Victoria Express

When you combine the musical virtuosity of Strauss and satirical social commentary a la Moliere, you are in for a treat: Capriccio. The Pacific Opera in Victoria is staging this delightful romp of an opera February 25 and 27, March 2, 4, and 6, 2010.

Capriccio is said to be "a wry and entertaining examination of the eternal struggle between man and woman...words and music...art and life". Profound, to be sure. Yet it is also "wickedly funny".

The Countess Madeleine simply cannot choose which of her two lovers will win her affections - a poet or a musician. She decides to have them collaborate on an opera and let the artistic process call forth her true love. Apparently art really can solve all problems, even the classic love triangle.

The richness of the plot is aided by wonderfully flawed characters: the poet convinced his verse is ruined by music, the tipsy Italian soprano, the Count for whom art is the means to an actress' bed, and a prompter who falls asleep on the job.

Strauss nimbly combines a variety of operatic styles and throws in a few jokes for those who know their music history. If this is you, you will definitely want to visit Victoria BC during Capriccio's run.

The Pacific Opera presents Strauss Capriccio in German with English surtitles. The shows begin at 8pm (with the exception of the 2.27 matinee at 3pm). Grab an early dinner in Victoria's nearby Chinatown before the show, and engage in profound philosophical discussions about the meaning of art, love and life over drinks afterwards.

Victoria Express is as adept at fulfilling your Victoria travel needs as the Countess is at staging an opera; even more so. Call 360.452.8088 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it for more information.

Learn about 2010 Canada - U.S. travel requirements at our Identification page.

Attending a concert by the Vienna Boys Choir is your chance to actually 'hear' history. Don't you feel compelled to travel to Victoria for a performance fit for a king?

Emperor Maximilian I established his court in Vienna in 1498; among other things, he insisted that his court musicians include six boys. 1498 has consequently become the accepted date for the creation of the Vienna Boys Choir, and when you listen to these ethereal voices, you feel transported back in time.

Over the centuries, the choir has grown from six boys to one hundred. Although they sang exclusively for the Court and at state functions until 1918, they now tour the globe several months a year in four separate choirs.

The Vienna Boys Choir will appear at the Alix Goolden Hall in Victoria on March 2, 2010, at 7:30 pm. Expect an eclectic repertoire, as the boys are as comfortable negotiating medieval songs as they are contemporary, experimental music.

Allow Victoria Express to arrange your Victoria BC travel and lodging. Call 360-452-8088 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it for more details. To learn the latest travel requirements, see our Travel ID page.

Tickets are available at McPherson Box Office 250-386-6121, or online at  www.hightideconcerts.net.

Eh oui, Friday March 5, 2010, will begin the 13th Annual Victoria French Fest, which runs through Sunday, March 7. This is a great excuse to travel to Victoria BC. The event will celebrate music, food and art from francophone countries around the globe. Here is your chance to feast on brie and baguettes, enjoy a panoply of food kiosks, and savor magnificent culinary creations by Chef Guy Le Monnier. It is always about the food whenever the French are involved.

Expect to taste Moroccan couscous, chicken Yassa from Senegal, and "les cornouillers", or sugar pies, from Quebec. From Haiti we'll enjoy delectable "accras de morue", or savory fish fritters. France brings us chocolate profiteroles, and the Antilles will supply plates laden with exotic fruits. Each kiosk will also have vegetarian options on hand.

Musicians will include The Georgia Basin Beat Collective, African percussionist Jordan Hanson of Hand Drum Rhythm, Christian Tatonetti and the trio Fetacompli. The energetic are welcome to participate in African dance and break dancing workshops with Yamoussa and Karim Bangoura from the circus Kalabantes.

There will be much to do. The "Salon des artisans" at the Da Vinci Centre on Saturday and Sunday afternoons will showcase an eclectic collection of sculpture, tiles, textiles and luxurious skin care products. There will be French films and popcorn, for adults and children alike. Indeed, children are encouraged to attend the festival, and there will be many games and events just for them.

Perhaps the highlight of the weekend will take place Sunday March 7 at 7 pm at the McPherson Theatre, when the West African Circus troupe KALABANTE will present KO RYASS.

The Victoria French Fest has two main venues: the Da Vinci Centre at 195 Bay Street and Centennial Square. Throughout the weekend, a free shuttle service will run between the two sites.

Victoria Express will take care of your Victoria travel, from transportation to lodging. Call 360-452-8088 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it for more information.

Please note that travel between the United States and Canada requires a passport or enhanced driver's license. See our ID Requirements for more details.

Victoria is a city that embraces the arts. Musical enthusiasts should consider traveling to Victoria to catch at least one performance in the upcoming Open Space Piano Series, Thursday February 25 through Saturday March 6, 2010.

