June evening in Victoria, BC

The breeze is surprisingly brisk on this June evening in the provincial capital. From Oswego Street, I cut through the small park to Belleville, then turn right and walk past the Hotel Grand Pacific on my right and the inner harbour on my left. Ahead, the Parliament Buildings are festooned with strings of white LED lights. Along Menzies Street, several horse drawn carriages wait at the kerb.

Picture: Ruby shares her dinner with pigeons.

The handsome draft horses have thickset bodies, stocky legs and long-haired fetlocks. They look bored as they wait. One raises his head and neighs loudly as I pass. Perhaps he is annoyed by having to wear the leather blinders that restrict his view. The harness gleams and the velvet-upholstered seats of the caleches look inviting.

Refreshed by my evening walk, I ride the hotel elevator with a couple who are speaking softly in Afrikaans. He has on the green and yellow South Africa jacket of a World Cup soccer fan. As the two step out, the girl glances back to wish me good night in English.