Victoria highlights

It seems like so long ago that we were in Victoria!  As you may recall, we travelled there so that I could attend a Conference.  It was delightfully set in a very central location at Victoria's Fairmont Empress Hotel:

The grounds of the Hotel were heavenly maintained.  The view of the harbour from the Hotel is exquisite.  The hallways and the public areas of the Hotel were enchanting and stately.  Even the hallways to the hotel rooms were filled with period details.

Even though its standard rooms are adequate with two double beds and teeny tiny toilet facilities for a family of 4, the Empress' central location couldn't be beat.

I had forgot what it is like to sit at a conference crammed with too many registrants, without tables, for 7 hours per day.  The conference itself had highlights and I much appreciated having the long days (Monday & Friday) sandwiched in between short days (Tuesday & Thursday).  Without a question, a highlight of the Conference occurred the Sunday evening with the entry and meeting and greeting of Queen Elizabeth:

I rounded up K and N and returned them to the reception to meet "the Queen".  You could just picture K's little bucket-list where she must have had written "Meet the Queen" and a nice big check-mark beside it that evening!  I have pondered telling them the truth about "the Queen" but it would likely be futile: I broke the news about the Easter Bunny myth to them a couple Easters ago and, within seconds of my explanation, they turned to me and inquired when the Easter Bunny would be coming.  It's more fun to let them think they met the Queen.