Open Space is a unique non-profit centre in Victoria run by and for artists. It is "a working laboratory for innovative art practices", and it produces some truly outstanding, creative works.

The first performer in the Open Space Piano Series at Alix Goolden Hall is Tzenka Dianova, on Thursday February 25 at 7:30 pm. Ms. Dianova is thought to be "one of the world's finest exponents of new music for the pianodistinguished composers". She plans to "give a rare performance of For Bunita Marcus by American composer Morton Feldman" that will be well worth the trip.

Lubomyr Melnyk takes the stage at Alix Goolden Hall on Saturday, February 27, 2010 at 8pm. Melnyk is considered one of the most innovative pianists alive today, thanks in part to his unique "continuous music" approach to playing - an "unbroken line of sound from the piano". He is also one of the fastest pianists to have ever lived, and has set two world records: the fastest pianist in the world, and the most number of notes in one hour. You will not want to miss his performance.

Gust Burns is a pianist, composer and above all an improviser from Seattle, WA. He will be in residency at Open Space, during which time he plans to deconstruct and rearrange an abandoned piano. His performance on Monday, March 1, (7:30 p.m.) will be prior to this deconstruction. His performance on Saturday, March 6, at 8 p.m will be based on it. Both performances will take place at Open Space, at 510 Fort Street.

Tickets may be purchased for all four concerts at Open Space.

Victoria Express will take care of all your Victoria travel arrangements. Email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or call 360-452-8088 for more information.

Please see our ID Requirements for details on travel requirements between Canada and the United States.

Photograph is of Lubomyr Melnyk.

There is no better way to travel than to hop on a boat in one city and disembark at your destination, refreshed and ready to explore. This is exactly what we are offering through April 1, 2010. You'll travel across the Salish Sea and arrive in the historic setting of Victoria's beautiful inner harbor. No long drive and no traffic lines. Just sit back and enjoy the magnificent views of the Pacific Northwest, one of the most scenic parts of the country.

The Seattle - Victoria travel packages include one or two night's accommodations at your choice of one of the finest hotels in Victoria: the Hotel Grand Pacific or the Hotel Chateau Victoria. Located right in the heart of the city, you will find it easy to explore on foot from either hotel.

In addition, our travel packages include tours of some of the finest sites of Victoria. Sit back in a luxurious coach and enjoy the Grand City Tour. Visit Craigdarroch Castle, considered "a key piece of British Columbia's history". Spend a few hours at the Royal BC Museum, and watch a film there at the IMAX Theatre.

The IMAX is currently showing four films. Ocean Men: Extreme Dive follows two men as they dive more than 91 meters under the sea on one breath of air. Under the Sea offers a glimpse of some of the most spectacular and unusual ocean creatures in the Indo-Pacific waters. Ride Around the World explores the 1,200-year history of the cowboy and horse from Argentina to Morocco. Africa: The Serengeti, is a fascinating tribute to the wildebeest and the Great Migration; it ends February 18, 2010.

The Royal BC Museum has a fascinating exhibit on the First Peoples of this region. Now through Saturday, February 27, the museum is offering interesting First Peoples Gallery Tours. Enhance this experience with the feature exhibit of today's Coast Salish First Nations: S'abadeb: The Gifts.

Victoria is so close to Seattle, it should be visited as often as possible. Our Seattle Victoria travel packages make this too easy to resist. Call or email for details: 360-452-8088, or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Travel between the United States and Canada requires a passport or enhanced driver's license. Please see our ID Requirements page for more details.

Victoria Express is available for private charters for any occasion.

This is your opportunity to enjoy a private afternoon or evening on the water....

Plan a day trip to the San Juan Islands.

Victoria Express features indoor and outdoor seating, a snack bar, multiple restrooms, and a multimedia center including video screens and a PA system. Victoria Express is perfect for a wide variety of cruises around Port Angeles Harbor, Sequim Bay, Port Townsend Harbor, the San Juan Islands and other points of interest in the Salish Sea. Consider Victoria Express when you plan your next event:

• Charter to Friday Harbor on San Juan Island.
• Company Picnic on the Harbor
• Client Social
• Salish Sea Culture Cruise
• Business Luncheon or Dinner
• Sunset Cocktail Cruise
• Retirement Party
• Sales Meeting
• Wedding, Reception or Rehearsal Dinner
• Reunion or Anniversary Party
• Training Class or Workshop
• Private Eco-Tour
• Wine Tasting Cruise
• Or any other reason you want to get out on the water…

Call or E-mail today for more information:

Phone: (360) 452-8088

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On Friday, February 19, 2010, Paul Mowbray and Tracy Mills will perform their original music at the Heron Rock Bistro in Victoria from 7 to 9:30pm. Mowbray is a master of the guitar, and Mills a virtuoso on violin; their sound blends together like an intimate conversation.

