Life has been one big whirlwind lately, adventure travelling, glamping, blogger meet-ups, house guests, and although I told you I would be back to normal programming on the blog this week…
I lied.
I didn't know it at the time but I am on my way to Ottawa…our nation's capital for an impromptu trip.
I'm not complaining. There will be plenty of time to catch up on blogging when I get back.
Just know I'm thinking about you all while I'm away enjoying myself.
ha ha
NOT
joking!
…mostly
These photos are from a few weeks back when Robert took me out for a "smashing" weekend at The Royal York Hotel
one of the oldest and fanciest hotels in Toronto and Ursa
one of the best and most unique restaurants I've ever eaten at. It was incredible. This is one of those rare restaurants that actually lives up to the hype.
This silk cheongsam is what I wore.
It is very old by JS Collections.
You can't see the neckline very well but it looks like this.
I had it shortened a few years back so the slit on the side is a bit short.
Back to the evening's events…
We were lucky enough to have the tasting menu including the wine pairing.
I ate pine people!
As in the tree!
The tippy-tippy-tips of the pine tree…
and no they did not taste like a car freshener…
they were fantastic!
Soft and not at all prickly.
As a foodie I really appreciated the amount of time and effort that went into using such unique ingredients to create some truly outstanding works of art for both my eyes and my stomach.
We had booked a large suite at The Fairmont Royal York but they are doing renovations at the hotel and told us we would only have a view of scaffolding, so we chose to downgrade to a smaller room with a super sexy view of the city.
At 9 am the next morning when we were still sound asleep trying to recover from the previous night's excess we were woken up with a bang.
Not a little bang
like someone slamming a door,
or someone knocking because you forgot to put the "Do Not Disturb" sign out before bed and the maid is there rapping away on your door first thing.
Not at all like that.
Those sound like feathers falling on a carpet compared to what woke us up.
This sound was the sky falling.
Or a plane crashing into the suite above us
full of live renegade jackhammers.
Robert called down to the desk and the staff member that checked us in the night before told us all about the wonderful view in our room but failed to divulge the fact that they were rennovating the floor and room directly above us and that there would be some noise the next morning.
Well…ha ha…noise!
Noise is a completely inadequate description.
A sonic eruption loud enough to make the walls shake and the windows tremble is more on point.
Needless to say we were not happy campers.
It went on for at least an hour.
It sounded like angry giants were smashing the place to pieces.
It was awful!
We wanted to leave as soon as possible.
When we went to check out Robert complained at the front desk. Having worked in the hotel industry at guest services for years I can tell you that if you have a problem, especially in a high end hotel, you need to complain.
LOTS.
The more you complain the more likely you are to get a freebie.
Immediately we got a free brunch, which was okay…but not quite what I'd expected.
After we returned home Robert also wrote a letter to the hotel and then received an additional free night's stay. Which is more along the lines of what they should have offered up right away.
So we will be going back, (it is a gorgeous historic hotel after all)
and next time, I hope there will be no wrestling giants.
Just sexy views and ice cold martinis.
What is your worst hotel experience you remember? Did you complain and get a complimentary stay or gift?
