We had a fine time before we left Sidney on March 28. We had spent two winter months there just like we had imagined years ago during our first winter trip to Sidney. We were able to accomplish many of the boat projects we had not completed while still in Seattle; and we had a lot of fun besides despite the typical PacNW cold, dark rainy weather. We rode the bus 3x/wk to the Panorama Recreation Centre to enjoy their weight room and pool; and promptly offset any gains we may have made by repeatedly visiting the 2 bakeries, 2 liquor stores, movie theatre, and multiple fine restaurants located within a 1/2 mile walk of the Port of Sidney Marina (suck it, Shilshole and your dearth of amenties). Did I mention there are Chocolates of Distinction at Lunn’s Bakery? You have to drink the cherry cordial like a cherry schapps shot. Awesome.
We even had a little excusion to Victoria. Winter discount rates at the Empress Hotel (excuse me; "The Fairmont Empress") and certain downtown restaurants make one forget how much coin one is actually blowing. Here’s how we did it: Number 70B bus (el expresso de double decker) from Sidney to one block behind the Empress. 
Check in at Empress. Go to 
favorite sushi restaurant in Victoria. Ignore snow flurries. Walk to discount dinner at way-hip restaurant, congratulate selves on fine dining choices. Walk back to Empress, passing by dozen teenage runaways bedding down in alcove. Feel bad for them because it is very cold and snowing (remember in "The Lost Boys" when the mom gave cash to the dumpster-diving kids?). Then observe kids’ shoes, haircuts, tattoos and body piercing. Contemplate how much panhandling pays these days. Walk on. Still feel bad.
Victoria was educational in other ways. For example, we learned potential money-making opportunities from the entrepeneurs on other boats in Victoria’s Inner Harbour. 
Other things learned in Victoria: for breakfast and lunch, do not go anywhere other than The Re-Bar. Just don’t. I would suggest the Southwestern poached eggs with a wheatgrass chaser – but that’s just me.
Sidney is much lower-key than urban Victoria, though their public buildings aren’t as fancy as Victoria’s:
However, Sidney has public art in easily accessible places, like this one outside a local bookstore. The little old lady is boning up on Nigel Calder’s diesel maintenance manual, and the old phart is trying to deal with current events: 
Bottom line: if you can, spend some time in Sidney. You will have a lot of fun. But go soon; like everywhere else, the general economy and the million-dollar waterfront condo developments are displacing everything else. Including nautical bookstores like the Compass Rose. RIP.
Leave a Reply