Victoria, BC Dragon Boat Festival

We were only in Victoria for three days, but it felt like we were there so much longer, we did so much and saw so much!

The highlight was definitely the Dragon Boat Festival which happened to be taking place on the Sunday that we were there. The harbor was packed with spectators, tourists and participants. There were all kinds of festivities--dragon boat races, music, games, food stands, and more. Dragon boat racing is hard to describe, the pictures will have to suffice. I think there are about 20 paddlers per boat, and a helmsman and a drummer. The festival has been going on for 17 years, and it seems like everyone in Victoria either participates or knows someone who does. Even the quilt shop owner we spoke later to was a racer! The weather was absolutely beautiful, and Victoria's lovely harbor, surrounded by gardens and lovely old buildings, made the perfect setting:



Above, finishing strong! The first races we watched were part of the Cancer Survivor's Challenge. Every participant in these races was a breast cancer survivor. Ages ranged from 30 to 92! Below, two particants of the Survivor's Challenge watch one of the heats.









Above, at the end of the Survivor Challenge race, the particpants gather for the Carnation Tossing ceremony. Spectators purchase pink carnations (proceeds to Victoria's cancer foundation) and toss them to the participants and into the water.


Watching these strong women (and a few men)


compete was a very moving experience. Below: for a donation to Victoria's cancer foundation, you could hang a lantern with your wish attached.



In between races, these little harbor taxis ran around:



And occasionally, a sea plane would taxi out of the inner harbor, guided by a pilot boat:







The harbor patrol kept things under control, though I'm not sure what the standard poodle does:



We walked around to the other side of the harbor, which meant we had to cross this bridge:


Of course, it raised just as we got there...


to allow this barge to go under.


The view from the other side of the harbor. The dragon boat races began here, and ended at the inner harbor.


More from Victoria next.

-- From our trip blog at www.truetrip.blogpost.com