The Most Comforting Inn Of All

 By Maryanna Gabriel

"The power of finding beauty in the humblest of things,

make home happy and life lovely." 

- Louisa May Alcott

Shaking things up. 

   
     Sometimes one has to shake things up a bit. You know what I mean. Do something interesting.

Done up lounge by the sea. 

     I found a bark-laden historic building by the sea, a four-star hotel, at two thirds the price. I was in... barky being an attention getter. This used to be a country home home commissioned by a lieutenant governor located in the Saanich Peninsula. It looked all done up and conjured visions of high tea, gin and tonic by a fireside lounge, and elegant breakfasts. A bygone era caught in time as it were. All terribly romantic.

     Gosh, I haven't a thing to wear, I told myself. 

History still standing. 

     This is the third time I have done this. I love history and so anything vintage in the hotel business in Victoria catches my attention. The last time was in the heart of the city. I hastily departed that hotel at 6:00 am. I would not even stay for the "b" part of the "b&b" as I was so needing to leave, given the cracks in the walls and the rattling in the night. This time, it was not the rattles.

     The gorgeous bathroom was enchanting, but

Barky being an attention getter. 

the big old tub was out of commission due to "old plumbing", the curtain was torn in the bedroom, the lounge deserted, and breakfast was wisked away before I had finished. I know I could have stopped the latter, but the truth is that by then I had lost interest.

     The upshot? Being home is the most comforting inn of all.
I light the fire, draw my bath, and linger over breakfast. A third world problem solved, I know, but one must draw comfort in the little things in our lives. Besides which, I have a lot of bark around here.