Tuesday, February 24, 2009
vancouver
We visited Vancouver, BC over the past weekend and had a marvelous time! I want to make some notes for future reference, and for anyone who happens to be looking for information online.
We took the train from Seattle to Vancouver - it was cheap and easy. Actually, we got on in Edmonds, which was a good choice because only a few other people got on at the same stop, so there was not much waiting in line. We did have to wait for a quite a while to get through customs at the Vancouver train station, but oh well. It was nowhere near the 2-hour wait at customs at Blaine that some of my work friends described recently.
Wedgewood Hotel - Absolutely marvelous. The room was spotless and comfortable, the service was excellent and cheerful, and the massages we had the spa were lovely.
Bacchus Restaurant and Lounge - the lounge is intimite and cozy, with lots of dark wood, cushy chairs, heavy drapes, and soft lighting. The drinks are expensive but delicious, the lounge menu is tasty, and the breakfast & afternoon tea are quite good. However - the main dining room is overpriced and underimpressive. It's not that the food is BAD - it's just that it's uninspired and costs much more than it should.
Diva at the Metropolitan Hotel - we had lunch this trip, and had a prix fixe dinner on a previous trip. I remember being wowed by dinner, but that was years ago and I'm sure my tastes have gotten snootier. We had a prix fixe lunch this time, and it was quite good. There were three courses - the appetizer & dessert were quite excellent, but we felt the main course was somewhat off the mark. Not that it was bad, it just didn't work as a cohesive dish. However! I would go back just for cocktails. I had one they called a "Poire Belle" and it was AMAZING, like the essence of pears distilled with vanilla and a hint of spice, incredibly smooth.
Cioppino's - don't let the generic-sounding name turn you off - we had a really terrific dinner here. The chef is considered one of the best in the city, and I can see why. We had a mushroom & chestnut soup that was to do die for. I had a bowl of cioppino for dinner which was hands down the best I've ever eaten, and R* had duck which came in 3 different preparations on one plate and was outstanding. At dessert, R* had the house tiramisu which put all other tiramisu to shame - like we may consider driving back to Vancouver just for dessert, it was that good.
Vancouver Symphony - Put Seattle's symphony to shame. The hall is run-down and chilly, the bathrooms are a little yucky, but the orchestra is terrific. Louis Lortie was the guest pianist, playing two Lizst pieces (not for the faint of heart or small of hand!) and he was stunning. I'm so pleased we went to this performance.
Kirin Seafood Restaurant - we went here for dim sum and discovered that we've only eaten cheap crappy dim sum in Seattle! The food was excellent, the staff steered us through the experience since we obviously didn't know what we were doing, and the restaurant was full of Chinese people chowing down. I would love to go back with a bigger group so we could try more dishes. (Note, the dim sum is of the order off the menu variety, not the wheeled around on carts variety.)
Vancouver Art Gallery - we visited this art museum the last time we were in Vancouver and had the same reaction: the building is lovely, the collection is nothing special, and the museum store is the best we've ever seen - and that includes MOMA and the various Smithsonian/National Gallery stores. Good news: you can shop at the museum store without paying admission to the gallery.
Bill Reid Gallery - Bill Reid was a half-Haida (Native or First Nations group) artist who put a phenomenal amount of effort into reviving and publicizing his people's native art forms, as well as bringing many of the native motifs into modern media. The collection is really lovely and features lots of multimedia stations such as videos, interactive displays, and audio recordings that help place the art in context.
Chambar - Amazing Belgian restaurant. The menu features crazy cocktails, a nice variety of Belgian beers, moules et frites in multiple preparations (yes, I am in love with mussels!), gorgeous entrees, and artistic & tasty desserts. I wish we could have gone back at least twice more.
We also bought some nice stuff at Danier Leather (R* got a coat, I got a purse) for ridiculously good prices, and I stocked up on tea at Murchie's.
All in all, a terrific vacation. Wish we could go back every couple of months.
We took the train from Seattle to Vancouver - it was cheap and easy. Actually, we got on in Edmonds, which was a good choice because only a few other people got on at the same stop, so there was not much waiting in line. We did have to wait for a quite a while to get through customs at the Vancouver train station, but oh well. It was nowhere near the 2-hour wait at customs at Blaine that some of my work friends described recently.
Wedgewood Hotel - Absolutely marvelous. The room was spotless and comfortable, the service was excellent and cheerful, and the massages we had the spa were lovely.
Bacchus Restaurant and Lounge - the lounge is intimite and cozy, with lots of dark wood, cushy chairs, heavy drapes, and soft lighting. The drinks are expensive but delicious, the lounge menu is tasty, and the breakfast & afternoon tea are quite good. However - the main dining room is overpriced and underimpressive. It's not that the food is BAD - it's just that it's uninspired and costs much more than it should.
