Tacofino
You crank the wheel to the left and swerve into the gravel parking lot. There doesn’t really seem to be a method to parking, as vehicles seem to be haphazardly left wherever seemed convenient for the drivers at the time. The lot is scattered with few wooden structures housing businesses, some small, some large two-story buildings, which look as if they have withstood many a storm. It appears as if the wood used to build them spent some time at the bottom of the ocean.
To the right is a quaint little grocery store overflowing with goods and people. To the left is a little coffee shop called the Tofitian, where a diverse crowd of people are lounging and smoking outside under a covered deck. They look like locals. With a quick and desperate glance you survey the scene: surf shop, yoga studio, acupuncture clinic, scooter rental, Wildside Grill. Then you spot a vibrant orange bus parked at the very back of the lot almost hidden from view: Tacofino.
Your mouth starts to water as approach the back of the line of hungry customers. Even though it’s well past lunchtime the big orange bus is bustling. The surrounding picnic tables are crammed with surfers still in their wetsuits, kids covered in sand with wind blown-hair, and an older well-dressed couple looking somewhat out of place. After placing your order at the passenger seat window of the Mexican style bus, you take a few steps back into what seems to be the waiting zone occupied by about six others. You admire the unique flare and artistic creativity of the over-sized passenger vehicle. The Tacofino logo consists of the Virgin Mary praying with a taco between her palms. Brilliant. You then visualize your delectable pork kimchi burrito. Who on earth thought up such a combo?
“Man, I can’t wait much longer or I’m gonna pass out,” grumbles the young shaggy haired guy beside you. You look over and give him a sympathetic ‘I know what you mean’ type of look.
“If it wasn’t so damn tasty I wouldn’t bother waiting, or paying these ridiculous prices for that matter,” he states.
“So it’s worth it, then?” You ask, even though the answer is clear.
“Every time I come to Tofino I have to hit this place up. It’s almost worth the trip alone. You know the surf conditions can be questionable, but the tacos are always kick ass. Tofino is really about the food culture, and the festivals,” he explains with a youthful and innocent enthusiasm. You guess he might be in his mid to late twenties.
“Where are you from,” you ask interested in hearing more.
“I’m from Victoria. I come out here for all of the big events, Oyster Festival, Beer Festival, Martini Migration, Food and Wine Fest; you name it. There is such a great social scene here. Plus I have some friends that are locals, so I have a free place to crash,” he casually adds.
“Sounds like I’ve been missing out. This is my first visit and here I thought it was all about the beaches,” you honestly admit.
“Yeah, the beaches are sweet, but that’s not what keeps me coming back, and even though I love to surf its not the surf either, its more the atmosphere, ya know?”
“Well I just got into town, so I don’t think I do know, not yet at least.”
“Well I can find surf closer to Victoria, at Jordan River or Sombrio, so I don’t come here simply for the surf. And of course it's beautiful here, the open coast, the sandy beaches, but it’s the ‘vibe’ the ‘scene’ that I really like. It’s sort of like the mountain culture that you find in sweet ski towns with all of the visitors and locals sharing a pint and talking about the day’s epic rides. It’s like that, except with surfing.”
You laugh to yourself as you consider how different this visitor’s outlook is than the fellow you met on the beach. Before you have a chance for deeper reflection, your named gets yelled across the parking lot; it’s food time!
BACK ON THE ROAD
To the right is a quaint little grocery store overflowing with goods and people. To the left is a little coffee shop called the Tofitian, where a diverse crowd of people are lounging and smoking outside under a covered deck. They look like locals. With a quick and desperate glance you survey the scene: surf shop, yoga studio, acupuncture clinic, scooter rental, Wildside Grill. Then you spot a vibrant orange bus parked at the very back of the lot almost hidden from view: Tacofino.
Your mouth starts to water as approach the back of the line of hungry customers. Even though it’s well past lunchtime the big orange bus is bustling. The surrounding picnic tables are crammed with surfers still in their wetsuits, kids covered in sand with wind blown-hair, and an older well-dressed couple looking somewhat out of place. After placing your order at the passenger seat window of the Mexican style bus, you take a few steps back into what seems to be the waiting zone occupied by about six others. You admire the unique flare and artistic creativity of the over-sized passenger vehicle. The Tacofino logo consists of the Virgin Mary praying with a taco between her palms. Brilliant. You then visualize your delectable pork kimchi burrito. Who on earth thought up such a combo?
“Man, I can’t wait much longer or I’m gonna pass out,” grumbles the young shaggy haired guy beside you. You look over and give him a sympathetic ‘I know what you mean’ type of look.
“If it wasn’t so damn tasty I wouldn’t bother waiting, or paying these ridiculous prices for that matter,” he states.
“So it’s worth it, then?” You ask, even though the answer is clear.
“Every time I come to Tofino I have to hit this place up. It’s almost worth the trip alone. You know the surf conditions can be questionable, but the tacos are always kick ass. Tofino is really about the food culture, and the festivals,” he explains with a youthful and innocent enthusiasm. You guess he might be in his mid to late twenties.
“Where are you from,” you ask interested in hearing more.
“I’m from Victoria. I come out here for all of the big events, Oyster Festival, Beer Festival, Martini Migration, Food and Wine Fest; you name it. There is such a great social scene here. Plus I have some friends that are locals, so I have a free place to crash,” he casually adds.
“Sounds like I’ve been missing out. This is my first visit and here I thought it was all about the beaches,” you honestly admit.
“Yeah, the beaches are sweet, but that’s not what keeps me coming back, and even though I love to surf its not the surf either, its more the atmosphere, ya know?”
“Well I just got into town, so I don’t think I do know, not yet at least.”
“Well I can find surf closer to Victoria, at Jordan River or Sombrio, so I don’t come here simply for the surf. And of course it's beautiful here, the open coast, the sandy beaches, but it’s the ‘vibe’ the ‘scene’ that I really like. It’s sort of like the mountain culture that you find in sweet ski towns with all of the visitors and locals sharing a pint and talking about the day’s epic rides. It’s like that, except with surfing.”
You laugh to yourself as you consider how different this visitor’s outlook is than the fellow you met on the beach. Before you have a chance for deeper reflection, your named gets yelled across the parking lot; it’s food time!
BACK ON THE ROAD