Sunday, May 17, 2009
Our original plan was to go next to Ottawa, the capital of Canada. I've never been there and I looked forward to seeing it at tulip time. But something else came up, namely involving airplanes, so we did some quick schedule changing. Now we would be taking the train to Toronto, staying overnight and catching another train the next day to Guelph, Ontario.
Although the train leaves Quebec City at quarter to 1:00, they feed you lunch anyway. We would also get supper on the train.
There is not much to report about this day. Basically we sat on the train, looked at the scenery and ate. At 4:00 pm we arrived at Montreal where we had to catch another train at 6:00. Unfortunately, we didn't get one of the superior Renaissance trains on this day and I think we had to lug our suitcases on and off each train.
It was a long day of travelling and the ride all the way was bumpy. We arrived in Toronto at 11:30 pm. The first thing we notice upon entering the train station in Toronto is that we're not in Quebec any more. People here dress like west coasters, which surprised me a little. By the way, I'd only been to this city once, for three days back in the 70's on my way home from the Caribbean. It was October and flakes of snow were falling.
But now, I have to remind myself to stop saying "bonjour" to people.
Showing posts with label Quebec City. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Quebec City. Show all posts
Sunday, July 12, 2009
Saturday, July 11, 2009
Quebec City - Our last morning
Sunday, May 17, 2009
We don't want to leave Quebec City but our train departs at 12:45 pm. We have enough time for a leisurely walk to The Crazy Pig (Le Cochon Dingue) for breakfast. In retrospect, we should have eaten at least once in our hotel's restaurant.
It is a fine, sunny morning again. Glenn noted the black and white umbrellas at this restaurant we passed by resemble nuns' habits.
Knowing that the breakfast special wasn't on for the weekend, I ordered a waffle. It came in the shape of a flower. Cute.
* * * * *
I somehow failed to get any pictures of typical French-Canadians but what struck us about them, aside from their friendliness, was their style. I don't mean as in high fashion, but in general they dress better and look like they take better care of themselves than in the rest of the country. Almost all women regardless of age wear a scarf. Often, they were long oblongs wrapped around the neck from front to back with the ends brought forward and either tied near the top or bottom, or left to hang loose.
We were sure to leave the province with a bottle of Quebec maple syrup.
We don't want to leave Quebec City but our train departs at 12:45 pm. We have enough time for a leisurely walk to The Crazy Pig (Le Cochon Dingue) for breakfast. In retrospect, we should have eaten at least once in our hotel's restaurant.
It is a fine, sunny morning again. Glenn noted the black and white umbrellas at this restaurant we passed by resemble nuns' habits.
Knowing that the breakfast special wasn't on for the weekend, I ordered a waffle. It came in the shape of a flower. Cute. * * * * *
So that's the end of our stay in wonderful Quebec City. It goes without saying that we would return to this city and to the Auberge Saint-Antoine in a second. Upon checking out, the hotel sends you off with a little bag of snacks. A nice touch.
I somehow failed to get any pictures of typical French-Canadians but what struck us about them, aside from their friendliness, was their style. I don't mean as in high fashion, but in general they dress better and look like they take better care of themselves than in the rest of the country. Almost all women regardless of age wear a scarf. Often, they were long oblongs wrapped around the neck from front to back with the ends brought forward and either tied near the top or bottom, or left to hang loose.
We were sure to leave the province with a bottle of Quebec maple syrup.Quebec City - Poutine
Saturday, May 16, 2009
End of tour
Getting dropped off at our hotel would have been a sensible end to our day. But this was our last chance to try poutine in Quebec. Unfortunately we hadn't come across it in nicer restaurants so now we... or I should say "I" because this was all my doing... was going to have to try the fast food version. The postal worker down by our hotel had told us that while some people liked Chez Ashton's poutine, she didn't.
"Don't say 'poo-teen,'" she advised, "or it might sound like you're asking for a prostitute. Just say 'poo-tin' and you'll be fine." Our French Canadian friend says that to make it sound Québécois it would be pronounced with a slight S, as in Pou - tsin. Of course, English speaking people in BC would not know what you were talking about so here you might as well just say poo-teen.
Anyway, near the end of the tour the bus drove by a Chez Ashton in the Upper Town. Unfortunately, by the time we got dropped off, we were well past it and had to find our way back a few blocks. In the dark, in the pouring rain.
A mob of young people got there just before us. Apparently they were English-speaking because they were all asking for poo-teen. What we got tasted like French fries drenched with gravy. The cheese didn't squeak and wasn't even noticeable. By the way, I didn't actually want to eat this stuff, I just wanted to taste it.
