Chancery Lane

Just off busy Bastion Square Chancery Lane remains peaceful and cool even on a hot summer day like today.

Janion Hotel Update

The Janion Hotel pictured here was one of old town Victoria's most derelict buildings until recent renovations. Below is what it looked like a few years ago. Above you can see that while adhering to the original style they have made some additions and improvements. The work is not finished yet but I am quite happy with the makeover of this heritage building.

Coincidence or...?

(Cue creepy Twilight Zone theme here) Fern and I independently photographed Helmcken Alley (pictured above and in yesterday's post) and I didn't know about her photo until I was preparing today's photo. Given how seldom our photos are in sync this strikes me as an extraordinary coincidence or perhaps the ghost that is said to lurk in this covered walkway had something to do with it. (The covered part of the walkway pictured above was once attached to the city jail building and legend has it that a prisoner was beaten to death there in the city's early days.)

The Line-up Is For....

Red Fish Blue Fish, a very popular wharfside fish and chips place directly below the old customs house. Great food at reasonable prices and a view that can't be beat.

Tourist Town

What's happening in the parks and rural suburbs of Victoria at this time of year is so engrossing that I tend to ignore signs of spring in the urban areas. Since Victoria is very much a tourist town spring is marked by the reappearance of sights like this horse and carriage tour of the downtown. There are many of these horse and carriages - they are the bane of motorists in a hurry but are popular with visitors. This one (above) is moving down Wharf Street in the oldest part of the city. Visitor Matthew Feehan sent along this great photo of modern Victoria's original horse and carriage in 1979 (on the right). In the driver's seat is the originator of the idea locally, his brother, Dan Feehan. The horse's name was Danny Boy. While today's carriages can accommodate more passengers I prefer the look of the original, pictured here on Menzies Street. Many thanks, Matthew, for this photo and bit of local history.