Yes, please.
The awe began even before I set foot inside the hotel, built in 1929 with room reservations starting at $645 per night. (And for a whopping $3,250 per night, one could stay in 1,100-square foot Premier Park Suite (for the record, that's twice the size of my apartment) where, among other amenities, one could use one of five phones; use the dining room, living room, and walk-in closet; and watch one of three TVs. Internet is also available-for a fee (are you freakin' kidding me???))
Once we got inside, we were ushered into an elevator, where I had a minute or two to marvel at the way the light bounced off the woodwork. Oh yeah, did I mention that the light was coming from a chandelier IN THE ELEVATOR?
Once we got up to the suite, my Champagne glass never was never less than half full (it's so much easier to be an optimist when you're at the Ritz!) and the only difficulty came from deciding among the 14 desserts which ones I was going to have room to eat - and the answer came when I was stuffed six desserts later. (Note to self: extra gym visits = absolutely necessary.)
The desserts, from Molten Lava Cake to Berry Cobbler, were elegantly placed around the sculpture in the photo at the left. The centerpiece sculpture was made by the hotel pastry chefs entirely from chocolate. It was stunning.
The desserts were each plated on white China, and before swallowing the last bite of a dessert, the waiters were there to whisk the dirty plates away.
At one point, I plopped down on a couch after picking up what turned out to be an amazing creme brulee, and realized I didn't also pick up a spoon. Before I had the chance to get up to grab a spoon, a waiter told me to stay put and he'd bring me one. Less than 30 seconds later, he returned with a single spoon that he delivered on a giant silver platter. Really.
Even though it was for only about an hour, man, the royal treatment felt good!
