A Victorian Adventure

About one month ago, four nearly old biddies, Aileen, Norma, Pat and Betty decided to go to Victoria. The Royal British Columbia Museum had been advertising an exhibit of Artifacts from the British Museum, and the girls thought it would be interesting and would make a pleasant day out.

Aileen, who is a very efficient organizer, agreed to take care of reservations for the one night stay in the hotel. The rest of the girls were quite happy to let her get on with it. The only stipulation they made was that the hotel had to be close to the museum which was in downtown Victoria.

There were three hotels in the area, the Queen Victoria Inn, the Chateau Victoria and the Executive House. However, they were all a little more than the girls wanted to pay. Aileen did note that one of the hotels advertised that there would be a price reduction shortly, so she decided to phone later when the lower prices became an option.

The four left Nanaimo early with Betty at the wheel of the car. The drive to Victoria was excellent and they decided en route, to get settled in at the hotel before going to the museum for the rest of the day.

As they reached the outskirts of Victoria, Betty asked what hotel they were staying in. Aileen replied that she thought it was the Chateau Victoria, but wasn’t quite sure, but she would know it as soon as she saw it. Their first call was the Chateau Victoria, but when it came into view, Aileen decided that the Chateau was definitely not the hotel they were looking for. Putting her hand on Betty’s shoulder, she confirmed that it was not the Chateau Victoria, so maybe Betty could turn the car around and head for the Queen Victoria Inn.

“Yes, this is our hotel”, Aileen said with a sigh of relief as they drove up to the entrance of the hotel. Everyone got out of the car and followed Aileen to the reservations desk. They relished the idea that within a few minutes they would be off to the museum, which, of course was the whole purpose of the trip.

“I’m very sorry,” said the girl behind the reservations desk looking at the slip of paper Aileen had provided, “but this is not one of our reservation numbers and we have no record of you coming to stay with us tonight.” Aileen looked stunned and the girls’ faces mirrored her concern. Aileen’s mind then went into overdrive. Having dismissed the Chateau Victoria as their destination after seeing the hotel, she now thought she must have booked there.

“Would you be kind enough to telephone the Chateau Victoria,” she asked the sympathetic looking receptionist, “to see if they have a reservation for us”.

But even after that telephone call they were no further ahead. The Chateau Victoria had never heard of them.

Poor Aileen, who was usually the epitome of efficiency, now looked decidedly fussed and her mind was frantically trying to work out what had happened. Of course, it didn’t help that the rest of the girls and the receptionist were trying to offer some helpful hints, even though they didn’t have a clue as to how the mix-up had occurred.

Frantically trying to sort out the booking procedures she had used back home, a vague notion occurred to her. What if she had mistaken the telephone numbers on the brochure? She asked the receptionist if the hotel had a copy of the visitor’s guide she had used when she did the initial bookings by phone. Ten minutes later the guide surfaced and was almost snatched up by a grateful Aileen.

Turning to where the Queen Victoria Inn was listed, she ran her fingers down the page until she reached the Queen Victoria Inn and then moved across the page. In the next column there was The Quality Inn, and there next to it was probably the telephone number she had used, thinking it belonged to the Queen Victoria Inn.

A quick call to the Quality Inn confirmed they were booked in. From that moment onwards, Aileen began to feel considerably better. Of course, it was not as close to the Museum as they had wanted it to be, but it was only four blocks further out and at least they had a bed for the night – at the lower rate. All four of them were beginning to have nightmares which involved sleeping in a tent in the nearby park!

After thanking the receptionist profusely for all her help, the girls departed in the car for the Museum, which they enjoyed very much – comforted by the fact that they didn’t have to worry any more as to where they were going to sleep.

The following morning, after a comfortable night and a good breakfast, they left back to Nanaimo after thorough enjoying their Victorian adventure.

Rumblings Over The Blue Bridge

Rumblings are reaching the City of Nanaimo about the plight of the Johnson Street Bridge in Victoria. I live in Nanaimo, but for many years I lived on the Saanich Peninsula and in Victoria and still have a very soft spot for Southern Vancouver Island where I visit now and then. During my time in Victoria, for a couple of years I was commuting daily between Esquimalt and downtown Victoria, over the Johnson Street Bridge. It is with these memories that I offer my opinion on the current dilemma.

It appears that the City of Victoria suddenly decided, in April of this year, that it might be a good idea to apply for some of this infrastructure money the Federal Government has hanging around. But they needed an infrastructure to address. What better than the Johnson Street Bridge? Prior to that date the Johnson Street Bridge was not in council’s plans, never mind on the agenda.

In three short months, the City moved at the speed of a bullet; estimates were calculated, tenders went out, consultants hired, designs drawn up and application for funding prepared and finalized. I really would like to see any city, not just Victoria, act with such speed and alacrity because they had found a toy to spend money on.

In the meantime, some concerned citizens became aware of what was going on and decided that they really had to put a spoke in City Council’s wheel, before it could do any more damage. After all, this was a heritage structure under fire – a utilitarian structure but most definitely historical. Quite rightly, this concerned citizen’s group of Victoria wanted to know why Victorians had not been consulted. The City did schedule public input, but only after the investment was approved.

In the meantime, this group worked very hard to bring this venture to the notice of the rest of the Victoria citizenry. Now many more people are talking about the possible fate of this old faithful. Apparently, even the City is having to recognize and accept that Victorians are worried and want to have their say about this monumental plan. So, why not a referendum allowing the public to get on board and make an informed vote?

I am always amazed when people mention to me that England and Europe must be wonderful, historical places with all those buildings hundreds, and some cases, thousands of years old – and we have nothing like that here in Canada. Come on, City Hall, get with it. Would you consider replacing the Empress, or the Parliament Buildings, or Craigdarroch Castle. I think not. Why pick on the Johnson Street Bridge? Oh, I know why, but funding can still be obtained for refurbishing so that the bridge is good for another 40 to 50 years. The dollar difference between refurbishing the Blue Bridge and bringing in the wrecking ball to allow for a new design structure, could be used for more desperately needed infrastructure work in the City of Victoria.

Long live the old bridge.