Then we had to find our way down to our hotel and when we did we were pretty tired and mostly soaking wet. I went down the lobby and got a nice hot pot of tea to take back to our room - actually two pots of tea because of another language miscommunication.
I can probably say that I still have not had poutine. I completely forgot about trying another Quebec favourite, sugar pie!
End of tour
Getting dropped off at our hotel would have been a sensible end to our day. But this was our last chance to try poutine in Quebec. Unfortunately we hadn't come across it in nicer restaurants so now we... or I should say "I" because this was all my doing... was going to have to try the fast food version. The postal worker down by our hotel had told us that while some people liked Chez Ashton's poutine, she didn't."Don't say 'poo-teen,'" she advised, "or it might sound like you're asking for a prostitute. Just say 'poo-tin' and you'll be fine." Our French Canadian friend says that to make it sound Québécois it would be pronounced with a slight S, as in Pou - tsin. Of course, English speaking people in BC would not know what you were talking about so here you might as well just say poo-teen.
Anyway, near the end of the tour the bus drove by a Chez Ashton in the Upper Town. Unfortunately, by the time we got dropped off, we were well past it and had to find our way back a few blocks. In the dark, in the pouring rain.
A mob of young people got there just before us. Apparently they were English-speaking because they were all asking for poo-teen. What we got tasted like French fries drenched with gravy. The cheese didn't squeak and wasn't even noticeable. By the way, I didn't actually want to eat this stuff, I just wanted to taste it.
Then we had to find our way down to our hotel and when we did we were pretty tired and mostly soaking wet. I went down the lobby and got a nice hot pot of tea to take back to our room - actually two pots of tea because of another language miscommunication.
I can probably say that I still have not had poutine. I completely forgot about trying another Quebec favourite, sugar pie!
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
Quebec - A copper shop & bread ovens
Saturday, May 16, 2009
Tour - part 2
We've left the island now and are back on the mainland.
I like metal so much I sometimes think I should have got a job working with it. But there is one metal that does nothing for me and that's copper. So when the next stop on the tour was to the Albert Gilles Copper Art museum and store... well I could have done with a much shorter visit.
The founder passed away but his family keeps the business going. I believe it was his wife who gave us a short tour and a talk about working with copper. Tables are set out where visitors can try their hand at embossing.
Let's move on to the bread ovens at Chez Marie. I want to call it the sugar shack because they sell maple sugar products. For a buck or so you can get a slice of home-made bread with maple butter spread on top.
I read that they can seat 200 people in here! It must be in sardine fashion.
A bird house.
Most interesting to me were the little structures beside the roads. It looks like the one above, built into the hillside, is a vegetable cellar.
And here is another oven. Imagine these covered in snow.
Tin siding is a common sight in this area.
Off we go towards the church now, snapping a few pictures out the bus window. Above, is Auberge Baker.
It would be helpful if I could remember anything the driver told us about the Norman architecture and the history of the area because it was all very interesting.
Tour - part 2
We've left the island now and are back on the mainland.
I like metal so much I sometimes think I should have got a job working with it. But there is one metal that does nothing for me and that's copper. So when the next stop on the tour was to the Albert Gilles Copper Art museum and store... well I could have done with a much shorter visit.The founder passed away but his family keeps the business going. I believe it was his wife who gave us a short tour and a talk about working with copper. Tables are set out where visitors can try their hand at embossing.
Let's move on to the bread ovens at Chez Marie. I want to call it the sugar shack because they sell maple sugar products. For a buck or so you can get a slice of home-made bread with maple butter spread on top.
I read that they can seat 200 people in here! It must be in sardine fashion.
A bird house.
Most interesting to me were the little structures beside the roads. It looks like the one above, built into the hillside, is a vegetable cellar.
And here is another oven. Imagine these covered in snow.
Tin siding is a common sight in this area.
Off we go towards the church now, snapping a few pictures out the bus window. Above, is Auberge Baker.
"Ancestral ground of Jean Gagnon... 1640" reads the plaque beside the door.
It would be helpful if I could remember anything the driver told us about the Norman architecture and the history of the area because it was all very interesting.
Saturday, July 4, 2009
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.
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.
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.Quebec City - A figurehead & a fountain
I'm not a fan of water features. There is something about them that always leaves me a little disappointed. I especially dislike ones that have water sounds. No gurgling fountain or babbling man-made brook in my yard, thanks.Trust Quebec City to come up with one that I love, a figurehead fountain. It is located just a couple blocks from our hotel at Place de la FAO - FAO being the Food and Agriculture Organization founded here in 1945. The water doesn't even spray. It just bubbles out, flows down and disappears.
