Weekend in Victoria {The Hotel}…

Last weekend, my beau took me for a little weekend getaway in Victoria, B.C..  The capital city of British Columbia is one of my favourite places to visit –it has almost everything one could wish for:  waterfront views and pathways, beautiful horticultural marvels, fine dining, and darling little boutique shops, all with a very yesteryear flare.

Having visited Craigdarroch Castle and The Butchart Gardens in 2008, (it’s where A took me for our first few dates!) we decided that the focus of our two-day stay in Victoria would primarily be relaxation, a good dinner somewhere, and tea at The Empress on the ‘morrow.  Since we would be spending most of our time at a hotel, we wanted our room to feel like home as much as possible, and went through a long list of hotels, motels and inns to find the perfect one.  I was so torn between a room at the Empress, and the Delta Hotel’s ModeDeluxe room that A preferred… but in the end, we decided on Delta Hotel‘s Ocean Pointe Resort & Spa.  He preferred a more modern room, and I remembered in time that the Empress was reputedly haunted.  😛  (Although I would still love to stay there someday!)

It’s a good few hours’ drive from Comox, and I stayed warm in my favourite Mackage ‘Edmi’ trench coat.  In my opinion, there’s no coat more stylish for Spring than a trench, most likely due to the influence Miss Audrey Hepburn has on me.
I can’t tell you how excited I was to get to the hotel –it’s probably one of my most favourite parts in any trip I make because it makes me feel like a cultured jet-setter, and it satisfies that part of me that is interested in interior decorating and design.  And bouncing on the bed is always a must!

One ‘rule’ I adhere to is that one should never be afraid to poke one’s nose around the hotel, provided you’re not infringing on someone else’s privacy, or crashing parties!  It’s a great way to figure out what the hotel has to offer!  Nosing around, I found the lovely ‘Ivy Ballroom’:It’s quite small for dancing, but the tables can either be cleared away, or perhaps people don’t dance like they used to… *sigh*
The one great disappointment we had during our stay was how the bed was made.  As you can see in the pictures, it didn’t boast the crispest of corners or the most well-placed pillows… I’ve seen better made beds at a Best Western or Super 8!  However, the bed was still luxuriously comfy, and I adored the fact that the little shampoos and soap bars provided were by philosophy, they always have the cutest inspirational messages on the packaging.  We also enjoyed their spacious indoor swimming pool –clean, at a good temperature, and with a spectacular view of the harbour.  My man feels it is important that I also mention the fact that the internet service was outstanding; he used it a fair bit for gaming!

Now for my outfit, I wanted to be as classic as possible to be in keeping with the olden days flavour of the city.  Since it was very chilly, (and in hindsight, I still wasn’t dressed warmly enough!) I settled on a wool skirt, a light sweater and a pair of ballet flats since I knew we would be doing some walking.  And Victoria being a very romantic city, pink tones fit right in.

Bag:  Flaska Laverne ‘Bookia’ in chocolate (2012)

Sweater:  Simons Twik bustier sweater in pink (2012)

Skirt:  JACOB tweed A-line mini skirt (2012)

Shoes:  Lucky Brand ‘Emmie’ ballet flats in metallic powder (2012)

Bracelet:  Things Engraved Swarovski Heart bracelet (2012)

Going for a steak or lobster dinner is pretty romantic for the two of us, and so a trip to The Keg on Fort St. was a must.  I had a New York striploin with roasted garlic mashed potato, and A had a grilled top sirloin with baked potato on the side.  What I like about The Keg is that I can ask for raspberry iced tea to be made.  I came across this drink while dining in restaurants stateside during my road trip from California to Vegas.  Apparently, it is not something to be had here in Canada, but the staff at The Keg always manages to whip it up for me.  So thank you!

Nighttime harbour city view… just stunning!

Coming up next — tea at The Empress!!

I hope you all are having a fantastic weekend — whether you’re on a mini-getaway or at home!

xoxo,

— Miss Cathie