The Empress Hotel in Victoria on Vancouver Island – is the most photographed landmark on the island. Opened in 1908, is this traditional classic luxury hotel are still going strong. 477 room with most rooms with harbor view. Famous for its afternoon tea – which I have enjoyed couple of times, but now when visiting in July … I forgotten to go back for the tea. Today the afternoon tea comes to the price of CAD$60/€47/£38 – and if it was like it was 22 years ago – it’s well worth the money.
Never had the pleasure to stay at the hotel and can’t say a lot about it – this post are about their pets, the empress bees.
In a very well hidden corner of the park I found this little allocate area for their bees. When I told my friends that I was staying with about the bees they didn’t know anything about them. 6 hives in total and the bees were so busy and they had load of flowers to work on in the hotel park and all the town’s hanging baskets. Was so fascinated by them, so So busy !!!! The first time I visit them I think I was watching them for nearly a hour .. went twice.
The honey they produce serves at breakfast and afternoon tea at the hotel. I wouldn’t know if they sell it in their gift shop too. Just love the whole thing … goes so well with the image of the hotel.
The Empress Hotel, really live up to its name – it’s beautiful and majestic … plus they have a couple of queens in their garden.
“When you go in search of honey,
you must expect to be stung by bees”
Joseph Joubert
Photo of the hotel provived by and thaks to fairmont.com
You always show us the most interesting things!
Colleen, it was very intresting for me too – love to stand and watch them. Thanks for your kind words.
I love the Empress, they’re tea is top-notch for sure! I had no idea they have bees there.. next time I will have to go take a peak. I bet the honey is so flavorful, just imagine how fresh it is! Lovely photos today!!
Barbara, I think it’s only the hotel staff and me that knows about the bees. Yes, I’m also sure the honey is flavorful with a town so full of flowers as Victoria is. Just loved watching them. With your camera I’m sure you can get even better close ups of them. Really enjoyed my visits.
what a beautiful hotel that is, and i love the photos about the bees!!! great blog today!
Thanks, Terry … the bees were very lovely too.
Very interesting post. I love that hotel takes the time to cultivate its own honey. One of our land partners has bee hives. In the evenings sometimes he dons a bee suit, and goes out to remove honey and the combs from the hives. I like watching him.
Yes, the hotel raised in my eye when I found the hives – such a lovely … little touch. I love to watch bees – my grandpa had one hive – and I loved to watch him working with the bees.
I haven’t been there for tea but the hotel is impressive. I just went into the lobby while we were there for a day. I would love to spend more time in Victoria.
It’s a truly beautiful place – Victoria – really loved my year there .. and it was great to back after so many years. Will go back again. They have moved the lobby, since I was there .. last.
You should go back .. and take a couple of days to really enjoy the beauty of it – for you with your camera – Butchart Gardens is a most. Did go there this time, but I will be back.
A beautiful landmark in a beautiful city. I’ve been there once (only for a day), but enjoyed it. Thanks for rekindling the memory.
Lovely town … lived there for a year in 1989 – the locals say that Victoria is for newly wed and nearly dead. *smile – because of all the honeymoon couple and pensioners. I hadn’t been back since 1990 and not much had changed. Hope to go back again.
A year in one place can provide a much better perspective of the city and its people can a touristy one-day stop.
We stayed at the Empress for our honeymoon. I didn’t know about the bees–that’s very cool. One of the main characters in my novel, The Keeper of the Crystal Spring, is a beekeeper.
Great … I don’t think people that lives in Victoria knows they have bees … you know what the locals say about their town .. for nearly wed and nearly dead. *smile .. lived there for a year in 1989. Love bees … always done. Hard working .. creatures.
I have just been checking out your blog, and it is really wonderful. I thank you for following Writing Between the Lines, and I really look forward to following My Guilty Pleasures. It has been a pleasure meeting you, Viveka!
Same …. Naomi … my world is all over the place .. no really thoughts behind me and my post – what every pops up. It was meant to be a food blog, but I got tired of that .. or I never really got into it, because life is a lot more than food … shoes … is better *smile.
One of the things I am enjoying about your blog is the variety. You have a very fresh and appealing ‘voice.’
Naomi … thanks that must be … my Swenglish *laughing.
It is charming! And I can tell right away that it is accompanied by an intelligent mind and an open heart.
The heart is wide open .. the intelligent .. not too sure about – it’s more about life experiences and common sense – that really goes hand in hand. Thank you so much for your kind words.
I had no idea about the bees, and Victoria’s my hometown! Very sweet.
I don’t think many in Victoria know about the bees – you’re so right .. very sweet.
Very cute images Viveka…so many bees to photograph! I got a fright when the music came on
Yes, load of them … and so well hidden, nobody in Victoria I talked to knew about them .. a lovely park with loads of flowers to work on. I thought you knew I use music to all my posts .. have you been missing something. *smile
sounds fascinating. lovely pics
Thank you, very much.
Lovely post about our buzzy little friends
Thank you so much …. yes, they are our busy friends, like that very much.
Great post. I love bees and love my honey too.
Thank you … so do I.