We stayed at the Albion Manor in Victoria, British Columbia following our kayak adventure. This character was perched on top of our cabin, the Gargoyle Cottage. I felt he was representative of the unique nature of the B&B.
I was saving this blog for the end of our kayak adventure, which is where it fits. But Peggy and I are heading for the Bay Area this weekend for our book club. And that would mean no new blog until Tuesday or even Wednesday. Can’t have that, right? (The BSBC, or Bigger Sacramento Book Club, by the way, has been meeting for a quarter of a century and has read over 250 books. It consists of the same five couples who have been members since 1989.)
Welcome to the Albion Manor in Victoria, British Columbia. It is considered one of the top ten B&Bs in Canada. Our fellow kayakers and friends, David and Edie from Alaska, had made the arrangements for the four of us to stay at the Manor to celebrate the end of our adventure. We quickly discovered why it is so highly recommended. To start with, the inn is a beautiful Victorian, and it is located within easy walking distance of Victoria’s beautiful downtown. We found a colorful collection of house boats nearby. What really captured us, however, were the flowers and artwork. The story is best told in photos, enjoy.
An outside shot of the Albion Manor.
Here are some of my favorite flowers I photographed at the B&B.
Searching for dinner, a ten minute walk from the Albion Manor brought us to a village of house boats at Victoria’s Fisherman’s Wharf. Peggy took these photos.
Art is located everywhere at Albion Manor, both inside and out. It’s humorous, offbeat nature, captured me immediately. Much of the work is done by Fernando Garcia, one of the two co-owners of the Manor.
I’ll conclude with a photo of Peggy snuggling up to one of the flowers at the Albion Manor. Next Blog; I will return to our kayak adventure off of the northeast coast of Vancouver Island.
Wandering through Time and Place 
Wonderful pics! And the beautiful blue sky did not escape my notice. Unusual any time of year up there. Sacramento? I was born and raised in Modesto.
Thanks. And we did have great weather on our trip. I have usually had good luck on Vancouver Island.
I was raised in Diamond Springs, next to Placerville, and spent the majority of my adult life in Sacramento. Modesto was an hour away. 🙂 –Curt
Oh yes. Modesto was around an hour to an hour and a half away from everything. Sadly, the town of my childhood no longer exists. I returned, and spent seven years there before retiring, and was very disappointed in what it had become. I love my memories, and am grateful for them.
Not sure any of our childhood towns are ever the same, although I suspect Diamond Springs and Placerville are closer to what they were than Modesto is. –Curt
I love the houseboats on Victoria Island. So nice to walk around there. And that B&B looks gorgeous, gargoyle and all. 🙂
Gargoyles have a way of attracting my camera like a magnet attracts iron. 🙂 –Curt
What wonderful art! I love the laughing lady with the blue hair. The houseboats seem to have a theme of colour, but that could also be the skill of the photographer, pulling in the colour around, and shadows, and reflections.
The photographer of the houseboats, my wife, Peggy, is laughing. She says “sometimes it is hard to take a bad picture.” Our photography is certainly helped by the beautiful places we visit. Thanks Crystal. –Curt
Well you tell Peggy that I’ve decided she is an artist, no matter how lovely the surroundings. 😉
Beautiful. I especially liked the outside shot of the Manor. Are the flowers in bloom or was this from earlier in the year? Ah, the art work, for me, scary, scary 🙂
The flowers are from when we were there in late August, Timi. But Victoria manages to have flowers year round.
Scary? I find that interesting. I tended to find them humorous, possibly a bit macabre.
BTW, I’ll be sending off the piece for your blog today.
–Curt
Love this colorful B&B, especially the flowers and artwork. But I’m also impressed that you’ve been in a book club for 25 years and have read so many books. Any faves? Great way to live your life!
Lots of favorites. It would make a fun blog someday. I’ve been thinking about doing one on the book club. Adding a list of favorites would make an interesting extension. Thanks for the inspiration.
The B&B is definitely on my list to return to next time I visit Victoria. –Curt
Beautiful place, fabulous photos. Loved the ones of the float homes – gorgeous light and colour.
Alison
I suspect Vancouver has some rather special B&Bs as well, Alison. And weren’t the houseboats fun? I could live in one for awhile— especially if I could pull up anchor on occasion and move to a new location. On the other hand, If one had to be stuck somewhere, Victoria would do. 🙂 –Curt
Do you happen to know the reason for the name? The first thing I thought of was England — Albion being an old name for the place. Then I thought of Durrell putting this line in Pursewarden’s mouth: “Hail Albion, drear…” There certainly is nothing drear about the B&B. What fun it would be to stay there — although I agree that some of the art is a bit “out there” for me. As long as it wasn’t in my room, it would be ok. 🙂
I am going a long way …
To the island-valley of Albion
Where falls not hail, or rain, or any snow,
Nor ever wind blows loudly: but it lies
Deep-meadowed, happy, fair with orchid lawns
And bowery hallows crowned with summer sea . . . .
Alfred Lord Tennyson
This is the poem the Albion Manor uses on it’s website, Linda. So this is the answer. Maybe Tennyson’s poem served as Durrell’s muse as well.
I’ve always enjoyed ‘far out’ art. Especially when is has a touch of humor. Admittedly, I have a strange sense of humor. 🙂 –Curt
LOVE these places! This is how I dream our home to become (and it’s not far off!!)…. 🙂
Not far off, huh? Wow. We’ll have to come to Florida to see it. 🙂 –Curt
Well, we come across some pretty wonderful B&Bs along the roads we travel but this is really rather splendid!
I suspect AC could write a book on the B&Bs of Europe. 🙂 –Curt
We have been red faced when on occasion we’ve found out the motel charges by the hour 😉
🙂
I love the alternative living accommodation.
You would have really enjoyed the gardens as well, Hilary. Every part of the B&B was well done with great attention to detail. –Curt
Love it… Something different and colorful.,.
Thanks. That it is. And there was so much of the art and grounds that I didn’t include. –Curt
Curt, I am very jealous of your on-the-go closeup floral photographs! They turned out very, very good, especially the yellow one! Lovely lighting.
And for months, I felt I knew Peggy… that I’ve seen her somewhere before… and that portrait of her made it clear… She looks like “Nancy Crater” in the Star Trek TV episode…but Peggy’s much more attractive, of course! http://img3.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20061219174707/memoryalpha/fr/images/c/c7/Nancy_Kirk.jpg
Lovely and colorful architecture, too.
First, Koji, praise on flower photography from you, is indeed high praise. Second, I checked out the Star Trek photo and you are right. I will share it with Peggy. Thanks. –Curt
What fun comments! Thanks to you all for the encouragement to continue taking photos. Also, that was a fun comparison, Koji. I checked it out….grin! I always dreamed of being an astronaut; had to settle for Star Wars and Star Trek! Peggy