One of these days I'll get the weather right...

Thursday – Victoria’s Castle!

Hello!

Well, hard to believe, but it’s Thursday already – also the start of the NFL season!  Where does the time go?  Up this morning around 6, no rain coming down at the moment, and out for my walk.  As R told me over the phone, the hour++ walk yesterday was a bit too much, and I should tune it down a bit…so…this morning, I turned south on Douglas, and headed toward the water.  Then, a right turn on Dallas, and followed that all the way around into the city.  All in all, about an hour and 15 minutes; probably 3 ½ miles, give or take!

Back to the flat for shower and breakfast, and we were ready to go about 9 a.m. – except for the thunder storm that moved into the area.  We are on the 8^th floor of this building – and fortunately, there are 11 floors on top of us which should protect us sufficiently!  Hope so, at any rate.  

Out in the car and heading for Victoria’s castle, Castle Craigdarroch, up a hill to a very ritzy area.  The castle is really imposing; not lovely, exactly, or at least I wouldn’t call it that, but very big with absolutely stunning stained glass.  The tour is self-guided (after, of course, you clean off your shoes – they have a huge shoe cleaner at the front door!) and goes up all 4 ½ flights of the house.  It was originally built for the Dunsmuir family, Scottish immigrants who became huge coal and lumber millionaires at the end of the 19^th century. 

Mr. Dunsmuir, who became a politician among other things, wanted to build to impress – and he certainly did that!  Unfortunately, Mr. Dunsmuir himself died before his “castle” was finished, but his widow moved in with some of her daughters (they had nine, I believe) and several orphaned grandchildren.  He had at least three sons that I remember, but they were all grown and out of the house before it was completed. 

 

Inside, the wood (imported from Chicago, IL!) was absolutely lovely, as was the stained glass. 

Craigdarroch, when completed, was the most progressive house in Canada.  It had central heating, hot and cold running water, and was fully plumbed – quite an achievement for the time!  As it turns out, once the house passed out of the hands of the Dunsmuir family, it served as a WW1 Military Hospital, the start of the University of Victoria, as well as the Victoria Conservatory of Music!  Fortunately, while the hospital did make some major changes inside, everything else was basically left alone and well maintained.  (They had to take off five layers of paint on some of the ceilings, but they somehow managed to restore them to their original condition!)  They continue to work on the house.  For example, they are getting ready to put the kitchen back – although what they will use for a gift shop is anybody’s guess! 

When Mrs. Dunsmuir died, the girls were left with the house – as well as the 20 acres surrounding it.  One of the first things they did was to partition the land into smaller plots, all sized to accommodate fairly large, spacious homes – thus, they created an absolutely stunning neighborhood; we passed some beautiful houses!

The tour took us up the front stairways to the top floor – called the ballroom – one huge room where dances and social events were held.  Then, we headed down the “back” stairs, which were used by the servants.  All in all a very interesting place to visit!

By the time we had finished with the tour, and headed outside, it was just pouring out.  I mean, we went way beyond cats and dogs here … I’d say more like whales and seals!  We wound our way down the hill and back into town.  Mom wanted lunch, and I was trying to figure out someplace to go – when the lightbulb went off!

I dropped her off in front of the Victoria Convention Center, so all she had to do was get up the short flight of stairs to get inside.  Then I drove back to the apartment and parked the car in our space.  Out the front door and back down the hill, and voila!  The Victoria Convention Center actually connects directly to the Empress Hotel, and we were heading to the Bengal Room for lunch!

Wow!!  Talk about full!  We were seated at a lovely table for two next to the window (so we could watch the rain, I guess!) and started out with some wonderful Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand. 

(To be honest, Mom had complained that the wine at Butchart Gardens was $9 a glass…I told her to watch out, that the Empress would definitely be more than that!  And I was right!  It was $15 a glass!!)  The Bengal Lounge started life as an Indian Restaurant, although nowadays they also have an a la carte menu.  We both, however, opted for Indian – and it was fabulous! 

 

We started with a curry and lentil soup,  Then, for dessert, they had miniatures of: apple pie with cardamom, rice pudding, chai crème brulee, and something that they call “verrines” – small probably sherry glasses – one came with cream and strawberries with pistachio, and cream with mango mousse. 

Needless to say, I tried everything but the rice pudding.  Could have gone back for more, but decided enough was enough!

and moved on to places of all sorts of things – naan, tandori chicken, milk chicken, lamb and potatoes, lentils, cucumbers – lots of delicious choices!

By this time, the rain was actually stopping!  I was very surprised, because with the intensity that it had been raining, I figured we were going to need a boat to get back to the apartment!  We were able to walk back to the flat, where we both settled in for naps…and woke up several hours later, to some blue sky and sunshine!  Just incredible!!  I decided to take another walk – this is very much a walkable city – but Mom declined.  I made a quick stop at Munro’s for another book (everything I want to read is on my ipad, which happens to be with Robert at the moment!); impressed again about the quality of that bookstore!  It’s amazing! 

Then back to the flat for the start of the NFL season!  (Be still my heart…)  Mom has now announced that she wants to do the hippopotamus tour that they run here, so that is the plan for tomorrow.  I am sorry to announce that I am declining the opportunity.  I will drop her off and pick her up, and spend the interim 90 minutes walking!  

Robert is supposed to be on a plane tomorrow morning at 7:30 a.m.  He will fly Chicago non-stop to Phoenix, then change planes for the Phoenix-Vancouver leg.  Once he gets to Vancouver, he will catch the bus back to Victoria.  We’re investigating whether he can get off the bus after the ferry ride across the channel, so that hopefully I can pick him up there, and we can go somewhere nice for dinner…that is the hope, at any rate!  So!  Can’t wait to have him back!

Lots and lots of love,

m

xxx