Shelagh's Lens
Bringing Vancouver and the world to inspired travellers
Why I Didn’t Mind Today’s 5:00 a.m. Wakeup Call
Travelling for conferences and networking can be wonderful, but also a non-stop whirl of activity.
That’s why it’s generally nice to sleep in until at least 6:00 or so.
However, I’m staying in a room at Quebec City’s Fairmont Le Château Frontenac.
The Chateau is said to be the world’s most photographed hotel, and the shot I took from below the walls of Old Quebec on the weekend will show you why. In fact, my room is one of those in the main tower above, and overlooks the two turrets you see near the right of the photo. The city itself is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The room also overlooks Canada’s famous St. Lawrence River.
While we’ve been indoors in meetings much of the past couple of days, the weather has undergone dramatic swings from gorgeous blue skies and sunshine to thunderstorm warnings and pelting rain yesterday. Knowing that one of the windows in my room faces eastward, I pulled up the blinds before calling it a night last evening …
… and was rewarded with this dramatic awakening at 5:00 a.m. Enjoy!
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Hôtel Le Germain Québec: A Boutique Dream Come True
In planning my first visit to Quebec City, I decided to try two highly rated hotels. I love older properties and boutique hotels, and began with a lovely boutique hotel in the historic Old Port of Quebec.
Hôtel Le Germain Québec is situated in the heart of Old Québec, which was named a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1985.
Situated on the narrow and highly picturesque Rue Saint-Pierre, this is a 60-room property housed in a century-old building. The property is picturesque by day and by night.
A relaxed, welcoming environment
The stonework and high ceilings reflect the building’s age, and the finishings make for a stylish and welcoming environment.
If you’re carrying much in the way of luggage, take the rear entry rather than having to haul it up a couple of short suites of stairs.
Breakfast in style
The lounge is designed for easygoing relaxation, and there are more than a couple of nooks and crannies for privacy, as well as an outdoor patio.
I particularly liked the dining area with communal table, and found the continental breakfast offerings – fruit salad, cheeses, yogurt, croissants, breads and more, rather than hot breakfast choices – just right. The espresso bar in the lounge is also available day and night, and proved to be popular. Need to print something? Apart from the desk below one of my bedroom windows, there’s another desk just inside the lobby.
Conference and social event spaces
There’s a lovely conference space, with high ceilings reflecting that this part of the building was once a bank.
The Room
These linens – a down duvet comforter and pillows- were as comfortable as they look. Slippers? At the ready. Thirsty, or thinking a bit of chocolate would be nice? Staff have this covered, and you’ll find both in your room. Reading materials? Mais oui; in addition to a selection of French and English papers in the lobby, there were additional options in the room.
The spacious corner suite, with windows along two walls, offered a partial view of the famous St. Lawrence River. The bedside Bose radio was on as I entered the room, and the ambience was just right.
Pamper yourself
You can choose to close the blinds and have privacy between living quarters and the ridiculously spacious ensuite, which is accessed via a barn door. Bamboo and cotton bathrobes were hung at the ready, and guests have their choice of tub and marvellously oversized shower. How could you resist the rain shower and the simply splendid Molton Brown toiletries?
You like a night light? I appreciated the convenience and subtlety of lighting built in beneath the glass sink.
Hotel staff were warm and welcoming, and I literally had Old Québec at my doorstep. Is it any wonder all roads seemed to lead to Hôtel Le Germain Québec?
Planning To Go: The Lowdown
Getting There: I flew in via Montreal and landed at Québec City Jean Lesage International Airport. Anticipate cab fare of approximately $35.
Hôtel Le Germain Québec: Thank you for making this stay possible, and merci to your welcoming front desk staff Antoine, Audrey and Sarah. They were gracious with my limited French, and helpful with dining suggestions. Guests need not speak French to feel welcome. As always, perspectives are entirely my own.
What to do? You’ll find Old Québec a wonderful place to stroll, shop and dine. Watch for more on my stay, and aspects of the city, in upcoming posts.
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Here Come the Brides (Part One)
… and the grooms, of course.
During a walk at Vancouver’s Van Dusen Botanical Garden this weekend, I came across two newly minted couples in the space of a few minutes.
This couple and their photographer chose the entrance to the Laburnum Walk, which is a gently winding 55m (180 foot) long pathway. It’s lovely throughout the year, but simply magical for about three weeks each Spring, when these clusters are suspended over the walkway.
These woodland shots are in the heart of the city, but feel miles away from it all.
However, there were guests to attend to and a celebration to host. This pragmatic bride switched over to practical sandals to make the trek back to the car – and on to the reception and married life.
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Chains of Gold
… were suspended this weekend in breathtaking beauty, all along a curving pathway of Golden Chain trees.
