Girls Trip to Victoria ~ Day 3 Part 2 ~ The End!

Saturday August 17th

Continued.....

We continue our walk around The Empress.....

Growing season here is all year round....so pretty...

Rose garden.....

Our condo from the other side with shopping area....

We walked back to the condo to change clothes and just happened to catch the rooftop bride!

Since the weather is so gorgeous, we're off to find a beach to sit on.....

A short drive....maybe 5 minutes at the most and we are far from everything.  The only trouble was that there was a LOT of stairs to get down here.  But Mom was a trooper and did it!  Obviously didn't think about the going back up part!  But this was worth it!

We enjoyed a wonderful bit of time here, just enjoying the surf, sun and fresh air.  There should be an escalator to get back up though!  First set of stairs.....

Looking back down and taking a rest before the next ramp stairs....

The ramp stairs, and then there was one more set of steep stairs....whew!  At least we got our exercise!

We took a scenic drive around the whole point, ending up back by in town.  We're not hungry and feel like we've walked enough...hmmmm, what to do?  Mom quickly suggests....Casino!  Okay....off we go for a short drive to Langford.  We won, we lost...we had fun!  We head back down to the inner harbour to listen to live music and have a drink and a little bit of dinner.

The sunset was so pretty!

The lanterns are still hanging....

We meander to Milestones......Peach Bellini and Pomegranate Margarita time!!!

We're still so full from our wonderful tea that we just share a grilled salmon naan bread wrap.  It was very good!

Mom is happy!

We enjoy a great view right from our table....

Too soon it's time to head home and do a bit of packing.  All good things must come to an end and this has been a great holiday.  We had a big to-do list and we just about did everything and more!

The next morning comes too soon!  As we leave for the ferry, we take a few more photos of our perfect little home....

Off we go....until next time!  We had reservations for the 11am ferry as weekends are always busy, but with my speedy driving we arrived at 955 and managed to get on the 10am ferry.  Perfect!  More time to spend at Ikea once we get to Vancouver!

It's a beautiful day for a ferry ride.....

So, there you go....Victoria in a nutshell!  We had a great Mom-Daughter time!  It was just what we needed!  Hope you enjoyed it too!

Girls Trip to Victoria ~ Day 3 Part 1

Saturday August 16th


We wake up to beautiful sunny skies!  Today is Treat day.....when my boss learned that we were going to Victoria, he said we must go for tea at the Empress.  Well, yes, we'd love to but it's really expensive! Nice surprise....the day before we leave, my boss hands me some money....'Take your mom for tea'.  How wonderful!  My mom worked for the same company for 45 years before retiring and letting me take over.  We make reservations for 1pm and look forward to a very special afternoon!

A small breakfast and we're out the door on a special errand.  We pick up a pretty bouquet of flowers from one of the many street side stands and then follow the meandering streets to a cemetery.  Very good family friends that lived in Vernon for many years and then retired to Victoria.  My mom and dad moved to Vernon in the late 50's and we shared a home with this family for several years.  Their daughter was 5 years older than me, but I always thought of her as a sister.  Together, our families shared many special holidays and camping trips over the years.

It's very picturesque....

We arrange the flowers and think of the many happy times shared.....

On the way back to the condo we stop at The Dutch Bakery to pick up goodies to take back home.  Vanilla slices, deer leg cookies and a florentine.  Yes, I just had to have a little bite!

The set up for the rooftop wedding is underway!  Maybe we'll catch some of it later!

A short walk and we enter the Empress via the Convention centre entrance...

Flowers, flowers everywhere!  Anyone could be a gardener here!

Inside the Empress.....beautiful decor....

And then it's time for Afternoon Tea....

We are seated by a wonderful table by the window with a great view of the inner harbour.  Robert serves us fresh BC blueberries and cream....

The Tea Room

The menu and table setting...

Mom is enjoying the VIP treatment!

There are a variety of teas to choose from....we both decide on the Empress Blend.  It was perfect!

Two steaming pots of tea arrive.....I've never had that much tea in my life, but it was so good!  We received complimentary boxes of 10 bags of Empress Blend tea when we were done.

And then the tray of treats arrive!  Oh wow!  I didn't expect this at all.  The bottom tray has mini sandwiches, middle tray has scones and the top tray had cookies and tarts.

We start with the sandwiches.....an absolutely amazing smoked salmon and cream cheese, a thinly sliced cucumber, a chicken mango curry on pumpernickel, a liver pate and and an egg salad croissant.  It was all amazing!

The salmon and cream cheese...

 The curry...

And then the scone with devon cream and strawberry preserves...

Somehow we find room for more.....macaroons that melted in our mouths, marzipan, chocolate cappuccino cups and lemon meringue tarts....

This was our view out the window....

Our tea was 2 hours long....the tea room was still full when we left!  What an amazing experience!  Really the highlight of our trip!

There was piano music throughout the tea....

Staircase leading to rooms.....

The Empress reminds me a lot of 'Titanic'.....lots of beautiful woodwork....

Pretty scenery, inside and out....

Taking a walk around the grounds.....

The Empress Hotel.....

I'm not sure what kind of juniper this is, but it's very unique...

Across the street, the inner harbour walkway....

And from a distance, the Parliament Buildings....We had planned to take a tour if the weather wasn't nice, but the sun is shining so it's great to be outside.....

 To be continued......