Diva at the Metropolitan Hotel - we had lunch this trip, and had a prix fixe dinner on a previous trip. I remember being wowed by dinner, but that was years ago and I'm sure my tastes have gotten snootier. We had a prix fixe lunch this time, and it was quite good. There were three courses - the appetizer & dessert were quite excellent, but we felt the main course was somewhat off the mark. Not that it was bad, it just didn't work as a cohesive dish. However! I would go back just for cocktails. I had one they called a "Poire Belle" and it was AMAZING, like the essence of pears distilled with vanilla and a hint of spice, incredibly smooth.
Cioppino's - don't let the generic-sounding name turn you off - we had a really terrific dinner here. The chef is considered one of the best in the city, and I can see why. We had a mushroom & chestnut soup that was to do die for. I had a bowl of cioppino for dinner which was hands down the best I've ever eaten, and R* had duck which came in 3 different preparations on one plate and was outstanding. At dessert, R* had the house tiramisu which put all other tiramisu to shame - like we may consider driving back to Vancouver just for dessert, it was that good.
Vancouver Symphony - Put Seattle's symphony to shame. The hall is run-down and chilly, the bathrooms are a little yucky, but the orchestra is terrific. Louis Lortie was the guest pianist, playing two Lizst pieces (not for the faint of heart or small of hand!) and he was stunning. I'm so pleased we went to this performance.
Kirin Seafood Restaurant - we went here for dim sum and discovered that we've only eaten cheap crappy dim sum in Seattle! The food was excellent, the staff steered us through the experience since we obviously didn't know what we were doing, and the restaurant was full of Chinese people chowing down. I would love to go back with a bigger group so we could try more dishes. (Note, the dim sum is of the order off the menu variety, not the wheeled around on carts variety.)
Vancouver Art Gallery - we visited this art museum the last time we were in Vancouver and had the same reaction: the building is lovely, the collection is nothing special, and the museum store is the best we've ever seen - and that includes MOMA and the various Smithsonian/National Gallery stores. Good news: you can shop at the museum store without paying admission to the gallery.
Bill Reid Gallery - Bill Reid was a half-Haida (Native or First Nations group) artist who put a phenomenal amount of effort into reviving and publicizing his people's native art forms, as well as bringing many of the native motifs into modern media. The collection is really lovely and features lots of multimedia stations such as videos, interactive displays, and audio recordings that help place the art in context.
Chambar - Amazing Belgian restaurant. The menu features crazy cocktails, a nice variety of Belgian beers, moules et frites in multiple preparations (yes, I am in love with mussels!), gorgeous entrees, and artistic & tasty desserts. I wish we could have gone back at least twice more.
We also bought some nice stuff at Danier Leather (R* got a coat, I got a purse) for ridiculously good prices, and I stocked up on tea at Murchie's.
All in all, a terrific vacation. Wish we could go back every couple of months.
Labels: travel, vacation, Vancouver
Tuesday, March 27, 2007
tea time
I am home from Canada, quite a bit more rested and relaxed. My final exam went excellently well - I got a 90% and ended up with a 3.3 in the class, which is quite a bit higher than I'd been anticipating. All but 2 of my classmates passed into next quarter - one of them was a "backfill" student second quarter so now we're down to 19 of the original 30 students that started first quarter together.
The day after the final, I spent most of the day cleaning house because my parents came into town and spent the night at our house. I know it doesn't sound like much fun to clean the house on my break but it's awfully nice to have a clean house again.
Friday morning we got up super early and went down to the waterfront to catch the Victoria Clipper to, uh, Victoria. Upon arriving, we cabbed over to the Empress Hotel and checked in. R* was dissatisfied with our allegedly upgraded room and went back to the desk and asked for a new room - so we ended up in a little suite with a harbour view and a lovely sitting area. I would not have asked for a new room if it were up to me because I'm embarrassed by things like that - but I have to admit that our room was gorgeous and we were much more comfortable there.
After moving into room #2, we went downstairs and met my parents for afternoon tea. It was posh as it always is at the Empress. I started my tea collection there, as the waitstaff pass out boxes of "Tea at the Empress" tea bags to each customer. We went back up to our room and changed and relaxed for a little while, then went down to the spa and had massages and soaked in the mineral pool for a little while. I felt so much better afterward. I've been really tense! We had a nap and then all 4 of us went for an early dinner at Cafe Brio. We had a really good time and the food was terrific. The only letdown was that dessert was not as stunning as the previous courses had been. R* and I had been there for dinner several years ago and I was very happy to find that the restaurant held up to my fond memory.
On Saturday we wandered around and shopped and lunched at an Irish pub which was fabulous - best fish and chips I've ever had - and took a nap and had a delicious seafood dinner. Then we went back to the Empress and had cocktails and dessert and listened to a jazz trio which was actually very good, not "hotel jazz" at all. During my shopping I loaded up at Lush and at Murchies... in fact, I'm having a cup of Queen Victoria blend as I type this.