BullFrogMusic calls this "single malt scotch or fine wine music" and tells us to "drink in the sound." Good thing they'll be playing at the Heron Rock Bistro, at #4-435 Simcoe Street, Victoria, BC. Listen to Paul Mowbray and Tracy Mills as you enjoy local oysters on the half-shell, or kalamari with sesame-cilantro aioli and crispy cumin batter.

Is it worth visiting Victoria BC for this event? You bet it is.

Victoria Express is currently offering several fantastic Victoria travel packages. Cross the Salish Sea in comfort, enjoy a visit to Craigdarroch Castle, a Grand City Tour, or an afternoon at the Royal BC Museum. Soak in the sounds of funky folky jazz in the evening. Victoria Express will take care of travel and accommodations - you need only decide to go.

Call 360.452.8088 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it for details.

Please see our ID Requirements to learn what is necessary for travel between the United States and Canada.

If you have ever been to Victoria, BC, you know that it is a city that loves to eat. Only one city in North America has more restaurants per capita than Victoria (San Francisco). A small city that can be easily explored by foot, Victoria is the ideal destination for a gustatory getaway.

The Seventh Annual Dine Around and Stay in Town event will take place from February 18 to March 7, 2010, in Victoria.

57 restaurants are participating in this year's event. They will offer three-course menus for $20, $30 or $40 CDN. To help make your meal complete, restaurants will suggest British Columbia Wines for each dish.

Here is an example of what you can expect for $20: Sips Artisan Bistro on Simcoe St. offers a choice of seafood chowder, organic greens or a spinach and blue cheese salad for an appetizer; and a local cheese plate, a charcuterie and cheese plate, or a local fish plate for an entree (suggested pairing: a 2007 Tinhorn Merlot). For dessert, enjoy Spinnakers truffles (paired with Quail's Gate L.H. Foch). Prices do not include beverages.

A complete list of participating restaurants and their menus is available at Dine Around and Stay in Town.

In order to encourage travelers to Victoria to stay longer and eat more, several excellent hotels are offering special pricing during this event: $69, $79, $99 and $129 per night. A complete list of accommodations is available at Dine Around and Stay in Town.

Travel to Victoria is easy when you entrust yourself to Victoria Express. Cross the Salish Sea in style, whether your point of departure is Seattle or Port Angeles. Please call 360.452.8088 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it for more information.

Please see our ID Requirements to learn what is necessary for travel between the United States and Canada.

We all can picture tracker dogs saving earthquake victims in Haiti, but saving killer whales? Get real! On the evening of Tuesday, February 9 at 7:00 pm at Camp Orkila on Orcas Island, Katherine Ayres, a Ph.D. Candidate at the University of Washington's Center for Conservation Biology will explain how and why she is using tracker dogs to save endangered southern resident killer whales.

Ayres uses whale scat to measure the health of individual whales and to ultimately assess the health of the overall population. But finding whale poop in the wild is not easy. That's were a trained scat detection dog can be a big help.

Just like tracker dogs that can be trained to detect live people under rubble or cocaine packed inside of a can of gasoline; they too can be trained to detect killer whale feces floating on the water at great distances. Ayers will talk about how detection dogs are being used and what valuable information can be gained from the scat, which unlike blubber biopsies, is collected without impacting already endangered animals.

The Marine Science Lecture Series was created to inspire the general public and to highlight the amazing fish and wildlife of our region. Lectures are free. Please park in the upper parking lot at Camp Orkila. Shuttle service from the parking lot to the talk is available before and after the lecture.

The 2009/10 Marine Science Lecture Series is presented by program partners The SeaDoc Society and YMCA Camp Orkila located in Eastsound on Orcas Island. It is made possible through generous sponsorship by Tom Averna (Deer Harbor Charters), and The Gould Family Foundation and co-sponsorship by Barbara Brown, Eclipse Charters, The Kingfish Inn, Shearwater Sea Kayak Tours, West Sound Marina and Jim and Kathy Youngren.

The SeaDoc Society is a non-profit program of the Wildlife Health Center, a center of excellence at the world-renowned UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine.

For more information contact Jean Spalti at the SeaDoc Society, 360-376-3910. Photo courtesy of S. Buckley.

If you are interested in exploring Friday Harbor on San Juan Island this summer, check out our 2010 sailing schedule. Victoria Express can make your Friday Harbor travel arrangements. Please contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , or call 360.452.8088 for more information.