleepytime.