Travel

Afternoon Tea at the Prince of Wales

I drove down to Niagara on Friday afternoon so I could get out of town for S’s bachelor party weekend. No one wants their fiancée cramping their bachelor party style! Luckily, it was perfect timing for Mother’s Day, so I got to spend quality time with my Mom, too. On Saturday I took her to afternoon tea at the Prince of Wales Hotel. It’s something I’ve always wanted to do, but never really found the time for. I figured an early Mother’s Day was the perfect occasion. 

The Prince of Wales is a beautiful Victorian-inspired hotel located on one of the main streets that runs through downtown Niagara-on-the-Lake (video like for email).

 

It first opened in 1864 and went through a few names—Long’s Hotel, The Arcade Hotel, and the Niagara House—before settling on the Prince of Wales Hotel after the Duke and Duchess of York visited in 1901. Today you can book a stay there or just visit for a meal or tea. 

Afternoon Tea is served in the lushly appointed Drawing Room, which has plenty of lovely antique chairs and sofas that create cozy conversation nooks. It felt like we stepped back in time as we walked through the doors and the woman at the front greeted us warmly. She showed us to our table near the fire, which seemed a little odd considering the hot weather and the air conditioning, but it added to the atmosphere. 

We settled in and ordered the Monarch Tea. It included a selection of Canadian cheeses, fruit, crackers and our choice of sparkling wine, Kir Royale, or a Mimosa before the tea service. Neither of us had tried a Kir Royale before and since it’s usually served on special occasions, we jumped at the opportunity. It’s a French aperitif made from sparkling wine and Crème de Cassis, which makes it a rich berry color. After the first sip, I thought, "Uh oh. A girl could get used to this!" It was fun and refreshing with a lovely hint of berry sweetness. 

Our server also brought over two boxes of teas, so we could see and smell them before deciding which one to order. One box was full teas from Sloane, a Toronto company I love and have talked about before in my Christmas gift guide. The other box held the premium reserve teas. Both of us chose offerings from Sloane and the boxes were whisked away. 

As soon as we finished our drinks and cheese, out came two matching pots of perfectly steeped tea. One of my pet peeves is over-steeped tea (don't get me started on Tim Hortons "steeped" tea!). I almost couldn’t believe that they had timed it so well and left us with a whole pot of perfect tea. My Mom ordered Peaches and Cream, a fragrant Bai Mu Dan white tea with, you guessed it, peaches and a hint of vanilla. It smelled amazing, even from across the table, and she really enjoyed it. I decided to try Persian Palace, which is an Assam tea with roses and cardamom. I loved that it was interesting without being overwhelming. I’d happily order it again, too!

The tea was followed closely by a tiered platter that matched our teacups. It was full of sweet and savoury treats. There were three different sandwiches—cucumber, salmon and ham— plus two small goat cheese tarts. On top, were two little cupcakes, gorgeous melt-in-you-mouth shortbreads, raspberry oat bars, and lemon tarts.

Finally, a silver stand of two house made jasmine tea and sultana raisin scones arrived with a silver bowl platter of butter, jam, and clotted cream. I had not tried clotted cream before and threw my dairy-freeness to the wind that day. Oh boy, I think I love clotted cream. Scones welcome, but not necessary. A spoon is a-ok with me. 

It was a feast of beautiful, delicious, and decadent things. We dug in and luxuriated in everything. Perhaps that sounds a little over the top, but it was such a pleasure just to sit and enjoy so many small, indulgent goodies. We ate slowly and talked a lot, never once feeling rushed to finish up. We probably could have stayed much longer than we did, but our bellies were satisfied. When we finished, our server brought out boxes so that we could take everything we didn’t eat home. I never expected that, but it was a really nice bonus, and my dad got to enjoy some goodies later!

Overall, I definitely recommend Afternoon Tea at the Prince of Wales. It was such a relaxing and pampering experience. The service was great, the tea was perfect, and all of the treats were tasty. 

Right now is a great time to go, too. Niagara-on-the-Lake really shines in spring and summer. It’s a perfect little town to stroll in. The main street is lined with trees, flowers, and pretty boutiques that beckon you in. From there, it’s a short walk to the lake and various little parks through neighbourhoods full of lovingly-maintained houses and welcoming B&Bs. It is, naturally, a very popular place, but once you find a parking spot, the town makes it easy to unwind despite other tourists buzzing about. 

Friday 5: Carcassonne

Happy Friday! Today we’re taking a quick look at Carcassonne, one of the most iconic fortified cities in the world.

It has been on my “must-see” list for awhile and I think we’re finally going to have the opportunity to drive there on the honeymoon. It’s located in the southwestern part of the Languedoc-Roussillon, about 2 to 2.5 hours from where we are staying in Uzès. I figured it was a good time to do some research and post a Friday 5 on it. That way I can come back, follow-up on my research, and give you my “been there, done that” two cents. 

La Cité and Chateau Comtal

The double-walled medieval town is the eye-catching main attraction for most travellers who visit Carcassonne. Thanks to its strategic hilltop location, it has a long history, as far back as the Celts, as a fortified settlement.

It was the Cathars, an ascetic Christian sect, who drew attention to Carcassonne in the 13th century. They strongly opposed what they saw as a corrupt, power-hungry Catholic Church. As Catharism began spreading across pockets of Europe, including southern France, the threat became too great for Pope Innocent II. 

This was the era of Papal power and brutal crusades. So, what did the Pope do? He had King Augustus of France send a crusade in to lay siege to the Cathars of the Languedoc. In 1209, Carcassonne fell to the Catholics, led by Simon de Montfort. The Cathars were expelled and ruthless inquisitions followed to rid the city of any remaining heretics.

More fortifications were added over time to protect the town from any other attacks. So when Edward, the Black Prince, and his army came knocking in 1355, during the Hundred Years’ War, Carcassonne was nearly impenetrable. 

Like many cities and towns in history, Carcassonne peaked and then fell into disrepair. Napoleon took it off of his official list of fortifications and the town languished further. It was almost destroyed completely until Eugène Viollet-le-Duc, an architect, came along in the mid-nineteenth century with a plan. In 1846, he began a massive restoration project  that brought La Cité to life. Today it is a UNESCO world heritage site and an incredibly popular tourist destination. (video link for email subscribers)

Besides walking the ramparts, visiting the great Narbonne and Aude gates, and wandering the cobblestone streets shopping for souvenirs, the Château Comtal is another major attraction. Tickets are €8.50 per person (as of today's writing) and visitors can get an audio guide for another €4.50.

I highly recommend taking a look at Creme-de-Languedoc’s fantastic Carcassonne guide for an in-depth look at the history and suggestions on how to plan your day. 

Everything I’ve read or watched about Carcassonne suggests that visitors go in the morning, just after it opens, or later in the afternoon, just before closing. I’ve also read plenty of warnings about how touristy it feels, almost like a theme park, but that the hordes of people and the shops full of cheap trinkets don’t spoil the amazing sites.

Basilica of Saint Nazaire and Saint Celse

A beautiful gothic church within the walls of La Cité. In 1096, Pope Urban II visited Carcassonne, blessed the church’s foundation, and ordered the cathedral to be built. In 1801 it was downgraded to a basilica and St. Michaels, another church outside of the walled city, was upgraded. 

Canal du Midi

The canal, built between 1667 and 1694, was created by Pierre-Paul Riquet to link the Mediterranean with the Atlantic. At 360 km long, Carcassonne is just one of many towns it meanders by on its journey. The best ways to enjoy the canal are by boat or walking. There quite a few options for boat rides, from half day trips to multi-day trips. Here is an example of what one company offers. Cycling is another option, but there seem to be a few caveats about the terrain and safety.

Based on what I’ve read, the most picturesque route is eastward from Carcassonne toward Narbonne. To get away from some of the crowds, Creme de Languedoc recommends taking the eastward trip hoping off to explore the next town over, Trèbes. 

Bastide Saint Louis

Carcassonne’s lower town, Bastide Saint Louis, is about a 15-20 minute walk from La Cité over the River Aude via the pedestrian bridge, Pont Vieux (which can be seen in the first photo above). A nice bonus to the walk is the stunning view of the walled city on the hill from the bridge. While Bastide Saint Louis is not as impressive as La Citê, it has a number of shops and restaurants to explore. Its grid system makes it fairly easy to navigate and the pretty main square, Place Carnot, holds a big Saturday morning market. It might make a good getaway from the crowds.

Bonus: Labyrinth by Kate Mosse

One of my favourite things to do while traveling is to read a novel set in the area I’m visiting. Kate Mosse’s Labyrinth is a perfect choice for visiting Carcassonne.

Labyrinth is historical thriller that revolves around the Cathars and the mystery of the true Grail (yes, Dan Brown’s Da Vinci Code comparisons are everywhere). Alice Tanner is an archeologist on a dig outside of Carcassonne in 2005. She discovers a tomb with two chilling skeletons and the pattern of a labyrinth scrawled on the walls. What she will come to find out is that in 1209, on the eve of the Crusades, a young girl named Alaïs was entrusted to protect a book and a ring inscribed with that labyrinth. Together these two items hold the key to the true Grail, a mystery that that will change both women’s lives. 

I’ve actually had this book sitting on my bookshelf for years and just haven’t found the right time to read it. It’s going in the honeymoon carryon!

That’s all for this week! Our plans right now are to celebrate Cinco de Mayo a little early with my dad’s homemade tamales (so good!) and do wedding things. The to-do list seems to be growing despite doing wedding things everyday. Funny how that works! Silly weddings! 

By the way, if you like board games, Carcassonne has inspired its very own.  I couldn’t go this whole post without at least mentioning that it existed!

I hope you have a great weekend and enjoy some beautiful weather.

Friday 5: Discovering Uzès

The other day I tried and failed to find a great guidebook for the Languedoc-Roussillon area of France since it's one of our honeymoon destinations. I guess it’s still a slightly under-discovered area, which surprises me in some ways because it’s such diverse region full of history and beautiful, varied landscapes. It’s located on the southern coast, west of the Côte d'Azur, and it extends all the way to Spain. Crème-de-Languedoc, which has been a fantastic resource in our planning, has a wonderful quote about it being called the “real South of France”

“thanks to its largely unspoilt countryside, traditional wine-making villages and slower, Mediterranean pace of life. The contrast with the ‘bling’ of the Côte d’Azur and the often prissy artifice of Provence is marked - Languedoc still feels very traditionally French, with villages that aren’t emptied in winter, good food and wine that doesn’t cost the earth, and countryside that is as beautiful as anything in the Luberon or Tuscany. Here, you’ll find unspoilt landscapes of undulating vines punctuated by rocky outcrops and rocket pines, often with a stunning backdrop of snow-capped mountains.”
— http://www.creme-de-languedoc.com/Languedoc/index.php

I started out writing this as a mini introduction to the Languedoc-Roussillon through five towns that showcase the region, but there are just too many interesting things about each town. So today it’s all about Uzès. 

Uzès is located in the Gard department of the Languedoc, which borders Provence and the sea. It is a lovingly restored town with Roman roots and limestone buildings. According to this CN Traveller article, “The Secret Side of the South of France,” the town was in disrepair until the French government declared it a ville d’art and put money toward its restoration. Today, its small (nearly car-free) stone streets wind around revealing lovely cafés, restaurants, and shops. 

Each Wednesday and Saturday there’s a market in Place aux Herbes, a big square surrounded by Plane trees. The Wednesday one is mostly local food, while the Saturday market is bigger and includes crafts and other goods that rival the famed Provençal markets. 

Two major landmarks dominate the skyline. One is Le Duché (warning: the site auto-plays music), which is is the duke’s castle. The 17th duke apparently still summers there with his family. Luckily, it is also open to the public for tours.

The other is La Tour Fenestrelle, the bell tower of Saint Théodorit Cathedral. It’s the only surviving medieval part of the cathedral, which was destroyed during the Wars of Religion and rebuilt in the 17th century. 

Tucked away on Impasse Port Royal is the Jardin Médiéval, a “living herbarium” with 450 different types of plants that were used in the medieval period. Visitors can walk through the garden, visit exhibits in the outbuildings, see magnificent panoramas from the King’s Tower and Bishop’s Tower, and, finally, sip tea made from the garden’s herbs. 

Take a short 15 minute drive and you’ll find yourself at the famous Roman aqueduct, Pont du Gard. There you can spend a the day picnicking, canoeing, swimming, hiking. I can already see myself lazying around in the shadow of the ancient bridge pondering Roman ingenuity with some crusty bread in one hand and a glass of wine in the other. 

Based on what I’ve read, Uzès has been able to maintain it’s feeling of authenticity. It’s a real town that isn’t (yet?) overrun by tourists despite being so close to Provence.

“Instead it’s a small but cultivated and unpretentious town that’s attracting a growing number of interesting creative people, and unlike many southern French towns, there’s life here year-round and a strong sense of community. ”
— http://tmagazine.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/08/07/on-the-verge-uzes-the-hidden-gem-of-the-south-of-franc/?_r=0

Perhaps the siren call of the Luberon hill towns is what keeps it safe for now. I think it’s proximity to Provence is what makes it a great home base, though. Fewer crowds (hopefully!), the whole Gard to explore, and Provence is within reach. I’m really looking forward to visiting it soon!  

That's all for this week, we're going to head to Niagara for Easter and have a relaxing long weekend. I hope you have beautiful weather wherever you are.