Three Days in Quebec City

We drove to Levis which is across the river from the old part of Quebec City, parked and took the ferry across. $20 to park and the return ride but cheaper and less hassle than trying to take the truck over there. We spent quite awhile exploring Petit Champlain as the lower area of the city is called. It has very old buildings (many dating from the 1700's) with shops, bistros and pubs and a lot of tourists wandering the narrow cobblestone streets. Also we found another funicular but the line up was half a block long before you even got in the building so we wandered along to the stairs. We heard they are called break neck stairs and I'm sure they would be in the ice and snow. We strolled along the Dufferin Terrace which is below the Chateau Frontenac and the Citadel overlooking the St. Lawrence and the lower town. We walked up more stairs (a lot more) and around the wall of the Citadel and onto the Plains of Abraham. On the way up we passed a wooden ramp which is a toboggan run in the winter. The Summer Festival is on and the main stage is on the Plains, but a sound check was the only thing going on until later in the day. We watched a film on the history and took a bus tour with a guide in period costume portraying the role of Abraham, he told us we didn't look like we'd be successful colonists we were not very appropriately dressed. It was very interesting, too bad the kids can't learn Canadian history this way. We explored the area around city hall and the legislative assembly, there are statues and fountains everywhere. We finally stopped for some sustenance at a sidewalk bistro where we could people watch. There are street entertainers on nearly every block. It was a bit of a late night (11:00).


Street in Petit Champlain



My favourite street performer

Our plan was to ferry across again and get to the Citadel in time for the changing of the guard but parking issues etc. we didn't make it. We did tour the Citadel and Denis toured that museum and the Plains of Abraham museum. We both went to the Martello tower museum and had a closer look at the Joan of Arc Garden. By that time I was pretty sunburned so we stopped at the Chateau for refreshment, very nice but I think Banff Springs and Chateau Lake Louise are nicer. We gave up early and came back to the trailer about 6. We had just arrived when two couples from Edmonton came over to chat. They were waiting for us the previous night but we came home too late, actually they thought we hadn't come home at all. They are business partners in the vac truck business and have done work for Access Pipeline. They're going as far as PEI in 6 weeks, 4 adults and 6 kids, big undertaking!



Chateau, Legislative Assembly, Petit Champlain from ferry

Enjoying a little refreshment, this was not at the Chateau

Today we did make it to the changing of the guard with over an hour to spare! I can't imagine parading around in those uniforms with a huge bear hat on your head in this heat. Nor would I want to be the goat major, he's in charge of the regimental mascot, a goat named Baptiste (gift from the queen). We wandered more quaint streets and checked out a few shops, Denis hasn't found a Quebec t-shirt he likes yet. We came back early, Denis has some chores he wants to do and I need to do laundry (where I met a lady from Namao). Denis just informed me that we have put on over 7000 km zigzaging our way here.

Baptiste & his entourage

Denis with his new buddy
 

Strange medium but is it art?