archerbum
5/5
It’s hard to write this review of Donna’s Bed and Breakfast. I told Donna that the selfish voice in me would like to keep this place a secret, so that there will always be availability when I want to stay again. Of course, I am betraying my true feelings for the place by admitting that I want to stay again. More importantly, after meeting and getting to know Donna, I truly wish success for her.
The details of the “Bed” part of Donna’s Bread and Breakfast are eloquently described by both Donna and her other reviewers. I can only reiterate what everyone says. The view almost induces trance. The expansive back patio (of the penthouse) has a 180+ degree view of the Bay and a direct line of site to the famous White Rock Pier. The view is nearly as expansive from bed. My wife and I took advantage of that on several mornings. The decorative touches remind you of a European pension. That is by no means accidental. Donna obviously loves French culture. Its influences are all over, even in small details, like the napkin holders and snacks in the room. Look at all of the photos. As beautiful as they are, they still don’t quite capture the physical and, of course, experiential environment.
The “Breakfast” part of the B&B also tended to follow a French of at least continental European influence. They were always tasty and greeted us at our door each morning, exactly as I would imagine would happen in Paris. I am a mustard fan from the USA. Being in Canada, the mustard capital of the world, imagine my delight in a mustard croissant showing up one morning – with extra mustard! That was also no accident.
That brings me to the “Donna” part of Donna’s Bed and Breakfast. Who would have predicted that the owner of our temporary residence would be a highlight of our stay in White Rock? We had just completed and lifelong dream trip on Via Rail’s “The Canadian” line from Toronto to Vancouver and were reeling from that experience. And here is this full-of-life woman from Saskatchewan, who greeted us upon arrival. I am almost always very private. Donna somehow made us feel like we were part of a family, that included her and the guests from both rental rooms. Nearly every day, when we arrived back at the house, Donna was there to greet us, and we would all recount our respective days. It is no surprise that Donna is a passionate teacher. Her students are so lucky to have her. She is as good a listener as a sharer of her own experience. How could we not feel at home?
I hope you can sense that I could write so much more about Donna’s Bed and Breakfast. Hopefully, I have communicated adequately my positive feelings about both the physical and social (spiritual?) environment of this wonderful place. As I wrote at the beginning of this review, as much as I want to come back and hope that there will be availability when we return, I think Donna deserves all the success that she has worked so hard to achieve. The extra mustard I got at breakfast resulted from a pleasant discussion with Donna the other guest at the B&B while I was there – a former mustard farmer from Saskatchewan. Donna always did the small things for us. We hope many more interesting and kind people rent at Donna’s Bed and Breakfast.
