Day 2

Today was another early up for us. Up at 5:30 a.m. to be able to eat breakfast and catch the ferry over to Victoria. All the students thought the ferry ride was pretty cool how we got to drive our bus onto the boat and then sail across the bay. The weather was perfect and the scenery is spectacular.

Once we docked, it was on the way over to Parliament to eat in the special legislative dining room where very few commoners are allowed to eat. We arrived a little early, so we were able to check out the Empress Hotel which is just adjacent to the Parliament Building. This is where the Queen stays when she is in town. Beautiful hotel and grounds.

Lunch was good. Our waiter in the dining room commented on how well behaved our delegation was and that he would be proud to say that he once served the future President of the United States. Let me tell you, the leaders were beaming from ear to ear!

We took a tour of parliament and learned that the Canadians like to lose things. Seems they lost a stained glass window of Queen Victoria's Platinium (I think - 60th) Jubilee in the basement of the Parliament building for 62 years!!!! They also lost a statue of Queen Elizabeth which on the grounds facing the port. Ask your children about the way Queen Elizabeth is facing!

Then it was off to Fisherman's Wharf where we were able to walk around for a little while and feed "Sammy" the seal some fish. From what I learned from some of the locals, one of the best Fish and Chips dives is right there on Fisherman's wharf.

After we checked into our rooms at the University of Victoria, it was off to Beacon Hill for Pizza int he park. The students had a chance to walk around the gardens, play some soccer and football, and just plain run around and burn off some steam!

Back at our rooms now and they are all tucked into bed so they can be up and ready for whale watching tomorrow!