Well, we waited a while on the way back, but it wasn't too bad.


Now, where was I?

Tea.

At The Empress.

It was an experience we had to have, but next time we go up north, we'll have tea at Butchart Gardens, where I've been told it's less expensive.

Afternoon tea was lovely, although warm (if the Empress has air conditioning, they weren't using it in the tea room). Jamie insisted that we dress up nicely for this, and I agreed. We didn't see anyone else dressed up nicely though!



Our party. Now, what you cannot see in this photo is the large coffee mug sitting down on the floor by Steve's left leg. He carried that into the tea room, and between sips of tea, he drank coffee!





Wee Xena was happy with her chocolate cupcake (and her brother's chocolate cupcake too!)




After eating two cupcakes and drinking hot chocolate, she declared, "Mommy, I feel sick!" Well, duh!


Her brother was less thrilled.



But he liked the lumps of sugar.

Who says sugar doesn't make children hyperactive?!







Jamie fit right in. Can you get that pinkie up just a little higher, Panache?





After tea, our hostess brought out cute little certificates, declaring our children to be the Prince and Princess of tea. Unfortunately, due to unusual names, she had our son as the Princess and our daughter as the Prince.

We soon got that sorted out.


We were told we had to visit the Bengal Lounge. We parked the children on the elephants near the entrance and went in to get a peek. Steve caught us on the way out-note how blurry the photo is-maybe a little less coffee?




After tea, we walked over to the museum.

Everywhere you go in Victoria, you see these beautiful hanging baskets of flowers. Apparently there is a company whose sole purpose is to drive around with a water truck and a guy holding a watering wand up on the back to water all these baskets.




We passed this Carillon on the way. I've never seen a musical instrument this large before!



Museum pictures to follow, but maybe not until later today-I've gotta go unpack and do laundry, etc. And we've got to go get our dog, Bella.

Be well,

Star