Alice's Adventures

So I left you guys about to head back to Bryan's house and that was a disaster. I got off the bus one stop early - one - and got so utterly and inconceivably lost that I was ready to punch several people out. It took me an extra hour and multiple map checks in the rain before I found my way back. I pretty much hated Victoria at that point.
On Thursday I woke up with the intention of going to see the Royal B.C. Museum but had heard it took the best part of a day to go around it all and I didn't get ready until around 1pm so instead took advantage of the dry weather to have a walk around some more of the shops and down to Beacon Hill Park. The majority of the park is your average park and one would be forigiven for thinking that one was actually up Corstorphine Hill, but Beacon Hill Park is home to the world's tallest totem pole and goes right to the coast which makes for some good views.
I had some time after the park so drank some nice cheap tea in Solstice Cafe on Pandora Avenue which I enjoyed more than Habit across the street, that had been suggested to me but I found a bit cooler-than-thou. After that I made a successful bid at getting home and met Bryan for an Indian buffet dinner with some of his friends.
Bryan's pretty cool and I'm really enjoying the whole couch surfing experience. He's been working during all the days I've been here but it's cool to have someone to hang out with in the evenings and I think it's much better (for a few days, in a small city) than the hostel. It's also nice to have someone to ask about places to go and things to do etc.
Yesterday I got up and showered early for my day of geeking out at the museum. The exhibition that's on was called Treasures and was about the history of people, on loan from the British Museum. It was $27.50 admission for the whole thing and I'm not sure if it was worth that much but it was a fantastic exhibition. There was a cast of the rosetta stone, a mummy and lots of Eyptian artefacts, and exhibits from African, Roman, Middle Eastern, Greek and Asian cultures. I also saw a Rembrandt, a Munch, a Picasso and a Matisse. The rest of the museum wasn't that great but I really enjoyed the exhibition and it was a good use of a day.
After that I went to an internet cafe where I hoped to receive an email from the woman I'm meant to be getting a rideshare to Tofino with, but there was none, and there is none still. This is a bit concerning but Bryan says that I can borrow his camping stuff so I can always swap Tofino for somewhere more accessible and try that out. We shall see.
I then had an expensive and not that great jerk chicken dinner then went back to the house to get ready for the keg party I was attending that night (all courtesy of Bryan and my friends by association). Bryan had set up a treasure hunt to do on the way to his work, where I was meeting him, but I only managed to find 2 of the 4 treasures, which isn't too impressive.
Since he works at a brew it yourself place, Bryan has access to all sorts of beer-y delights and his friend Dan was leaving to live in Ontario so we went round for a party at his. All the people there were cool and kings was played so I had a fantastic night. Another benefit of couch surfing over hostelling.
So far today I have gotten up and come downtown for lunch (another incredible bagel but still no better than Seattle) and the internets. It's a beautiful day so once I've done this I'm gonna go hang out outside and maybe try and find a beach. Bryan gave me his library card and I'm meant to get a film to watch tonight so I'll also have to locate the library... Hmm.
Tomorrow I need to do laundry and try and get hold of this rideshare woman or book the (expensive) bus.