Things I learned in my most recent trip to Victoria
Credit: Tyler Ingram
- I am an over-packer. I brought with me two huge bags for a 3 day weekend. Seriously, I suck at packing even though I have travelled extensively for more than 2 decades.
- I need to pack a specific “travel toiletries bag” and JUST use that one. Every time I re-pack it with every trip I do, I forget something. This time, not only did I forget a razor blade to shave but I also forgot my toothbrush, toothpaste AND the case for my contacts. Lovely, eh?
- Next time I come to Victoria to give a talk (or elsewhere), I am giving myself an extra day to recuperate. WordCamp Victoria was an intense unconference, so I really needed some down time to get back into the swing of things.
- I feel incredibly at home in Victoria, despite the fact that my ex is from there (well, a bit North, but still). I think it has everything to do with the social media community in Victoria, I really enjoyed hanging out with everyone AT WordCamp Victoria and afterwards at Clive’s.
- I really hate being the last speaker in a full-day conference. By then, many people have already left. Also, next time I speak at any of the upcoming WordCamps I’m going to give a talk that is more technical. Still, I think everyone who came to my talk liked it.
- When in Victoria, be as relaxed as Vancouver Islanders. I am used to a different pace in Vancouver, and I really enjoy the more relaxed, laidback approach in Victoria. Obviously, nothing to do with Toronto which is incredibly fast-paced.
- I am eternally grateful to Paul and Katharine Holmes from IdeaZone.ca for always being incredibly generous with their time and their money. Paul and Katharine are both good friends of mine, and despite the fact that I was pretty much non-functional over breakfast, I really enjoyed seeing them.
- Distances in Victoria seem to Victorians incredibly long when I think of them super close. From The Empress to say, Quadra, is about 20-25 blocks and I could have walked it.
- You can’t enjoy Victoria in a weekend. It deserves a longer stay.
- The Fairmont Empress is as luxurious as they have always told me. My stay was generously sponsored by The Fairmont and I am eternally grateful (blog post to come).
Related posts:
- My trip with Helijet
- Parkside Victoria Resort & Spa (Victoria, BC) #yyj
- The Chinatown in Victoria (British Columbia) #yyj
- My recent Social Media Club Victoria talk: “Towards an Action-Focused Agenda for Social Change Using Social Media” (#smcvictoria) @smcvictoria
- Get-away to Victoria (even if only for one day)
Great to eventually see you again. I’ll look forward to another eventual seeing. When we see each other again. In the future.
Seencerely,
Mike Vardy
And first-class cocktails are half the price they are in Vangroover.
AND there appears to be not one piece of Ed Hardy clothing in the entire city. How can you not love that?