Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2003/12/09
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]IT'S OFFICIAL! - -------------- The 2004 Spring Shoot of the LHSA will be held in Victoria, B.C., Canada, April 23, 24 & 25th, 2004. Victoria is known as the "City of Gardens", and so it is. It is also the city Condé Nast Traveler magazine has voted "best city in the Americas" to visit! Victoria is also the capital of British Columbia - one of Canada's 10 provinces and some 947,800 square kilometers (about 365,946 square miles) in size. A quiet city, Victoria offers unparalleled opportunity for photographers. The Inner Harbour, with it's buskers, artisans, museums and attractions (including the Undersea Gardens and Whale Watching tours) is directly across from your Hotel. Victoria's renowned shopping district is less than one city block to the north of the hotel. And the Legislature (illuminated at night by thousands of lights), Thunderbird Park (with it's totem poles and long house) as well as the Royal B.C. Museum and the Crystal Gardens (a tropical paradise) are all within a 3 minute walk! For those who wish to walk a bit further, Beacon Hill Park with its 178 acres of gardens, lakes and woods is home to countless ducks, swans & geese. (The wild, Canada Goose seen at: www.horizon.bc.ca/~dnr/CanGoose.htm was taken in Beacon Hill Park) The nearest edge of the park is just a 5 minute walk from the Hotel. Picturesque Chinatown and Fan-Tan Alley are about a 15 minute walk through the main shopping district. Craigdarroch Castle, is about the furthest afield, needing about 25 minutes each way on foot, or a very short cab ride! If your adventurous, there are Whale Watching tours available, and if you love flowers, be sure to see the world famous Butchart Gardens. The Fairmont Empress is one of the treasures of Canada... a magnificent heritage hotel (the new wing was added in 1928), it is absolutely "world class". It has recently been completely renovated including the addition of the 6.1 million dollar "Willow Stream" Spa! The Empress has graciously offered us the use of their Harbourside Room for our meals (which features magnificent views of their Gardens, the harbour and the legislature buildings) as well as a large, heated Verandah, for those who wish some fresh air. We have kept things simple, with one price (as low as US$ 320 p/p - double occupancy) covering two nights accommodation, two dinners (with hors d'Oeuvres) and a farewell brunch on Sunday. Also included is an after dinner talk (and slides?), on Saturday, by our own Ted Grant! Because everything is so central, there is little need to rent a car - though lots are available, from all the usual suspects, should you wish one! The Spring Shoot is a great opportunity to see one of Canada's great cities and a photographers delight! We'll have a hospitality desk set up in the Empress' upper lobby, from 10 until 4 PM, on the Friday, to help you with any last minute arrangements. And your information packages will be waiting for you there. Some great photographic opportunities (and a fascinating experience!) can be had by flying from Vancouver or Seattle to Victoria one of the many 4 to 12 passenger float planes that land in the Inner Harbour, within 400 yards of the hotel! If you prefer, there is an executive helicopter from Vancouver, Abbotsford or Seattle, but you'll need a 5 minute cab ride from the Heliopan to the hotel! Of course, the usual airlines (Zip, Air Canada, Jazz, Horizon and Air Alaska) fly into Victoria International from just about everywhere! From here, taxis are available and the airport shuttle bus will drop you at the door of your hotel! For links to all the travel options and all the details on the hotel, rates, reservations and activities, go to: http://www.horizon.bc.ca/~dnr/spring-shoot.htm If you have questions that are not answered there, write us, David & Rose, at dnr@horizon.bc.ca. But, remember, we will be traveling ourselves, over the holidays, so emails will likely not be answered until after January 10th,'04. THERE IS A BONUS! Our American friends gain a nearly 25% price advantage, as the Canadian Dollar is currently worth about 77 Cents US! :) You must be an LHSA Member to join the fun, so if you haven't yet joined, you can do so at www.lhsa.org. Merry Christmas and a Healthy, Happy & Prosperous New Year to you all! We look forward to meeting you in April! David & Rose. - ---------- David Young | The LHSA Spring Shoot - Victoria, B.C. Victoria, | April 23 thru 25th, 2004. CANADA. | Join the LHSA and join in the fun! Information at: http://www.horizon.bc.ca/~dnr/spring-shoot.htm - -- To unsubscribe, see http://mejac.palo-alto.ca.us/leica-users/unsub.html