Victoria, BC
Over the holidays I buzzed up to one of my favorite cities in the world, Victoria, Canada. Essentially it was the only place I could get a flu shot. Thank you to the fabulous medical system we are so proud of in the USA. We’re number ONE!
Anyway, while walking around downtown , I happened upon this interesting “concept” junction box. This is the way to go! Why do these boxes have to be painted with some leftover WWI green? Do this! Yet another good idea from Canada that will be ignored by the states.
Everything is pretty in Victoria
I’ll try to remember to take a few pictures, today, John. We’ve been doing this for a decade in Santa Fe. They’ve been out there long enough, of course, to attract a few of the usual ego-smitten graffiti dorks.
Remember during the bicentennial celebration that it was trendy to paint fire hydrants? This is better.
Here in San Diego the junction/utitlity boxes have been getting artistic makeovers one by one. At first I thought it was a guerrilla art thing, but then at my friendly local art department I saw a memo on the bulletin board from the city calling up artists and a way to sign up and paint a box.
So, SoCal is on the bandwagon!
The Box is nice. Maybe we could take somet decorating tips from canada. However, blaming our flu vaccine shortage on the US healthcare system is a bit of a stretch. Last time I checked Canada had only 32 million people. That’s less than the state of California. It’s pretty easy to have a surplus of vaccine when you have such a tiny population. It’s also easy to have nationalized healthcare when you don’t have to provide it for 290 million people like we do.
By the way. We have a surplus of vaccine in AZ (pop. 5.5 mil). Perhaps you should have come over here instead.
http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/index.php?sty=33100
Hi John, I’m a Victorian, so I’m glad you like our fair city.
Did you happen to notice our electrical boxes on power poles? They are covered with maps of the downtown pinpointing where that powerpole is on the map.
I actually think this is fairly brilliant. It helps tourists find their way around and beautifies the ugly grey boxes at the same time.
Our economy is based so heavily on tourism you see a lot of stuff like that around.
Yeah, blame the US healthcare system, NOT the flu shot suppliers.
I used to live in Victoria and have to agree….Victoria is one of the nicest places to be for a holiday. My wife and I spent our last Anniversay there, looking out over the harbour and perusing the small shops.
Remember the Bicentennial? For a year, there, many cities allowed citizens to paint the fire hydrants. That was fun.. this would be better.
Glad to hear it is still wonderful, up there.
Made a couple of visits – many moons ago – and have many fond memories of what a wonderful city it is for walking and sight-seeing.
Must see: the interior of the castle:
http://www.craigdarrochcastle.com/
Love those stained-glass windows!
I always wondered how the Canadians felt about that Victoria-based castle as it was featured on A&E’s “America’s Castles” show?
I always wondered how the Canadians felt about that Victoria-based castle as it was featured on A&E’s “America’s Castles” show?
Good point!
They could have at least titled it “North American” Castles.