Time travel

some of us are just passing through (can you spot them?) ;)

On the way back from rainy and grey Tofino, we decided to stop in Chemainus (100km north of Victoria). And what a treat that was! The town, which goes by "the little town that did," is known worldwide for its collection of murals -- some 40 of them, painted by artists from all over the world.

The murals came about as a way to revitalize a town that was slowly dying, when its industries (based on natural resources) no longer could sustain it. The vision was to create giant outdoor murals to attract tourists. And so it did: the town's 4,100 inhabitants welcomes almost 100,000 tourists each summer.

In all my travels, this is -- by far -- the most quaint and charming little town I've encountered. It's nestled between a mountain range and the ocean, with a river to its south. It is endlessly pleasurable on the eye, and full of alleyways, boutique shops, restaurants whose fare feels homemade on one hand and sophisticated on the other. Colors abound -- in its landscape, gardens, paintings, and architecture. And, more importantly, its people are easy going; you can chat with them forever and they so obviously love their little corner of the world.

It is very tempting to picture myself living and enjoying life there... And so, Chemainus has been added to our (ever growing) list of possible places to relocate :)