This says La Vivrière and shows the three artists' names. The date, 1995, marks the 50th anniversary of the organization.
Now they take this wave design and run it right across the street! Who would think of that? I wonder how they did the brickwork.Bravo, Quebec City.
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
Quebec City - An evening stroll
You may notice that I'm changing the format of my posts to how it should have been in the first place, with the captions below the photos.
Friday, May 15, 2009
We wound up down by the water farther away from our hotel than we expected, trudging along with seemingly miles to go... although we weren't exactly sure where we were. As we passed by a row of businesses, a fellow appeared from a doorway as if by magic and asked if we'd like a ride on a Pedicab. What timing. It felt good to sail along with no effort, the speed making a nice cooling breeze. It turned out it was this driver's pedicab company. "Have you been to the public market yet?" he asked, pointing to the building on the water side of the road. No, we hadn't. Next thing we knew, he was whisking us over there and showing us a cheese counter and his favourite cheese, which I'd never heard of. The market had the usual assortment of goods - produce, bread, potting plants.
I must have been tired because I wasn't taking many photos. If we had been staying longer in Quebec City, it probably would have been worth walking down to this market and picking up some bread and cheese.
Back at the hotel Glenn and I went back to our room and rested on the sunny patio for a while.
Refreshed, we wandered over to the post office around the corner. (There is also a pharmacy nearby.) The woman behind the counter was quite funny. Before long she hauled out all her "Newfie" tools, which she said was okay for her to joke about since she was originally from there. I had noticed that she spoke English without a French accent. She mentioned that our hotel must have very comfortable pillows because they mail out a lot of them.
Back we went to poke around the wonderful Place Royale / Quartier Petit-Champlain area.
Ah, there's a sign for ice-cream cones, so Glenn got one.
I like the photo above. For one thing, looking at it will always make me think of warmth. It might have been from this doorway that I took the last shot.
A couple of wall plaques and a red door.
Behind a wall and gate was a place for homeless cannons.
I wouldn't have noticed the dove sitting quietly if Glenn hadn't pointed it out.
Next time you splatter your clothes with paint, just go with it and make a fashion statement.
Surprising to see a helmet and goggles in a window. Glenn says the helmet is a WWI type.
If we'd known Glenn's watch would go on the fritz this month, he could have got this artist's one. Just kidding - it would be too hard to read.
They really decorate the stores.
This looks like the same musician who was by the mural before.
Obama - he's everywhere.
Now it's time to go back to our room and that's the end of this day. I have no idea what we ate for supper.
Friday, May 15, 2009
We wound up down by the water farther away from our hotel than we expected, trudging along with seemingly miles to go... although we weren't exactly sure where we were. As we passed by a row of businesses, a fellow appeared from a doorway as if by magic and asked if we'd like a ride on a Pedicab. What timing. It felt good to sail along with no effort, the speed making a nice cooling breeze. It turned out it was this driver's pedicab company. "Have you been to the public market yet?" he asked, pointing to the building on the water side of the road. No, we hadn't. Next thing we knew, he was whisking us over there and showing us a cheese counter and his favourite cheese, which I'd never heard of. The market had the usual assortment of goods - produce, bread, potting plants.
I must have been tired because I wasn't taking many photos. If we had been staying longer in Quebec City, it probably would have been worth walking down to this market and picking up some bread and cheese.
Back at the hotel Glenn and I went back to our room and rested on the sunny patio for a while.
Refreshed, we wandered over to the post office around the corner. (There is also a pharmacy nearby.) The woman behind the counter was quite funny. Before long she hauled out all her "Newfie" tools, which she said was okay for her to joke about since she was originally from there. I had noticed that she spoke English without a French accent. She mentioned that our hotel must have very comfortable pillows because they mail out a lot of them.
Back we went to poke around the wonderful Place Royale / Quartier Petit-Champlain area.
Ah, there's a sign for ice-cream cones, so Glenn got one.
I like the photo above. For one thing, looking at it will always make me think of warmth. It might have been from this doorway that I took the last shot.
A couple of wall plaques and a red door.
Behind a wall and gate was a place for homeless cannons.
I wouldn't have noticed the dove sitting quietly if Glenn hadn't pointed it out.
Next time you splatter your clothes with paint, just go with it and make a fashion statement.
Surprising to see a helmet and goggles in a window. Glenn says the helmet is a WWI type.
If we'd known Glenn's watch would go on the fritz this month, he could have got this artist's one. Just kidding - it would be too hard to read.
They really decorate the stores.
This looks like the same musician who was by the mural before.
Obama - he's everywhere.
Now it's time to go back to our room and that's the end of this day. I have no idea what we ate for supper.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)