These are also known as Labernum Watereri “Vossii”.
If you follow me on Instagram, you’ll know I spent time this weekend at Vancouver’s Van Dusen Botanical Garden.
Beneath the laburnum, the walkway is flanked with allium and littered with blossoms that were drifting down even as I was snapping photos.
The purple and yellow colour theme continues at the other end of the walkway, which is lined with irises.
You’ll find people perched at intervals throughout the pathway, trying for angles that will yield that perfect shot.
Purple is one of my favourite colours for the garden, and so it was a treat to see all the allium sprinkled with petals from above.
In the space of five minutes, I came across two wedding parties (more on those in an upcoming post) framing their new lives beneath the golden chains.
Here are some more glimpses into Spring time in Vancouver, and why we love living here.
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Postcards from DC: The Tidal Basin
Washington, DC is impossible to capture in a single post, or visit. Fortunately, I’ve been able to visit the US Capitol a few times in recent years – and always find something different to explore.
In the US Capitol last month, I walked along part of the Tidal Basin, the large body of inland water above.
DC is home, of course, to the National Monument (more on that in another post) and a number of inspirational memorials. We’ve toured them before at dusk and in evening light, and I gained an entirely different perspective seeing some of them on a sunny Spring afternoon.
People gravitate to the Tidal Basin, and little wonder.
Whether you’re painting the Jefferson Memorial, running or paddle boating, it’s a lovely spot that’s a short walk or drive from what can be an intense environment.
While the famous cherry blossoms flanking the Tidal Basin were for the most part finished, I did come across this tree with some (three!) blossoms still in place.
If you spend enough time in the area, you’ll see that flights departing from the nearby Ronald Reagan International Airport routinely fly over the Jefferson Memorial.
Barely 24 hours later, I was in one of those planes flying over the Jefferson Memorial. You’ll see its dome near the upper right of the Tidal Basin, and flanked on the lower left by the National World War II Memorial. Above that, you’ll see the prominent National Monument.
Not long after, fellow passengers and I were flying into a spectacular, extended sunset as we made our way west.
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How My Travel Planning Mistake Turned Out to Be A Good Thing
Generally, the best thing about making mistakes is that we learn from them. However, I’ve not only learned from my recent travel planning faux pas; I’m benefitting from it. How so?
Simple. Planning conference travel to the DC area for myself and a number of others, I booked accommodation for all our delegates.
There was just one mistake. I booked my arrival date to be consistent with my colleagues’, somehow missing that my conference sessions started a couple of days ahead of theirs.
Not a problem. Adjust the reservation, right? That would normally work, except that the conference hotel was sold out. That’s where Monaco Alexandria and Brad, seen here, came in.
I was lucky enough to nab space just across the Potomac River from the conference site, and am I glad I did. Not only have hotel staff made me feel welcome, they also welcome pets and their families. Have a look at Blu, Azzure and Cielo, all snug in front of the lobby fireplace.
If the comfort of the lobby wasn’t enough, here’s a look at my spacious room. Am loving the decor here. The lobby and its living room have rich, comforting colours and provide a contemporary twist on the area’s history. My room also has pops of colour, and is bright and airy.
My first meeting is just over a couple of hours away but, if I move quickly, I just might be able to fit in a little bike tour of the area beforehand. What a treat to have bikes at the ready as a courtesy to guests.
Postscript: The Full Story
I liked the Monaco Alexandria so much that I juggled my reservations and spent most of my stay here, rather than at the conference site. Click here for my review.
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A Spring Weekend in San Francisco
I thought of describing this visit as a Spring Break for, although I was in town for business, and even though it rained much of the time, I came home refreshed and feeling thoroughly spoiled.
That may have had something to do with the networking and knowledge sharing that comes with attending a conference, but I think a great deal of it had to do with my hotel of choice, the InterContinental San Francisco. To have a look at my stay, just click here.
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Spoil Yourself in Hong Kong
Who doesn’t like to be spoiled once in a while?
On my first trip to Hong Kong, I did just that with a stay at the InterContinental Hong Kong. You can read about this flagship hotel – and see my pics – by clicking on the Travel menu, or just click here.
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The Stuff of Dreams: BC’s Sunshine Coast
Have you been daydreaming of a getaway where you can smell clean, ocean air and enjoy sunsets from the balcony of your spacious room?
We found all this and more at Tuwanek Resort, a waterfront property that comes complete with its own spa. Click here to see more of our trip.
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Looking for Quiet in a City of 8.5 Million?
We were, while visiting Bangkok. It’s a wonderful place to visit, but sometimes it’s nice to shift pace a bit. Where to go? We chose Lumpini Park; click here to see more of our visit to this urban oasis.
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