Friday, October 4, 2013
QUÉBEC
The day begins cloudy and misty with tiny drops of rain—not enough to dampen the pavement. I eat breakfast in the Bibliothèque, a small café in the Capital Hill Hotel, sitting next to a few others in our group, and we enjoy chatting about our trip so far.
We take our motor coach into the province of Québec, where French is the official language. Even so, it seems that if locals realize you’re from America, they gladly speak French—especially, it seems, if you’re a Texan.
In the cloudy, cool weather people chat quietly on the trip to Québec City. I think the autumn weather contributes to our being subdued—no vitamin D from the sun to help perk us up. The land seems as flat as West Texas but with hedgerows here and there, stands of trees occasionally breaking up the fields. Golden stalks past their prime stand stock-still in the wind.
Québec City
The walk through old Québec City seems like a dream—a Disney-like stroll that just happens to be real. Hearing people speak French. Smelling the different foods. The four cities we’re visiting may be a well-kept secret from the rest of the world—accounting for nearly fifteen million of Canada's thirty-five million inhabitants.
In the cloudy, cool weather people chat quietly on the trip to Québec City. I think the autumn weather contributes to our being subdued—no vitamin D from the sun to help perk us up. The land seems as flat as West Texas but with hedgerows here and there, stands of trees occasionally breaking up the fields. Golden stalks past their prime stand stock-still in the wind.
Québec City
The walk through old Québec City seems like a dream—a Disney-like stroll that just happens to be real. Hearing people speak French. Smelling the different foods. The four cities we’re visiting may be a well-kept secret from the rest of the world—accounting for nearly fifteen million of Canada's thirty-five million inhabitants.
Saturday, October 5, 2013
We begin our second day by eating at The Sugar Shack (cabane à sucre), Érablière Le Chemin du Roy, an all-you-can-eat proposition in any language, all topped (if you wish) with wonderful, wonderful maple syrup produced on the very premises!
Kathryn, Old QC Guide Our second day in Québec City, we engage a step-on guide whose mother was a Texan that married a Canadian. Her speech is more like a stand-up routine, which makes her quite easy to listen to. Even though I’ve seen all the streets the night before, a friend and I hike down and take the Funicular, a hill-hugging elevator, back to the top.
Bridge from Montmorency Falls to Île d’Orléans In late afternoon we travel to Montmorency Falls before taking the bus over the bridge to the Île d’Orléans located in the St. Lawrence River. As our guide has told us in the morning, Île d’Orléans enjoys a micro-climate that allows a year round growing season.
Once on the island, we make our way to Le Moulin de Saint-Laurent Restaurant where we enjoy a pre fixe dinner in which we are given a selection of several entrées. I select fillet of pork with apple in an apple cider sauce, and it is très magnifique! For dessert, I opt for the maple sugar pie, which calls to mind a chess pie but with a sweetness all its own.
I work in my journal and edit photos until 11:30.
Once on the island, we make our way to Le Moulin de Saint-Laurent Restaurant where we enjoy a pre fixe dinner in which we are given a selection of several entrées. I select fillet of pork with apple in an apple cider sauce, and it is très magnifique! For dessert, I opt for the maple sugar pie, which calls to mind a chess pie but with a sweetness all its own.
I work in my journal and edit photos until 11:30.
Sunday, October 6, 2013
MONTRÉAL, Québec
I’ve only slept six-and-half hours, but I don’t seem to need any more than that. I eat breakfast at the Cosmos Restaurant in the Hôtel Classique of Québec City. And then we board our motor coach once again.
MONTRÉAL, Québec
A rainy day, not heavy, but a cumulative misty rain that is still very very wet! It lifts long enough for us to stop at Montréal’s Expo ’67 site for a photo op. Mel takes a group picture that appears on his website, page three. It is a bit cold and windy—our first “bad” weather since leaving Texas nearly a week ago.
The afternoon tour by the step-on guide, Angelina, is not as good as the others we’ve had. Perhaps she is limited by the rain. She walks entirely too fast, and she doesn’t seem to care. In spite of this, we enjoy seeing the Notre Dame Basilica in Old Montréal.
In the evening I go out on my own with the intention of doing some Christmas shopping at the huge underground shopping area, but many of the shops are closed. The ones that are open hold little interest for me. Montréal’s underground world of subways and multi-layered malls is fascinating. And in winter they are almost a necessity as people move cozily about the city underneath the streets like ants.
I slog back to our Holiday Inn in the rain resigned to eating alone, but some friends happily intercept me at the hotel restaurant and we share a meal.
Everyone is in bed early because we must be at Pierre Trudeau Airport tomorrow for a 7:30 flight! Thanks once again to Peter Laverty of Seniors Are Special at UMC for planning and executing such a great trip. I believe everyone made at least one new friend.
MONTRÉAL, Québec
A rainy day, not heavy, but a cumulative misty rain that is still very very wet! It lifts long enough for us to stop at Montréal’s Expo ’67 site for a photo op. Mel takes a group picture that appears on his website, page three. It is a bit cold and windy—our first “bad” weather since leaving Texas nearly a week ago.
The afternoon tour by the step-on guide, Angelina, is not as good as the others we’ve had. Perhaps she is limited by the rain. She walks entirely too fast, and she doesn’t seem to care. In spite of this, we enjoy seeing the Notre Dame Basilica in Old Montréal.
In the evening I go out on my own with the intention of doing some Christmas shopping at the huge underground shopping area, but many of the shops are closed. The ones that are open hold little interest for me. Montréal’s underground world of subways and multi-layered malls is fascinating. And in winter they are almost a necessity as people move cozily about the city underneath the streets like ants.
I slog back to our Holiday Inn in the rain resigned to eating alone, but some friends happily intercept me at the hotel restaurant and we share a meal.
Everyone is in bed early because we must be at Pierre Trudeau Airport tomorrow for a 7:30 flight! Thanks once again to Peter Laverty of Seniors Are Special at UMC for planning and executing such a great trip. I believe everyone made at least one new friend.
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