The Yates Street Wetlands

On the 700 block of Yates Street, between Blanshard and Douglas, sits a vacant lot. Over the years it has slowly been returning to nature, and personally, I kinda like it. The Times Colonist reported recently however, that condos will be built soon. Here's another example of one of Victoria "wild lots." This one is between Pandora and Fisgard, and it too is slated for, you guessed it, condos. - Fern

The Town That Time Forgot

Sometimes I look at pictures I take of Victoria and I feel like I'm in some kind of time warp. Here we are in the throbbing heart of Victoria's downtown and, if it weren't for the new model cars, the photo might have been taken in the 1950's. Anyway, here's a treat for all the red neon and classic movie marquee fans out there, Victoria's Odeon Cinema, built in 1946. Inside, of course, it's been transformed into seven little mini-theatres but outside it still looks just like movie houses all used to look. The Odeon Cinema is on Yates Street, between Douglas and Blanshard Streets. Odeon, for those interested in etymology, means "music hall."

Downtown

I haven't shown much of downtown Victoria so here's another taste. This is the intersection of Douglas Street (Victoria's main thoroughfare) and Yates Street as it was this afternoon about 4 o'clock. It all seems sort of ho-hum but that's one of Victoria's charms too.

The Gorge and Yates Street

Here's a shot I took a few hours ago from the top of the Yates Street Parkade, with some of the Yates Street heritage buildings in the foreground. That's the Johnson Street Bridge on the left and further up the Gorge is the Bay Street Bridge.