Peacock in a Tree

I went strolling through Beacon Hill Park this morning, which sits just south of downtown Victoria. The park provides a mix of natural and manicured landscaping. Canadians really take their gardening seriously. The landscaped portions were just bursting with the bright colors of blooming flowers, and the delicate mix of textures and hues of many species of trees and shrubbery. I swear there was one little flower-laden path that smelled like pineapple! It's like a beautiful painting that uses plants instead of watercolors or acrylic paints, shovels and clippers instead of brushes. I stopped to admire the man-made ponds, one of them was just covered in leafy lilly pads. The ducks love it too, they waddle, then dive their heads down and paddle their little webbed feet in the air, then come back up, then dive down again, and they make little "v"waves behind them as they quietly wade through the water. I even spotted some peacocks, one of which was in a tree (no joke). It was perched on a low branch preening itself, as the squirrels and I watched (although I suspect the squirrels were watching me instead of the peacock, but when I turn around, they pretend they're watching the peacock, but I knew what they were up to).

Afterwards, I visited the Royal British Columbia Museum. They were showing a Charlie Chaplin movie in one of the theaters, and I stopped to rest my feet and watch. It is very entertaining, and it made me think that a great story can be told with very few words. The museum also had a collection of real "First Nation" totem poles, and I also checked out a real longhouse that once belonged to a tribal chief. Neat stuff, makes me want to take up wood carving.

I think I've covered most of Victoria, and I'm ready to head on to Vancouver tomorrow. The only other place on Vancouver Island that I would like to check out is Torfino, which I hear is amazing, and is also about 4-5 hours drive north of Victoria, but I think I will have to save that for another trip, which is perfectly all right by me as I look forward to coming back.