Quebec:
On Tuesday we travelled to Quebec. The countryside is very pretty in summer, with lots of farmland and forest along the way. Quebec city is the only walled city in North America north of Mexico, and unlike Montreal its authorities have made a serious effort over time to preserve historic buildings. Le Chateau Frontenac and the Provincial Parliament building are especially impressive examples of classic French architecture. The old town has a very distinctive French feel about it. It reminds Phil of old Geneva and Ferney Voltaire in southern France. Our guide for the city tour was ideal, as he grew up in an old neighbourhood in the 1950s and 60s and was able to talk about the way in which the ethnic mix of families had changed over time.
That night went drove past the Montmorency Falls on the way to dinner. The falls are 30 metres higher than Niagara Falls so are very spectacular. At night the city lights them up in beautiful rainbow colours – a lovely idea. The dinner was in an old mill house that had been built in the 1700’s and still maintains the original stone walls both inside and out. The meal included the traditional maple sugar pie – it was sooo nice but no doubt contained a million calories – hence the long walk on Wednesday to balance the equation!!
Wednesday was a free day so we took a ferry across the St Laurence River and back, then another walk through the old town and up the funicular to the Chateau Frontenac. Phil saw the changing of the guard at the Citadel, which is an historic fort but still a functioning military base. But much walking up and down hills was involved in all this, so we returned to the hotel pretty well stuffed! Sue is not doing any more walking uphill!!! EVER!!! Ottawa and Toronto had better be very flat, or have lots of very cheap taxis.
On Tuesday we travelled to Quebec. The countryside is very pretty in summer, with lots of farmland and forest along the way. Quebec city is the only walled city in North America north of Mexico, and unlike Montreal its authorities have made a serious effort over time to preserve historic buildings. Le Chateau Frontenac and the Provincial Parliament building are especially impressive examples of classic French architecture. The old town has a very distinctive French feel about it. It reminds Phil of old Geneva and Ferney Voltaire in southern France. Our guide for the city tour was ideal, as he grew up in an old neighbourhood in the 1950s and 60s and was able to talk about the way in which the ethnic mix of families had changed over time.
That night went drove past the Montmorency Falls on the way to dinner. The falls are 30 metres higher than Niagara Falls so are very spectacular. At night the city lights them up in beautiful rainbow colours – a lovely idea. The dinner was in an old mill house that had been built in the 1700’s and still maintains the original stone walls both inside and out. The meal included the traditional maple sugar pie – it was sooo nice but no doubt contained a million calories – hence the long walk on Wednesday to balance the equation!!
Wednesday was a free day so we took a ferry across the St Laurence River and back, then another walk through the old town and up the funicular to the Chateau Frontenac. Phil saw the changing of the guard at the Citadel, which is an historic fort but still a functioning military base. But much walking up and down hills was involved in all this, so we returned to the hotel pretty well stuffed! Sue is not doing any more walking uphill!!! EVER!!! Ottawa and Toronto had better be very flat, or have lots of very cheap taxis.
You're giving me the travel bug again! Quebec was one of my favourite stops! Behave you hooligans... Love you xxx
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