We arrived here yesterday morning after a ninety minute flight from Toronto and even though we had done our due diligence research, we were totally unprepared for just how amazing the Old City of Quebec is. It was founded in 1608 by Samuel de Champlain and Vieux-Quebec (Old Quebec for you mono-linguals) was proclaimed a 'world heritage site'by UNESCO in 1985. Here endeth the history lesson, except for a couple of relevant bits of information as I go on about street after street of beautiful old buildings.
We have walked and walked up and down cobbled streets and stairs and still feel as if we have missed heaps of things. This weekend was the last weekend in teh Quebec Summer Festival so it has been even busier than I imagine it would anyway be at this time of year.
So . . . back to the beginning! Even though we like to think we undertook the necessary plotting and planning before booking bed and breakfast accomodation for our jaunts, you can never be sure! We were, however delighted to find that we had done very well in choosing Manoir Sur le Cap for our stay here, as it is in the Old City and close to Chateau Frontenac(which we knew)but it has worked out even better than we had dared hope in terms of location and ease of access. Below is a photo looking down towards the St. Lawrence River from the front door:
We are on the top floor (which was a bit of a challenge for Murray who had to lug our cases up a charming old winding staircase), with a little balcony which has a view across to the St Lawrence River. Given that there were so many tourists around, we decided to gather up the necessary wine and food for tea last night and tonight and eat on our balcony whilst listening to the music emanating from the nearby outdoor concert venue (last night we got to hear the Black Eyed Peasand I am not sure who we have been listening to tonight). Here is Murray tucking into last night's 'picnic'
Just to set the scene properly, here is photo of the Chateau Frontenac, probably Quebec's most well-known building, which was commenced in 1892 and built in seven stages between then and 1893. It was finally completed in 1924 when the central tower was built. If you were to walk along the front of the three buildings in the foreground and then turn left at the trees, you would be just four buildings away from our bed and beakfast.
Today we went for a boat ride on the St. Lawrence River, which gave us some fabulous views of the Old City and the Place Royale. To catch the boat we had to go down from Cap Diamont to Place Royal. Down here also is Quartier Petit Champlain, to which one walks by going down the Breakneck Staircase. In 1608 this was a small portside village. The restored narrow streets are just gorgeous and the Rue de Petit Champlain, below, is the oldest merchant street in North America:
By now I am presuming you have a feel for just how much we have enjoyed our short time in Quebec City and as the next band has started playing across the way and I have an awful feeling I am going to find their stye of music a little discordant, I might finish here (to access the internet here we have to sit out on the balcony) and go inside. Will leave you with one last image of Old Quebec and sign off.
Bon soir, mes amis. Nous sommes enchantee avec vos descriptions de la vielle Quebec. L'enfant terrible mange son grand repas et vin avec un bon appetit formidable. C'est tres bien. Avec beaucoup l'amour, Patrice et Gordonne.
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