Tuesday Cuppa Tea, Victoria BC and The Empress For My Birthday

Hello and welcome to Tuesday Cuppa Tea! 

Besides the teacup below I will be sharing the trip we made to Victoria, BC Canada for my birthday during our 2 week break. But here's my teacup for today:

Because I'm feeling fallish...although we are really still continuing our only month of summer with temperatures around the 70s, which is warm for us, and very welcome....our night are getting into the 40-50s and the leaves are turning. So I thought this cup and saucer by Royal Albert was leaning toward fall. I don't know the name of the pattern, but I like the pale yellow and the foliage which looks like plants putting out seed pods and thinking about shedding leaves. The mark dates the teacup to the 1950s, and it's the usual nicely made English bone china that feels so nice to drink out of.

We traveled to our closest big city, Victoria, BC Canada for a birthday visit. We traveled on the Black Ball Ferry the Coho out of Port Angeles to Victoria Inner Harbour. Here is the ferry from the seawall a bit later in the day when we went for a walk just before dinner. We arrived on the early ferry, getting to Victoria at 10:30.  The seawall in front of the Fairmont Empress was quiet, lovely and peaceful because it was so early.

By the time we got the Empress it was close to noon, but because we had a VIP stay (!) we could get into our room in 30 minutes, so we went up the street to a favorite tea room and tea shop Murchie's for a cuppa and an almond croissant.

Murchie's sells goodies for tea, teaware, and their own tea blends. I especially like their Afternoon Tea Blend #10.

After a wander about town to a few favorite areas around the seawall, watching the float planes buz in and out, and admiring the topiary orca killer whale and her baby on the square by the Empress:

it was time for lunch after checking into our room overlooking the habour on the 8th floor, at The Veranda on the pillared porch at the front of the Empress. We hadn't eaten there, so decided to try it.

It was diffucult photographing it...as well as forgeting to photograph ANYTHING until lunch was over and we were having tea, because of the intensity of the light on the lawn in front of us and the Inner Harbour just across the road. Here is the lawn from the opening when I got out from under the covered porch, showing the Hop On Hop Off bus and excursions loading for Butchart Gardens. The old truck is used to advertised whatever is going on at the Butchart Gardens.

We had thought to have afternoon tea later, but were too full. We did walk by the tea lobby where teas were being prepared, and the Palm Court where tea used to be served until it became too popular.

And to the gift shop where you can buy the Empress China William Edwards, (formerly Booth and Royal Doulton), china designed for the visit of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth in May of 1939.

 We had dinner later at The Bengal Room in the hotel, 

Which has a marvelous Indian/Northwest cuisine menu and buffet. And, were surprised with this plate of goodies when we returned to our room:

A cute little tuxedo dressed 3 tone chocolate covered strawberry, white and dark fudge and a chocolate truffle with a little plastic tube and bulb inserted into it. We hadn't seen that before. The tube was filled with a liqueur. We weren't quite sure how to eat it though. Oh well...we are pretty provincial folks...  We had room service breakfast the next morning and generally had a wonderful belated birthday celebration.

Here are some of the wonderful blogs I am joining and a linking for your tea related posts to link with Tuesday Cuppa Tea. For more info on the teacup at Antiques And Teacups, click on the teacup photos. Have a great day visiting the blogs and thanks for joining me for Tuesday Cuppa Tea!

Common Ground ~ http://commonground-debrasvintagedesigns.blogspot.com

Monday Marketplace

Terri~  http://artfulaffirmations.blogspot.com/ 
Teacup Tuesday

Trisha~  http://sweetology101.blogspot.com/ 
Tea Party Tuesday

Sandi  ~  http://sandimyyellowdoor.blogspot.com

Teatime Tuesday

Kathy~  http://blissfulrhythm.blogspot.com
Victoria - A Return to Loveliness

Martha~  http://www.marthasfavorites.com/ 
Teacup Tuesday 

Ruth  ~ http://timewasantiquesfamily.blogspot.com

Tuesday Cuppa Tea

Miss Kathy ~ http://thewritersreverie.blogspot.com/

Celia ~ http://attitudeivlife.blogspot.com/  

Afternoon Tea

Michelle ~ http://www.finchrest.com

Tea On Tuesday

Betty ~ http://teacoziecottage.blogspot.ca/

Tea Tuesday

Phyllis ~ http://www.relevanttealeaf.blogspot.com/

Tea On Tuesday

Shawn ~ http://poetryinapotoftea.blogspot.com/

Poetry In A Pot Of Tea

Bernideen’s ~ http://bernideensteatimeblog.blogspot.com/

Friends Sharing Tea Wednesday

Ivy And Elephants ~http://ivyandelephants.blogspot.com/

What’s It Wednesday

Mrs. Olson ~  http://jannolson.blogspot.com/

Share Your Cup Thursday