20100410 Victoria Dip Into the Sensual Pleasures of This Canadian Harbor Town (3)

Victoria: Dip Into the Sensual Pleasures of This Canadian Harbor Town


Munro Books. Oh, I do love this bookstore. Walk in and you want to stay a week in this large but welcoming space, where gorgeous banners of the four seasons decorate the high walls. Explore the island. Victoria is at the southern tip of pretty, green Vancouver Island. The city is the capital of British Columbia, and as the seat of the Provincial Government, exudes cosmopolitan cachet. But drive a few miles outside the city, and the island quickly turns into a rural communit of small towns -- fun to explore, and don't forget the beaches. Rent a car for a day and explore how the lucky Vancouver Islanders live.

Shopping. Victoria is loaded with shops. But this is not a stock-up-at-the-Gap town; boutiques here sell Irish woolens, Scottish plaids and expensive European clothing. Porcelain shops will make you smile, with chubby teapots from floral to art deco styles. Serious bargain shoppers can do well scouting for outerwear, since Canadian manufacturers have mastered cold weather issues. They produce soe excellent lines of sporting and outerwear, with prices usually beating same-grade U.S. products.