Victoria Strolls
The Grand Pacific Open chess tournament ran from Friday to Monday, April 18-21, 2014 in Hotel Grand Pacific in Victoria, BC. Ethan couldn't come due to a school test, so just we two and Naomi went there.
Friday
We drove 3 hours to Port Angeles, left the car there and took the Coho (Black Ball ferry) to Victoria. Hotel Grand Pacific is next to the ferry terminal, and Victoria Inner Harbor is the nicest walkable area we know:
Naomi was initially leading in her Round 1 game with a 2216 rated player, who eventually won the tournament! But then had time trouble in the endgame and lost Round 1.
Saturday
We veered to Beacon Hill Park to the south east of the Inner Harbor, then north to a shopping street, and finally west to the Fisherman's Wharf, with its unique floating artistic houses:
Naomi lost to a respectable 2068 in Round 2, and also in Round 3.
Sunday
The north shore of the Inner Harbor has some striking viewpoints. We discovered a great seafood joint named Blue Fish, with the unforgettable Pacific Rim Chowder. The wall murals are striking, and the Chinatown is lively:
Naomi got the first victory! Over a 1810 in Round 4. And then lost in Round 5.
Monday
In Round 6 Naomi drew with a 1757. Here are the tournament results: 2014 Grand Pacific Open Results
In the afternoon we all went to the Beacon Hill Park Childrens Farm, which kept us all greatly entertained, then we took the 4pm ferry back to Port Angeles and drove 3 hours home:
