Dear Victoria, You mischievous little imp. I came to you thinking, “Cute place. Bet I can knock it out in a weekend.” What I didn’t realize was that you’d quietly rearrange my internal compass, ruin me for every other small coastal city, and have me googling ferry schedules and real estate listings like I was starring in a Hallmark movie. Let’s start with the harbor. Are you kidding me with that view? Boats bouncing, seaplanes landing like it’s no big deal, seals occasionally popping up to say, “Hey, this is our neighborhood too.” Meanwhile, I’m standing there with a coffee and an
Tag: canada
A Whirlwind Tour of the Royal British Columbia Museum (aka: I Tried to Be Cultured but Got Distracted by a Glowing Sea Lion)
Back in July 2017, my man and I took a trip to the Royal British Columbia Museum in Victoria, BC. And look—I’m ashamed to admit how long it took me to write about it. Because this place? Delightful. Absolutely, gloriously delightful. You know what wasn’t delightful? Realizing mid-selfie that the full name of the museum didn’t fit in the frame. That’s a lot of syllables, y’all. Let’s Start With a Confession I’m not what you’d call a museum scholar. My approach is more along the lines of: • Step 1: See shiny things. • Step 2: Gasp. • Step 3:
📸 That Time I Tried to Become an Egyptologist (But Mostly Took Pictures)
A Royal BC Museum Adventure | July 2017 ✨ The Grand Plan Back in July 2017, I had Big Main Character Energy. I was visiting the Royal British Columbia Museum in Victoria, BC, and I was fully prepared to emerge from the Egyptian exhibit with enough notes to write an academic paper. Maybe even a new career path? Kristen: Amateur Egyptologist. It had a nice ring to it. My intention? My reality? 📷 The Exhibit Was That Good Let me be clear: this wasn’t a failure of willpower — this was a failure of awe. From the moment I stepped into the exhibit, it was dimly
I Got Drunk on Truffles in Victoria, and Honestly? No Regrets.
I’ve made a lot of questionable decisions in my life. I’ve cut my own bangs. I’ve bought fancy skincare without checking the price tag. I’ve said “you too” to a waiter who told me to enjoy my meal. But this time? This time, I got drunk on truffles. Yes, chocolate truffles. With booze in them. This is not a metaphor. This is not an exaggeration. This is a cautionary tale wrapped in foil and filled with brandy. Enter: Chocolatiere de Victoria, a Dangerously Charming Chocolate Shop There I was, strolling through Victoria, British Columbia—land of tea rooms, mossy rooftops, and quiet streets
This “Castle” Has No Moat but All the Drama: A Visit to Craigdarroch
At the remains of what was once the grand entrance gate to Craigdarroch, I declared—arms spread wide like a low-budget Disney princess: “I’m going to see a castle!” Cue every Canadian, tourist, and possibly the squirrel perched on a nearby cedar going, “Well, technically…” Apparently, the entire population of the Western Hemisphere has been to Europe and now feels personally responsible for reminding others that real castles come with turrets, tapestries, and at least one vengeful ghost. Even the server at the Empress Hotel audibly sighed when I called Craigdarroch a castle. “It’s more of a mansion, really,” he said, dashing my fairytale moment with
Redemption Is a Rich, Chocolatey Torte: A Love Letter to the Empress Cake
We need to talk about the cake that changed everything. Look. I was ready to call it. The Empress and I? We were done. After my underwhelming tea experience—tepid brews, mediocre scones, and cucumber sandwiches that tasted like leftover tragedy—I’d mentally filed the whole place under “Fool Me Once.” But then this little box of magic walked into my life. Even the Box Had Main Character Energy I’m not even joking. This dessert box was so pretty it practically had its own skincare routine. Creamy vanilla, trimmed in gold, so elegant I briefly wondered if I should cradle it like
Murchie’s Tea Review: Come Sit in This Steeping Hot Blanket Fort With Me
Let’s set the scene: it’s raining, obviously. You’re wearing the kind of socks that only get sold next to fireplaces in boutique gift shops. You’ve made the conscious decision to put your phone on “do not disturb” because the only thing that matters right now is what’s in your mug—and that mug, friends, contains Murchie’s. I stumbled into Murchie’s like a tired Victorian ghost looking for a warm hearth. And what I found? Was home. You know that thing when a tea brand doesn’t just offer flavor but feeling? That’s Murchie’s. They are out here making tea not for the masses, but for
Chateau Victoria: I Stayed in This Hotel and Accidentally Tried to Move In
Listen. I’ve stayed in a lot of hotels. Some were fancy. Some were weird. One had a mysterious stain in the mini-fridge I still think about with concern. But Chateau Victoria? That place hit different. I miss it. Unironically. I know that sounds dramatic. Who misses a hotel? That’s like saying “I miss that DMV” or “I miss the breakroom at my old job.” But the Chateau Victoria didn’t feel like a hotel. It felt like a secret, beautiful, low-key apartment I didn’t have to clean. And get this: it was actually affordable. No, not “we’ll split the room with three other people and
A Brief, Deeply Confused History of Victoria, British Columbia (A City With More Tea Than Trauma Processing Skills)
There’s a corner of Canada where it always smells like sea salt and overpriced potpourri. The sun hits the harbor just right, and suddenly you’re convinced you do believe in ghosts, but only the well-mannered, Edwardian kind. This place is called Victoria, British Columbia, and it is essentially a living Pinterest board. And like Pinterest, it’s beautiful. It’s soothing. It’s covered in delicate florals. Also like Pinterest, it is absolutely not grounded in reality. Let’s Start With the Real Story: Indigenous Peoples Were Here First. And Still Are. Before Queen Victoria was off somewhere being aggressively painted in oil and inventing the concept
We Paid a Stupid Amount for Tea at the Empress Hotel So You Don’t Have To
Listen up, my beloved and fabulous readers: I have a thing for tea. Tea is my solace. Tea is my comfort. Tea is the steaming hot cup of calm that keeps me from throwing hands when life gets spicy. And because of this borderline religious devotion, my partner and I like to indulge in the occasional afternoon tea at our favorite local teahouse. You know the type—fluffy scones, delicate cucumber sandwiches, and enough clotted cream to make a dairy farmer blush. It’s perfection. It’s my happy place. So when we visited Victoria, British Columbia, there was exactly one thing on my bucket list: afternoon tea