On a very hot day in August 2021, we arrived in Quebec City. We did not have a reservation to stay overnight so first we had to find a place where we could drop off the trailer and go explore the city. We travelled around and found a Comfort Inn with lots of parking spaces. Al went in to ask if we could park overnight and leave the trailer there while we went out to explore. They said yes, so we parked in the back and we were even able to plug into a live outdoor outlet. You never know. Several times we have asked if we could park in a hotel parking lot with great success. I guess staying one night is no big deal. We just had to politely ask for permission. So we were all set. Off we went to explore old Quebec City.
An antique car in the narrow cobblestone streets
advertising a local business.
We took a walking tour of Old Quebec. Here our tour guide is
telling us about the history of Quebec City.
The streets are filled with various art works and
statues commemorating different eras of the City. This piece
shows churches, houses and the shipping business of Quebec.
The Champlain Monument on Dufferin Terrace pays tribute to the
man who founded the city in 1608. It is one of the city's most spectacular
landmarks, both because of its imposing size and its central location
at a lively gathering place.
The Dufferin Terrace
An outlook where you can see not only the Dufferin
Terrace but also the St. Lawrence River.
The famous Le Chateau Frontenac. It was designed by Bruce Prince and was built by the Canadian Pacific Railway company. It opened in 1893 as the first completed grand railway hotel in Canada. The Chateauesque-styled building has 18 floors. In 1981, this hotel was designated a National Historic Site of Canada.
Coming to the Petit Champlain Street
Art in the Street: A strange art exhibit throughout the street of old Quebec City. Here are few examples of art installations.
Three upside down cars....Art?
A woman worker
Man in black walking the underside of the fire escape
Swinging between buildings ... of course it is only a sculpture.
Architecture of Old Quebec: There are so many fabulous buildings and residences that have been preserved. Here are some examples:
This monumental clock, the only one of its kind, was built by Richard Mille in 2008. It is a gift from Switzerland and the Canton of Jura for Quebec City's 400th anniversary. Internationally recognized for its state-of-the-art watches, the company has created a work in keeping with the highest standards of fine clock making. This clock therefore symbolized the bond of friendship between the Republic and Canton of Jura and Quebec City.
La Viviere is a fountain sculpture commemorating the founding of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations in Quebec City in 1945. Installed near the docks, this monument evokes both the history of the port of Quebec and the city's centuries-old relationship with the St. Lawrence River. This bronze sculpture is reminiscent of the carved decorations that used to adorn the prows of ships. La Viviere is a figurehead to ward off hunger, represented as a woman carrying food from all continents. These bricks that make up the streets and sidewalks are arranged in a wave pattern to create the impression of waves lapping against the shoreline.
Petit Champlain Street has many quaint one-of-a-kind boutiques. We meandered through the shops here and I even bought a few things for our house in Newmarket. In the background you can see the Old Quebec Funicular (cable railway used on steep slopes). If you don't want to climb the steep Escalier Casse-Cou (Breakneck Steps) you can take the Funicular. It has been operating from 1879 and links the Lower Town with Dufferin Terrace and the St. Lawrence River
Al with his friend here at a woodcarving shop.
Who's telling the truth?
It was a very hot day and we rewarded ourselves with a frozen slush drink. Remember those? It had been so long since I had one of those but it was so good and refreshing. We had a great day touring the old city.
The Montmorency Falls are located at the point where the Montmorency River empties into the St. Lawrence River. The waterfalls are 272’ (83 m) tall, a full 99’ (30 m) higher than Niagara Falls, although it doesn't look like it in the photos. In 1613, Samuel de Champlain named the falls in honour of Henri II duc de Montmorency who served as viceroy of New France from 1620 to 1625
One can climb the 487 stairs to access the trails along the top of the falls or ride
A view of the St Lawrence River from the funitel.
Getting closer to the top. Construction seems to be
The next day, as we were driving away from Quebec City we saw a fascinating waterfall and even though it was not on our itinerary we stopped to explore. I am so glad that we did.
the funitel (a cable car with 2 arms and 2 cables) to the top. Since the stairs
were closed for construction, we opted for the funitel.
A view of the Falls on the way up.
an ongoing thing here, adding trails, etc.
At the top is the Manoir Montmorency which was originally the country house of Prince Edward, Duke of Kent, Queen Victoria's father. The house was built in 1780 and was destroyed in 1993. This reconstructed house maintains the architecture of the original building.
A view of the system of stairs coming down
the side of the mountain. From the stairs, you can
get several different perspectives of the falls.
We walked along the suspension bridge over the crest of the falls
and looked down into the water falling to the basin below.
There are several trails that you can walk to view the falls from different perspectives.
A nice view of the falls and the stairs leading down to a concrete path.
A nice rainbow is seen from a viewpoint on the stairs.
Our next stop was lunch in a park along the St. Lawrence River. The good thing about travelling in an RV is that you can stop basically anywhere and have a BBQ. Here we are in a nice roadside park. In the background is Quebec City.
Al cooking up some burgers. Along with a salad and
vegetables, it was a great lunch. We refuel, enjoy the
surroundings, pack up and move on to the next destination.
Quebec City in the background.
No comments:
Post a Comment