Holidaying in Vancouver Island
I just returned from Canada, visiting Vancouver, Toronto and Montreal over the course of two weeks. I went off with my family: my wife, two sons and my daughter who is 7, along with my dad. I had intended originally to go for the trip with my mum who was undergoing chemo due to throat cancer which was giving her so much pain and sorrow to manage.
The plan was for the vacation to be a sort of encouragement and to show love and support to her during the low and painful moments that she was experiencing. The chemo seemed to be improving her status and I promised to take her for the trip. Unfortunately, that never came to pass as she succumbed to the cancer before the fore-planned date.
After her demise, I felt that I needed to cancel the whole affair. There was a voice in me which told me that if I went along with the whole affair, it would seem as if I had no respect for the dead. I really felt frustrated. I never knew how my daughter would take it at her tender age save for the boys who were really enchanted about the whole idea. For the first time in my adulthood I felt naive at making correct decisions about my family.
My wife and I had saved for the trip for almost half a year, but now everything had taken an unfortunate turn. The person who we so much wanted to have in the trip was gone. Gone never to come back. It seemed really hard for me to face my two sons and daughter about the whole affair and tell them my reservations about the whole trip affair.
To be sincere, I felt that by continuing with the trip which was solely meant to give support for my dead mum was a disgrace to her. I felt that the whole affair would be marred with nightmares and memories of my mum and it was vital to call it off. I did see how I could appeal her spirit if we went for the vacation.
For my family- wife a daughter and two sons- it would be their first trip to Canada for vacation and they were really looking forward for it. My sons had really become overly enthusiastic about the whole affair that they had let all their schoolmates and teacher know about it.
As a matter of facts, they had even written an essay about what they expect of the trip as part of their class work. This meant that forgoing the whole issue would be complicated and really disappointing to them. My wife seemed to equally share my position. Luckily, in our indecisiveness, my dad came to visit us one weekend and changed my mind about the trip.
At first I was hesitant to tell him the my position, but it turned out that that was the motive of his impromptu visit. He had sensed that I might call it off. He categorically explained to my wife and I how my mother would loved to go for the trip and even talked to him about it. To him, forgoing was what would be a disgrace. He really encouraged us to go.
However I had one request; he accompanies us in place of my mum. I thought he would turn down the offer due to his busy business schedule. Knowing him for more than 32 years, I didn’t see how he could be ready to loose 2 weeks for just vacation. However, he willingly obliged and we went back to the drawing board to schedule the vacation.
Overall, the trip was an absolute blast. Although I was worried about culture shock of a new language whereby French is quiet dominant in the area; the new locations and new food, especially with my young daughter in our company, the trip was a success and we enjoyed a lot. The foods and cuisines were a healthy idea and didn’t make me gain any weight no matter how much I ate, mainly French delicacies, which was very good and everyone was really happy with the short shift to French tastes and lifestyles.
We visited very charming places that everybody loved but one place which stood out during the entire visit was Vancouver Island and to be specific Chemainus.
Chemainus
Chemainus had a great deal of relics from the ancient French lifestyle and present day attraction which enticed us during the one day visit to the place.
The Chemainus trip started on Penelecut Island where we had spent a night at a nice hotel. We boarded a ferry which is the main means of transport to Thetis Island which nears Chemainus. I knew how the kids would be glad of the ferry experience and that why it deemed appropriate to use. We had a brief stay at Thetis as we enjoyed the early morning breeze but then proceeded to Chemainus.
Initially we had decided to visit Chemainus in the morning hours and then go to Hudson Island later in the afternoon, but we had a change of plans on seeing the beauty of Chemainus. What we really loved were the murals. Our guided tour through them left everyone with something memorable but ended up taking almost the day.
Through out the morning hike sight-seeing the amazing murals, we would take breaks and have a snack or drink when we found a good restaurant with unique French cuisines which we all loved. In afternoon we took a walk in the bike trails and parks as we had some lovely time admiring the landscapes and nature. The boys also got a good chance of skating and never lost even a moment of it.
Overall, we had quiet an overwhelming adventure and like everyone later commented, the place was worth the day we spent we wouldn’t mind another visit to the area when it becomes convenient.
