Wednesday August 7 ... Quebec City...the old town

Quebec City is beautiful!!!  We left the hotel this morning on a shuttle bound for the old city at about 9:45 a.m.  Got back to the hotel about 7:15 p.m. so had a full day of exploring and all we can both say is WOW!!!  We most enjoyed just wandering around, watching people and soaking in the four hundred year old ambiance!

 

We took a bus tour that lasted one hour and fourty minutes so got a good overview of the area and history.  Of course, now we can remember little of what they told us but the biggest impression we both came away with was the amazing amount of craftsmanship that went into the construction of both the old fort and all the houses and other buildings in the area, as well as the history that was made in this place. 

The Chateau Frontenac is something to behold...a grand old dame of a hotel!

I also have a better understanding of why the French are not too keen on the English - something I knew from school history lessons but listening today to the tour guides made me realize how difficult it must have been for the French people and how hard it still is for many of them.  Having said that, I am firmly on the side of Confederation and am quite clearly not a separatist, but it did make me realize how complex the question of identity is for people.  The older I get the more grey the world becomes as opposed to black and white!

 

It was a very hot day (27 degrees and humid) so after the tour was over we lay down in the grass in a park by the Chateau Frontenac and enjoyed the soothing sounds of a saxophonist who was playing some very mellow old tunes....it was lovely and very relaxing despite the crowds of people surrounding us.  

We had a late lunch, or an early supper depending on how you figure the time - pea soup, tortierre and sugar pie...very French Canadian.  I have been bragging that my pea soup and tortierre are better so will make them for Harry when we get home and see what he says!  I have some recipes from my French roots so my reputation is squarely on the line! :)

 

Today marked the beginning of the Festival of New France so it was very busy in the old city.  We left just as they were getting ready for a big parade and fireworks festival.  Local people make costumes and join in the parade apparently.  It would have been lovely to stay and see it all but we were both beat so decided to call it a night - plus it would have meant finding our own way back to the hotel as we caught the last shuttle bus back.  Additionally, we were both suffering from sensory overload after 9.5 hours...there is a LOT to see and do and we have come to realize that it is simply impossible to do it all!

 

The traffic today was unbelievable...so much so that our tour bus actually missed a couple of parts of the drive as it was simply too congested for him to navigate the streets.  We were very glad our original hotel choice had been unavailable, as it was near where all the action was today and neither of us could imagine trying to navigate the motorcycle in those streets with the congestion and steepness and cobblestones we would have encountered.  Guess the universe was taking care of us by providing a hotel further away. :)

 

One of the modern things we encountered was the construction of a temporary track, complete with big ramps for a BMX bike race that is taking place in the old town tomorrow...kind of a juxtaposition of ancient and modern to see the track being laid down amongst streets and buildings that were hundreds of years old.  It also looked incredibly treacherous so am glad I have no kids competing in that race!

 

We took lots of pictures...so many that our camera battery died so guess it was a good day for us as photographers.  Of course, pictures never do justice to sights like these but we hope they will give you a bit of a sense of what we saw and experienced today.  

 

Tomorrow our plan is to get up early and head for Fredericton.  However, they are forecasting a big storm so we will have to play it by ear when we get up in the morning and decide then when or even if we are going to be able to continue our eastward trek.  Fingers crossed the weather gods cooperate and give us smooth and storm free riding...

 

Cheers to all for now...hope all is well in your world!