This week the New York Times had an article subtitled “In a perfect world, we’d all google our friends.” I thought of it when I had tea with blogging friends Anna and Natalie. One’s instincts always seem to say that meeting up with internet friends will be weird. I mean, do you really know them? And sitting down with them over tea for almost three hours? Possibly even more awkward (though alleviated by the presence of scones) right?

But as the article suggested, a little background knowledge on friends, even old friends, is really nice. I knew Natalie had a new job, and that Anna loved hers. I got to ask Natalie about her childhood and Anna about her boyfriend’s habit of diving for lobsters. I knew they both loved New England and could talk at length about their favorite things.

There was a sense that we were going to be there for hours, so there was no hurrying to fill each other in, and no rushing to tell your story.

I challenge you to suggest a place where you can lounge and dine for three hours, unaccosted. Can you think of one? Not my living room, I assure you. Tea at the Taj Hotel is $40 for a lot of tiny food. But somehow totally filling by the end? I’m not sure what the secret is but I wouldn’t mind a meal like it every weekend. First came the savory tea sandwiches. Then after we’d sat around nibbling those for an hour, the three-tiered trays returned, loaded with sweets, devonshire cream (my favooorite part of tea), lemon curd, scones, and on and on. I brought a small box of leftovers home, there was that much.

Anyway, the Globe recently wrote an article reminding everyone where else you can have tea in Boston (including the Public Library, my next chosen venue!). It will cost more than a cup of coffee, but if it’s a friend you’ve really been hoping to catch up with, it’s totally worth the extra.

Did you ever go to tea at a young age? Is there a place in your town that does it well?

Photos stolen from Anna’s wonderful skills.