Sign In
Blogs from Québec City, Quebec, Canada, North America - page 21
Advertisement
Over the river and through the air...
Published: October 30th 2005North America » Canada » Quebec » Québec City
September 27th 2005
Yesterday's rain was forgotten in this morning's sunshine. I decided to check out the $5.00 continental breakfast at my hotel this morning. I should have spent the $5.00 on something else. It made me miss the breakfast from the hotel I stayed at in Valletta. I didn't have to leave for the airport until 2pm, so after breakfast I checked out and left my bags at the front desk so I could soak up a few hours of the sunshine. I decided to take the ferry across the river to Lévis, to see the city from a different angle. It's a really quick ferry ride--part of the daily commute for many people. On the Lévis side there's a little hot-dog stand, so I had lunch there--poutine and a hot dog with a single row of french ... read more
September 26th 2005
I woke up to rain this morning, so I thought I'd head down to the museum of Civilization and spend the morning there. I left my hotel in my rain pants and rain coat, but by the time I got down to the Musuem in the basse-ville, I was soaked anyway. Couldn't dry off in the mueum though, because it's closed on Mondays. If only I'd remembered that before I left my hotel! The streets of basse-ville were nearly deserted, with only a few brave souls venturing out in the rain. I took the Funiculaire back up to haute-ville, and went to the bistro at the Château Frontenac for Hot Chocolate. I managed to make that last about 45 minutes, and then it was time to move on again. I thought I'd take a tour of ... read more
Lac Saint-Jean Tourtière and Maple Sugar Pie
Published: October 18th 2005North America » Canada » Quebec » Québec City
September 25th 2005
Last night I dreamed about a single red maple tree surrounded by green ones. I don't even know where to begin deciphering what that might mean. This morning I went down the hill to have a look at the high cross I saw there the other day. It surprised me at first, to see a Celtic Cross in this French-Canadian city, but according to my guide book, it was a gift from a parish in Ireland to commemorate the compassion shown to Irish immigrants arriving here as they fled the Famine. I learned about the famine in school (sort of, but our Commonwealth education system conveniently left some parts out), but when I was in Ireland last year, it really became real to me. It was comforting to know that those lucky enough to walk off ... read more
The Last Days of the Governor General
Published: October 7th 2005North America » Canada » Quebec » Québec City
September 24th 2005
My plan this morning was to go on a tour of the citadelle after a quick along the walls and past 'Hôtel du Parlement (the National Assembly of Québec). As I walked up the drive towards the Citadelle, I noticed a soldier (not unusual, because it is an active military base) and some other people who were stopping everyone who approached. It turns out, the citadelle was closed for tours today, but there were free tours of the governor general's residence (I didn't even know the governor general had a residence in Québec City) as part of an open house being hosted by the governor general herself. So after a quick tour of part of the residence, I was presented to Governor General Adrienne Clarkson and her husband John Ralston Saul on the terrace. It was ... read more
September 23rd 2005
I woke up to more rain this morning, so I have to admit I just rolled over and went back to sleep. An hour later, the sun was shining. After a quick stroll along Terrasse Dufferin, I set out for Petit-Champlain and Place Royale, below the walls and the cliffs of Cap Diamant. Instead of taking the Escalier Casse-Cou (the break-neck stairway) down into Petit-Champlain, I opted to walk down the road. As I rounded a corner, I found myself walking by an incredible mural on the side of the building. Just past the mural, the street opened up into Place Royale. Place Royale is at the same site as Samuel de Champlain's original settlement (c1608). This square is lined with bleached stone buildings (I believe their colour is related to a limestone paste used to ... read more
Advertisement
September 22nd 2005
I remember the first time I flew to New Zealand--the mass of paper tickets with their carbon copies. How things have changed. Last night, I logged on to Air Canada's web site and checked myself in for my flight this morning. It was really bizarre to print off my own boarding pass from home! Adding to my bizarre feeling is the fact that I didn't have to go to the foreigh exchange to get money before I left, and I didn't need my passport to get here. While I was waiting to board my plane in Montreal, there was an announcement that someone had left their cowboy hat at security. It was a great Calgary moment. The sunrise from the plane was amazing--too bad my camera was safely stowed under the seat in front of me, ... read more
September 16th 2005
Okay, so here's my take on the last couple of weeks - thanks for stealing my thunder Dave! We're back in Canada after a really lovely stay in Dodgeville, Wisconsin - big thanks to Laura and Brian for their kind hospitality. It was really lovely having a home-from-home for a while to recharge our batteries! Madison was really pretty and had a nice cool vibe about it. We had a few drinks in the student union there, which is right on the lake - it was a gorgeous setting and we watched the sun go down over the water. Definitely the nicest SU I've ever been to, although the toilets were still as you'd expect from students! After leaving, we got the ferry from Milwaukee to Muskegon in Michigan, then drove most of the day to ... read more
September 16th 2005
Dave again. I know Tracey has been preparing a blog entry summarising where we've been over the past couple of weeks - so I'll leave the details to her. Update on the beer front! Toronto's Steam Whistle beer has muscled it's way into the top 3. Probably not quite toppling Wisconsin's Edil Pils from the top spot - but I'd say it's in 2nd place ahead of Sammie Adams. We visited the brewery after going up the CN Tower whilst in Toronto & they were giving away free beer. Didn't seem to mind us going back for quite a few refills either. Did the brewery tour too - which was interesting when they guy could be heard over the PA from the football/baseball stadium next door. Sammie Adams will get a chance to get it's own ... read more
September 6th 2005
I was up early this morning, and the first thing I did was check with reception to see if the hotel in Boston had returned my call. They hadn't, and so I rang them up again. They tried to pass me onto Housekeeping again, but I wouldn't have any of it. I asked that they check there and then. They then went off and checked, with me waiting on the line. Five minutes later, the member of staff came back, and said that no camera had been found in the room. I was gutted, though honestly had expected it not to be handed in. That meant I had lost my amazing photos from New York, me at Liberty Island, all my photos from the time in Boston too. I now vow to go back there, and ... read more
September 5th 2005
Our darling little baby girl Megna was born on June 14th 2005. We were very happy parents enjoying her sweet little face, chubby little fingers and cuddly little body. But we somehow felt that we needed a break from parenthood; not that we spent sleepless nights each day. We just felt that we needed some time to ourselves, like a mini honeymoon. So we planned a trip to Quebec City during the Labor Day weekend in September. We got a really good deal at the Hilton and the hotel was located in an excellent spot, within walking distance to old town as well as new town. The Hotel was right adjacent to the Parliament building of Quebec. We had driven in our Nissan Quest watching movies throughout the 7 hour car ride. But once we got ... read more
