That's Called Character

You know what you think of when somebody says "Winter in Whistler"?  You think of snow.  Lots of snow.  Skiing down the mountain, coming inside the lodge and sitting by the fire, drinking hot chocolate and warming up before heading back out for more runs.  Should somebody say "Summer in Whistler" then you're thinking golf, hiking, and all sorts of outdoor activities.  If, however, somebody should specify "July 21, 2011 in Whistler" then the visual you should have in your head is rain.  A lot of rain.  Enough rain for us to cancel any loose plans that we'd made for the morning and go right back to bed. 

So Whistler, while fun, wasn't all that it could be.  Unfortunately it seems that we're having that kind of summer in Vancouver this year, so there's not really much to do but go looking for some nicer weather, which we will do in a couple of days.  This morning though, we all enjoyed some extra sleep and then checked out to drive back to the farm in Abbotsford.  I was really surprised to find out that it only took two hours to make the trip.  Whistler to me always seems like some far off place, needing at least a full day to make the drive.  At two hours, I could be persuaded to make an overnight trip up the mountain again some time in the future, as long as the weather forecast is more promising.

It was while discussing a possible return to Whistler one day with my wife that something became apparent to me that I had never considered.  It seems that Lori considered the Fairmont Whistler and the Fairmont Pacific Rim as almost equally enjoyable experiences.  I was a little shocked.  While the service at both hotels was great, I found Fairmont Whistler to be a little dated and in need of updating.  I've been informed that these things I consider shortfalls are, in fact, "character".  Apparently fraying furniture is "charming" and old wallpaper in the hallways is "quaint dusty rose".  The whole Victorian motif was lost on me, and normally I would just consider the room old, but once my wife pointed out her appreciation for some things, I had to take a second look.

My preferences run so heavily towards the "latest and greatest" that it never occurred to me that other people would enjoy different things.  I'm glad my wife pointed out some of the things she liked, so that I realized that perhaps I was just being picky since the hotel has been open more than 12 months.  There were probably some things that would land on Fairmont Whistler's side on a list of pro's.  The room was a little bigger, the view (though not what it should be) was better than looking at an office building, the water pressure was great, and though we didn't use it, the pool is much nicer.  In the Fairmont Pacific Rim column is a more comfortable bed, a better bathtub, two TV's, and a cafe that features fantastic pastries.  So I guess it wasn't as lopsided a battle as I thought.  When it comes to breaking the tie though, we have to consider the welcome plates - chocolate vs. fruit.  Victory for the Pacific Rim, but not by as much as I originally thought.