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Reports

During my travels, I received free accommodation for a night in exchange for writing a daily travel diary. This diary documented how I reached my next destination, the hosts who welcomed me, the food I was offered, and other experiences along the way. Below, you will find the archives of these extensive reports. Please note that English is not my native language, and most entries were written quickly, often around midnight. Enjoy!
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Sunday, 2 March 2003
--> Saanich, Vancouver Island, Canada (day 4)

I guess I got pretty much spoiled by Darren and Tamra McQuitty and my new found good friend Tracie Robinson.

They invited me over, let me stay a few days and share their lives with me as they are used of having me over.

I was going along great with Tracie, maybe it's because she's only two year older than be. We had the greatest conversations!

Why leave when you don't want to miss that and the fun we all shared?

Today, after I could sleep in after last night party out in Victoria, Tracie offered to take me around and wander around in this intimated, sophisticated seaside city. In daylight that is!

Victoria is situated on the southern tip of Vancouver Island and sparkles in one of Canada's mildest climates. It was the kind of weather I had to exchange my winterjacket for my summer jacket, which has been well hidden in my pack since my departure from Australia!

Victoria is also the sunniest spot in the province of British Columnbia and the gentlest in the country in terms of climate, environment, and lifestyle. By walking around this place in this serene Sunday I could easily conclude that...

Victoria's unique character is deeply rooted in its 150-year history -- a history full of colorful people and fascinating tales. The city's British colonial heritage is still very much in evidence, which I enjoy very much. I just loved to look up at all these old buildings, that have been there for over a century!

Tracie took me out for lunch in traditionally styled pub Darcy’s on Wharf Street (have a virtual look around here), which was also the venue we had to standing in a 30-minutes-line last night. We did not want to wait that long in the end and moved to another hot spot in town.

We roamed along souvenir shops, commercial galleries (mesmerizing art!) and walked through the gates of the small Victoria Chinatown, finally ending up on the boulevard in front of the majestic Fairmont Empress Hotel, with its turn of the century beauty and volume!

We wrapped up a drive around town as it began to rain and Tracie dropped me off again at Darren and Tamra’s place.

Darren was working out new ideas of making me a virtual geocache, but most ideas were fun but couldn’t really be realized.

I came up with the idea to put personal small gifts from my hosts in a small box or a sealed plastic bag, take them on my travel and hide them at a location and reveal that location in geographic coordinates on this website. The tech-geocaching-virus-freaks with GPS can then easily get there and find out what my host has left for the rest of the world to see. Maybe you can even keep it!

Uhm, I only seem to be in need of my own GPS device to make those specific coordinates... But we are working on that!

Good night Saanich!
Ramon

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