Quebec - Montmorency Falls

Saturday, May 16, 2009

Tour - part 4

At 272 feet, Montmorency Falls are the highest falls in the province of Quebec (as opposed to BC's at 1443 feet... which is less than half of Venezuela's Angel Falls).

Too bad this visit was saved for the end of the tour because by then it was pouring rain. The driver stopped by a path and let out anyone who wanted to walk across the bridge over the falls. Then he would pick them up on the other side.

Most people stayed on the bus. About six of us ventured out in the miserable, horrible, wet, windy cold. I hate getting wet but I wasn't about to miss this opportunity. It was a challenge trying to take photos while holding an umbrella over the camera.

We walked a short distance along a path though the woods before reaching the bridge.

I don't think I've ever walked over waterfalls before. It was a little creepy.

The Montmorency River is to the right.

The falls are to the left.

Almost more creepy than the crashing, thundering falls below, is the smooth-running water at the top. It reminds me of nightmares I've had. Glenn adds his thoughts: "Staring down on that smooth transparent water as it flows powerfully over the polished rock brings on a feeling of fear so strong that I felt like running away. It may sound strange but it's like looking at a slimy monster. So deceiving and tranquil and yet so deadly. Seeing the rope stretched across the water makes one realize it is there in case someone falls from the bridge, but God help anyone who doesn't grab the rope in time. To me it is much more traumatic than a close-up of Niagara Falls. It's nature's horror movie".

The falls go down... and down.

From here we can see the bridge we took to Ile d'Orleans.

This is probably the 487-step staircase to the bottom of the falls, which would be a fun walk on a nicer day.

Looking back, you can vaguely see the steps and the bridge we walked over in this picture.

Interesting rock formations along the way.

Nearing the parking lot...

... and Manoir Montmorency, a former residence of the Duke of Kent, father of Queen Victoria. After being damaged by fire in 1993, it has been rebuilt using the original plans. Apparently there is a restaurant and information centre inside.

But we didn't get to go in because our bus was waiting.

The bus smelled of wet wool. The driver (who, you may remember, was from Switzerland) let a young Swiss fellow off at a motel out of town. I thought it was a good thing a restaurant was attached to the motel because there wasn't much else around it. The young man asked the driver to wait while he raced to his room to get him something. He was back in a flash with a Swiss chocolate bar for the driver. It wasn't a regular sized bar either. I admire people who travel with chocolate and wondered how many of those giant bars he had packed in his luggage.

Quebec - Waterfalls & island tour

Saturday, May 16, 2009

Tour - part 1

The 4½ hour bus tour costs $48.70 each. The company picks you up at or near your hotel - in our case just next door in front of the Museum of Civilization.

My sister took this tour in December.

Soon after we got going, the driver talked about the Laurentian Mountains which turn into the Appalachians in the States. Maybe it was the weather, maybe the actual mountains are farther away, but I looked across the river and all I could see were some low rolling hills.

We saw flocks of snow geese on the drive out of town, but the trouble with bus tours is that you can't just stop and take pictures when you want. I missed so many photos opportunities.

A map showing the main sights of this tour. None of these are far away - probably only about a 15-20 minute drive from downtown Quebec City.
The yellow circle shows our starting point.
* Pink star - the falls
* Yellow star - the island
* Green star - the church

From this map you can really see how it makes sense that the name for Quebec meant 'where the river narrows.'

Our bus, driven by a chatty fellow from Switzerland. I don't think I could drive and talk for 4+ hours non-stop.

First stop, Montmorency Falls, the main thing I wanted to see. Nearby we zipped by another waterfall which I wasn't able to photograph. Montmorency Falls are one and a half times the height of Niagara Falls.

We all got out of the bus and herded through a building where you can catch a gondola up to the falls.

We barely had time to walk along the walkway to take photos, and grab a couple of postcards and maple cookies in the gift shop when we were off already. Wait a minute - we paid all that money to see the falls and that's it?! No. We would return, but we didn't know that yet.

Next we cross a bridge to Île d'Orléans, a small, rural island known as the 'garden of Quebec.' From the island you can look back and see the falls.

We were told that strawberries, apples and potatoes are grown here, but we are going to visit a chocolate factory. In 1970 the government declared this island a historic district in order to stop the spread of development.

The driver stopped to make a joke with this fellow carrying the chairs.

Chocolaterie de l'Ile d'Orleans. You won't believe this, but when we got to the chocolate shop I didn't care about it. I just wanted to get outside and see the sights.

We had enough time to wander down the road. The benches face the river. A diagram at this spot describes the Laurentian Mountains as being 'massive.'

A young Italian couple on the tour took the opportunity to sit on one of these benches and eat a big sandwich. Every time we stopped, they were eating. I don't know how they stayed so slim.

Some of the houses in the area. You can just imagine how jolly it must be around here on a sunny summer's day.