For a few days before Christmas, A and I were in Victoria with some of my family. On one evening we had dinner at Butchart Gardens, and spent some time admiring the display of lights (they had a "Twelve Days of Christmas" theme):
Some of the other sights of Victoria were Craigdarroch Castle (home of 19th century coal baron Robert Dunsmuir), some knit graffiti, and views from Mt Tolmie.
Then off on the ferry to Pender Island, to stay at my Aunt's cabin for a day of games, food, drink, and catching up with family:
The last leg of this phase of the holiday was to take the ferry back to Vancouver to spend Christmas with A's family (coming up soon in Part 2!).