Sunday we went on a tour bus out to the Butchart Gardens and strolled around and had tea again in their restaurant. Then we caught a bus back to the Empress, where we had left our bags to be taken over to the Clipper terminal, and discovered we had a couple of hours to kill. So my parents and I went to the Victoria Bug Zoo, which caused R* to announce that he would meet us later and hightail it for the bookstore. He doesn't like bugs very much. :) My folks and I had a great time, though - I guess we're kind of weird that way. R* found some jazz CDs in the sale bin and a book he'd been wanting, so he also had a good time. We went into a deli and bought sandwiches for the boat trip home - the one major problem with the Clipper is that the food on board is awful - and then strolled over to the terminal. We got home without incident and hopped in the car and drove home. It was a very nice vacation and I remembered why I like Victoria so much - it's friendly, pleasant, has plenty of things to do and isn't too far from home.
Now I've got just a few days off before school starts again. I actually have a CPR class all day on Friday and then regular classes start on Monday. Sigh. I need a longer break. The good news is that I don't have to get up so freaking early, though, since my earliest class this quarter is at 9:30 AM.
In other news, R* and I have decided we need to get back on the health kick again. Our plan is to have oatmeal, yogurt & fruit, or cereal for breakfast (maybe smoothies as well?), salad for lunch, and protein (chicken or seafood) and vegetables for dinner. I think I'll serve fresh fruit for "dessert" at dinner time. I went to the grocery store today and got a bunch of salad ingredients and chopped them all up and stashed them in the fridge for easy salad packing. Hopefully that will make it easier to stick with the plan.
The day after the final, I spent most of the day cleaning house because my parents came into town and spent the night at our house. I know it doesn't sound like much fun to clean the house on my break but it's awfully nice to have a clean house again.
Friday morning we got up super early and went down to the waterfront to catch the Victoria Clipper to, uh, Victoria. Upon arriving, we cabbed over to the Empress Hotel and checked in. R* was dissatisfied with our allegedly upgraded room and went back to the desk and asked for a new room - so we ended up in a little suite with a harbour view and a lovely sitting area. I would not have asked for a new room if it were up to me because I'm embarrassed by things like that - but I have to admit that our room was gorgeous and we were much more comfortable there.
After moving into room #2, we went downstairs and met my parents for afternoon tea. It was posh as it always is at the Empress. I started my tea collection there, as the waitstaff pass out boxes of "Tea at the Empress" tea bags to each customer. We went back up to our room and changed and relaxed for a little while, then went down to the spa and had massages and soaked in the mineral pool for a little while. I felt so much better afterward. I've been really tense! We had a nap and then all 4 of us went for an early dinner at Cafe Brio. We had a really good time and the food was terrific. The only letdown was that dessert was not as stunning as the previous courses had been. R* and I had been there for dinner several years ago and I was very happy to find that the restaurant held up to my fond memory.
On Saturday we wandered around and shopped and lunched at an Irish pub which was fabulous - best fish and chips I've ever had - and took a nap and had a delicious seafood dinner. Then we went back to the Empress and had cocktails and dessert and listened to a jazz trio which was actually very good, not "hotel jazz" at all. During my shopping I loaded up at Lush and at Murchies... in fact, I'm having a cup of Queen Victoria blend as I type this.
Sunday we went on a tour bus out to the Butchart Gardens and strolled around and had tea again in their restaurant. Then we caught a bus back to the Empress, where we had left our bags to be taken over to the Clipper terminal, and discovered we had a couple of hours to kill. So my parents and I went to the Victoria Bug Zoo, which caused R* to announce that he would meet us later and hightail it for the bookstore. He doesn't like bugs very much. :) My folks and I had a great time, though - I guess we're kind of weird that way. R* found some jazz CDs in the sale bin and a book he'd been wanting, so he also had a good time. We went into a deli and bought sandwiches for the boat trip home - the one major problem with the Clipper is that the food on board is awful - and then strolled over to the terminal. We got home without incident and hopped in the car and drove home. It was a very nice vacation and I remembered why I like Victoria so much - it's friendly, pleasant, has plenty of things to do and isn't too far from home.
Now I've got just a few days off before school starts again. I actually have a CPR class all day on Friday and then regular classes start on Monday. Sigh. I need a longer break. The good news is that I don't have to get up so freaking early, though, since my earliest class this quarter is at 9:30 AM.
In other news, R* and I have decided we need to get back on the health kick again. Our plan is to have oatmeal, yogurt & fruit, or cereal for breakfast (maybe smoothies as well?), salad for lunch, and protein (chicken or seafood) and vegetables for dinner. I think I'll serve fresh fruit for "dessert" at dinner time. I went to the grocery store today and got a bunch of salad ingredients and chopped them all up and stashed them in the fridge for easy salad packing. Hopefully that will make it easier to stick with the plan.
Labels: nursing school, vacation, weight loss
