15 July Quebec City

Morning! It was up and out early again this morning after breakfast at the hotel. It took around 2 hours to drive to Quebec City so that gave me a little time to catch up on writing this blog. We've been getting in so late to the hotels and up around 6 hours later that I haven't had much time to sit down and waffle on about what I have been up to. The scenic old part of the city on the hill was our destination.

We stopped outside the Chateau Frontenac (Fairmont Hotel) which had a lovely view across the Lawrence River and other parts of the city. Of course, ever the nosey person I popped in for a look around and to use their posh loos ;-) Very swanky indeed! The lobby also has a few designer shops and even an art gallery with some interesting pieces. It was in this very hotel that the United Nations set up the food and agriculture organisation to help raise the level of nutrition. There is a plaque situated on the side of the hotel.

I then took a little walk up a wooden promenade overlooking the river. Not just any promenade, but one a few hundred feet up on the side of a hill but resembling those on Blackpool prom/piers. There is a performance area on the prom where street performers are encouraged to come and show their talents. What a nice way to look at things. Normally such things would be discouraged.

From there we headed over to the City Hall of Quebec City where I became a total kid again by taking off my shoes and dipping my feet in the cold water of the fountain opposite. Hey, other kids were doing it, so why can't a big one? ;-)

Next it was on to the Citadelle of Quebec - now housing the 22nd regiment of the French Canadian Military. It has been an active military installation for almost 200 years and was built by the British to guard against American invasion. Why was this place so important? Everyone wanted Quebec! It is on a key bend in the St Lawrence River. The place looks brand new even though it is so old as even though it took so long to complete, it was never actually attacked. You can see all of the old cannons still there and there was artillery fire at 12pm.

After visiting the Citadelle, we went back to the area housing the Frontenac for lunch - named after Count Frontenac who was there when the British invaded. Paul (tour guide) pointed out a great Chinese restaurant. No offence to him, but after spending 4 days on a Chinese Tour, I fancied something different for lunch, so where else to go but a French restaurant! Lol..

 Our last stop before heading back to Boston was Montmerency Falls. They are 30ft higher than Niagara. Several sets of stairs mean that people can climb them from all different angles.....but I took the cable car ;-) You can see all of the logs at the bottom that are then pushed into the river for transport elsewhere. When walking across the suspension bridge at the top I could see that someone had tried to be creative and rearrange the logs to read a message...I love Guillaume.

When on the suspension bridge, the heavens opened. Our first bit of rain since being in Canada. None of us had coats with us and so got completely soaked. Shirley and I thought that we couldn't get any wetter so might as well take a photo.  Had to get my coat out of my bag just to keep warm when Paul finally turned up to pick us up. It was an hour and a half till our next stop when I looked like a complete loon trying to dry off my shirt under the hand dryers.

So then it was on to the border at Vermont before finishing the 7 hour drive to Boston. Managed to get another stamp in my passport after sweet talking the official....hey, sometimes the accent comes in handy he he :-)

Said bye to everyone upon arriving at our destination. Have kept Shirley's email etc. so I hope to stay in touch and she said that I will have a place to stay should I ever go to Hawaii....hey, that's an excuse to go in itself ;-) Finally got checked in around 23:30 and so dumped my case in my locker and went straight to bed. No early morning call.....bliss. 

Sweet dreams!