WOW!  Another great cruise onboard the Celebrity Mercury!  I was onboard the Celebrity Mercury in 2006 exploring Alaska.  This time it was cruising the Pacific Northwest and it was incredible!!  I enjoy cruising with Celebrity.

We visited Victoria, BC and Nanaimo, BC.  

While in Nanaimo, BC...we shopped to help support the Namaino economy...and did a great job I might add!! Mom got a great outfit...with an incredible jacket!  and then just walked around so we could get a feel of the community.  

As we were walking around, a little shop caught my eye.  I am not a fudge person... But, in the window of a little shop, a man was stiring and cooling fudge on the top of a table.  Now, the fudge was NOT in a bowl...it was on the top of the table..... he circled the table over and over...stiring the fudge.  Something I have never see before...  I was in awe....so, we had to go in and continue to watch...and of course, one thing lead to another...and before you know it...I was buying peanut brittle, turtles and a latte.

The shop is called "Hammond Bay Fudge Company".... and it was incredible!  They were so friendly.   Of course, it seemed as though I could only ask for the things they did not make...but as I stated before...I finally found something to my liking....the shop owner and his wife were very accomodating and definetly made up for it in kindness.  

If you ever get to Nanaimo...you have to stop in to "Hammond Bay Fudge Company"... have a piece of fudge, a Nanaimo bar and warm cup of coffee.  Tell Albert you heard about their incredible fudge from Travel Traditions.  

It is located at....

Hammond Bay Fudge Company
Country Club Centre
3200 Island Highway North, Unit 33
Nanaimo, BC V9T 1W1
Owner...Albert Lum

Now, Victoria, BC....  Victoria is beautiful.  Mom and I took a city tour....we wanted to see and hear about Victoria from someone who new a little more than we did.  Did you know that Steve Nash....the NBA superstar grew up in Victoria? He did.  Also, Pamela Anderson grew up about 50 miles from Victoria...another thing I was unaware of...And, the woman who played Betty Crocker on tv in the 1960's... lived in Victoria. 

After our city tour, we visited Craigdarroch Castle.  This is not a castle in the real sense...not like you find in Europe...but a very large beautiful home, none the less.  The hisory of the home and family is incredible.  The home is amazing.... It is something you should definetly visit if in Victoria.   You can learn more about it at www.thecastle.ca . 

And of course we had "High Tea" at the Empress Hotel.  Mom has always talked about having "High Tea" if we went to Victoria together.  She had "High Tea" at the Empress with my aunt years ago...but wanted to do that together...just her and I.  So we went.  It was a nice experience.  I am not sure that I will ever eat a cucumber sandwich or a carrot sandwich again....but at least I can say I did it.  The Empress Hotel is very impressive.  It reminds me of "The Davenport Hotel" in downtown Spokane, WA.  Very old...with an incredible amount of history and character.  The kind of character that is difficult to find a properties that are built today. 

After tea, we decided to do some shopping.  That was nice...several quaint shops on the water front.  But it was starting to get dark, and the breeze off the water was chilly, so we decided it was time to head back to the ship.     

The following day was a day at sea...one of the things I love about cruising.  A relaxing day on the water.  It was a little rough at first...then calmed. 

If you would like a short cruise out of Seattle....then the Pacific Northwest Cruise is for you.  In the month of October, Celebrity Mercury (the only cruise line to offer 3 and 4 night cruises from Seattle, WA) offers this itinerary.  Pricing is very reasonable also. 

If you are interested...give us a call at 509-586-0271 or you can email gina@traveltraditions.com. 

Hope you have a wonderful Holiday Season!