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One Day at ‘The Empress’

ByThe Skeptical Traveler

‘The Empress’ in Victoria, BC is a Fairmont hotel.
The image shows a large, historic building with a grand architectural design. The structure has multiple stories, steeply pitched roofs, and several turrets. The facade is made of brick and stone, and there are numerous windows. The building has a sign that reads "The Empress" above the entrance. The sky is clear with some clouds, and the building is bathed in sunlight.

I could not book an harbour view room, but they said I would have a city view room. This was the view from my room and it didn’t look like the city. However, I didn’t complain. I used a free night certificate after all.The image shows the interior courtyard of a multi-story brick building. The building has several rows of windows, some of which are lit from the inside. The courtyard is surrounded by the building on all sides, and there are a few small trees and shrubs at the ground level. The architecture appears to be older, with a traditional design and a dark roof.

This would be the view from a room overlooking the harbour.The image shows a marina with several boats docked in the water. In the background, there are buildings, including a prominent dome-shaped structure on the left side. The sky is clear and blue, indicating a sunny day. The overall scene appears to be calm and picturesque.The image shows a scenic view of a waterfront area with several boats docked at a marina. There are buildings along the water's edge and a road running parallel to the shoreline. In the background, there are more buildings and a range of hills or mountains under a clear blue sky with a few clouds. The foreground includes some tree branches and a large tree partially obscuring the view.

In the bathroom there was a ‘Le Labo’ (first time I have heard of such a brand) ‘Rose 31’ shampoo. The label said among other things: “And make you look beautiful.” I asked my wife and she said it didn’t. I wanted to ask the hotel personnel also but being Platinum I could have not had an honest answer, for sure they would have said “I am beautiful”.
I sent an e-mail to the founders (yes, on the company’s website there is an e-mail if you want to say something directly to the founders, however I doubt it they read the e-mails) asking to remove that sentence or at least add something along the line: “Results will vary.” The image shows a brown bottle with a black cap, placed on a wooden surface. The bottle has a label with text detailing the product's ingredients and usage instructions. The text on the label is small and includes highlighted sections. The label mentions that the product is a shampoo enriched with various ingredients such as Previntain, Aloe Vera, and Hydrolyzed Soy Protein. The highlighted text reads, "And make you look younger. And that is no." The bottom of the label indicates that the product is made in Canada.The image shows a small brown bottle with a black cap, containing shampoo. The label on the bottle reads "ROSE 31," "40ml 1.4 fl. oz.," "shampoo/shampooing," and "For: FAIRMONT HOTELS & RESORTS." The bottom of the label includes the text "LE LABO - 233 Elizabeth Street, New York." The bottle is placed on a wooden surface.

The Adidas T-shirt was made in Canada! I could not believe it, a big apparel corporation producing something in North America. However the label showed ‘Fairmont’ so it must be a limited edition.The image shows a clothing label attached to a dark blue garment. The label contains information in multiple languages, including English, Spanish, and French. It indicates that the garment is made in Canada and is a size large (L). The text "MADE IN CANADA" is highlighted in yellow at the bottom of the label.
The image shows a close-up of a blue fabric with two logos. The top logo is the Adidas logo, which consists of three white diagonal stripes and the word "adidas" below it. The bottom logo is a decorative emblem with the letters "F" and "F" intertwined, surrounded by a gold wreath-like design.

They made a mistake with the labels: the label for wash instruction showed “100% Cotton”, and the main label “65%Polyester, 35% Cotton”.  I wonder which one was correct not that it matters too much.The image shows two clothing tags. The tag on the left provides information about the fabric composition, manufacturing location, and size. It states that the item is made of 100% polyester, made in Canada, and is size large (L). The tag on the right contains care instructions in multiple languages, advising on how to wash and care for the garment. Both tags are attached to a piece of blue fabric.

I checked where the shorts and sport shoes were made and it was Vietnam respectively China (just to make sure, a shift in world economy has not happened without me noticing it).

A barge with scrap, yes we are out of recession (I was impressed when I read sometime in 2008 that scrap could not be collected as no-one wanted to buy it).The image shows an industrial area near a body of water with a large bridge structure on the right side. There are several red and white boats docked near the shore, with the word "seaspan" visible on one of them. In the background, there are piles of materials, possibly scrap metal, and several buildings, including a few high-rise structures. The sky is clear and blue, indicating a sunny day.

British Columbia Parliament
Alt text: A nighttime scene of a well-lit building with a domed roof and surrounding structures, all adorned with white lights. The building is situated at the end of a wide, empty street lined with streetlights. The sky is dark, and the lights create a glowing effect around the architecture.

Other photos
A bronze statue of a woman holding a child is situated in an outdoor setting. The woman is seated and appears to be embracing the child, who is perched on her shoulder. The statue is placed on a stone base, and behind it, there are two stone pillars with spherical lamps on top. In the background, there is a building with multiple windows and some greenery. The scene is captured in daylight.
The image shows a large, historic building with a brick facade and multiple gabled roofs, likely a hotel or institutional building. In the foreground, there is a bronze statue of a woman sitting and holding a child, situated on a paved pathway. The pathway is flanked by stone pillars topped with spherical lamps. The scene is set in a garden or park area with trees and shrubs surrounding the pathway. The sky is clear, indicating a sunny day.
The image shows a vintage, ornate Canada Post mailbox. The mailbox is made of polished brass or a similar metal, giving it a shiny, reflective surface. It features intricate detailing, including a coat of arms and the words "Canada Mail" engraved on the front. There is a slot for mail at the top and a larger compartment below, likely for collecting the deposited mail. The overall design is elegant and historic, suggesting it might be located in a significant or older building.
The image shows a long, well-lit hallway with a red carpet. The walls are light-colored and adorned with framed pictures. There are handrails on both sides of the hallway, and windows with plants on the left side. At the end of the hallway, there is a chandelier hanging from the ceiling and a small table or counter with decorative items. The overall ambiance is elegant and inviting.

I went to the ‘Deep Purple’ concert and I was dissapointed they didn’t play one of their most famous songs “Child in Time”,
A band is performing on stage with colorful lighting effects, including red, blue, and white spotlights. The stage is set up with musical instruments, and a large crowd is visible in the foreground, watching the performance. The background features a large banner or backdrop with indistinct designs.

so I’ll embed it here. It is one of the longest songs I know.

 

2 Comments

  1. Next time get a Gold room – much better and with concierge and private lounge and reception. And you didn’t go to the Bengal Room for breakfast or Curry??? Did you have the horrendously expensive, but must do afternoon tea at least? If not, you weren’t really at the Empress:-)

  2. No I didn’t have 🙂 but one of my friends is going to have the afternoon tea at the Savoy in London (a Fairmont managed hotel). He had to make a reservation a few months in advance as apparently this thing is fully booked up if you just want to go there when you are at the hotel.

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