I am a Professional Hobo. Having tired of the “daily grind” and searching for something more in life, I took to the road looking to learn, discover, be inspired, and hopefully inspire a few people along the way too. My sights were set on hiking adventures by day, ballroom dancing the night away, and immersing myself wherever I go. I love to soak in the sights, smells, and culture of every place I visit, and learn a little bit about the local customs and trade secrets along the way.

So okay. Maybe I have lived the city life for far too long and am a touch jaded. Maybe I’ve been spoiled by having lived in Toronto, the largest city in Canada, with (arguably) the most to offer.

Or maybe Victoria just isn’t all it’s cracked (pardon the pun – my apologies to the drug addicts) up to be.

Have you ever been told by everybody you know to go see a movie because it’s the greatest movie ever of all time? And after being hounded by the world to go you are strangely disappointed when you eventually see it?

Well, that’s kind of how I felt about Victoria.

I’ve heard for so long how Victoria is counted among the favorite cities visited of various friends, family, colleagues, and acquaintances. It’s one of the most beautiful Canadian cities, it has so much to offer, the weather is warm, the people are friendly, yadda yadda yadda.

It doesn’t help that the place I was staying at was more like a YWCA shelter than it was an “acclaimed and cozy” hostel. It was filthy, impersonal, and….well…..like a shelter. Although Victoria residents weren’t supposed to be allowed to stay there, we saw evidence of homeless people being put up there by good Samaritans or family members – who knows.

Once I got out of the hostel for the day (which was my main goal given the circumstances), I walked all around town for the entire day. The harbor is admittedly spectacular, and the parliament buildings are beautiful. At night the entire downtown glows with lights across the glass-like water. There are multi-million dollar time shares strung along the harbor, alongside museums, art galleries, and big colonial-style hotels.

The downtown area is very pedestrian-friendly, with lots of curious shops, bakeries, and restaurants. Markets and craft sales often take over the street in certain areas, blocking vehicle access for the afternoon.

There are colorful flowers and tropical style trees along most of the roads, and one of the main drags in the downtown area comes alive at night with sparkling trees. Literally sparkling. It’s actually kind of spooky.

Being known in Canada as the place for retirees, there are also lots of nice cars being driven by those who have earned their retirement…..Rolls Royces, Jaguars, Antique and Kit Cars alike could keep even most sedate of auto enthusiasts on their toes as they spot one beautiful car after another cruising by.

So upon first blush Victoria is a city of wealth, beauty, and warmth.

But when you have to step over heroin addicts and homeless people to experience the wealth, beauty, and warmth, the city’s glamour is somewhat tempered.

Visiting Victoria for me was part of a larger western Canadian tour, focusing on the provinces of British Columbia and Alberta. During most of my travels, passers by on the street said hello. If there was no exchange of words, at the very least people made eye contact and smiled. In some smaller towns, even people driving by in cars were sure to wave and honk. Not so in Victoria.

While commiserating at a local café, a fellow tourist coined Victoria as being beautiful and rich at first glance, but a peek under the surface shows a much less appetizing place on a number of different levels, many of which are difficult to define.

And we are not the only ones with waning feelings for Victoria; for years it has prided itself as the City of Festivals. However this year, 3 of the largest festivals have pulled Victoria off their roster for various reasons which are currently among debate in the newspapers. The city also just passed a by-law that basically outlaws busking marimba bands. Yup. Those pesky marimba bands must have crossed a line somewhere in there. Their Latin beats were just too much for Victoria’s ticking pace-maker.

Granted, in defense of the city, I didn’t make it far out of the downtown area, and a lot of what was worth seeing may have been situated in the outskirts. The renowned Buchart Gardens was a ¾ hour bus ride away. Whale Watching and the beach were a boat ride away. So many things were…away.

And as a retirement community, for those living in a beautiful condo outside of the downtown core, on or near the water, I’m sure Victoria is glorious. I just couldn’t appreciate it. All we saw was a little big-city with a small heart.


By: Nora Dunn, http://www.freedom30.blogspot.com/
Nora Dunn is a Travel Writer and Professional Hobo originally from Toronto, Canada. She sold all her worldly possessions to travel, discover, inspire, and educate. She currently has no fixed address.

Nora is searching for Travel adventures beyond the ordinary.