"En avant, Quebec"

Today began with a bang -really. When the ship docked at Quebec port terminal, her horn blew in salute and in return, for the first time in 171 years, a cannon fired from the Citadel in acknowledgment! Awesome way to start a day!  

I called Letreze to chat after I had breakfast!! I left messages for Jean and Sheila - two very busy women. I am actually on the St. Lawrence River!!!! With the Isle of Orleans in the distance. 

 

My post breakfast walk around deck 7 (3 laps = 1 mile) gave a me a great view of the Chateau Frontenac right across the street. I learned it was built as a hotel for the Canadian RR to entice wealthy Americans to come visit. 650 rooms!! Then I just had to get artistic and shoot the Chateau between the radar pylon and spare propeller blades that adorn aft deck 7 of QM2. And later in the day, I got much closer to Frontenac!

 

 

"Let's go see Quebec" was how Danielle the tour guide for Old Quebec Walking Tour started us off as we left the Port Terminal. A charming group of about 20 which I stayed up with very comfortably...any angst I had about a repeat of the embarrassment of last year's Guernsey Cliff Walk disappeared by the second set of steps. My walks with Letreze really have paid off in improved movement.

Danielle was enthusiastic, knowledgeable and humorous. She tooks us behind the normal walks street so we could experience one of the unique to Quebec places in the city. The buildings are too close to the city escarpment for cars so these little bridges were created so the building residents could reach their storage sheds built on the cliff edge.  

This city reminds me of chilly New Orleans, yes, I know that's not surprising, but still... 

One stop we made was the see the sculpture that commemorates where in 1608 when the city was founded, the St. Lawrence flowed. The pavement surrounding the sculpture is wavy to signify where the St. Lawrence met the St. Charles!! (The lower right corner shadow is me, a kimd of selfie?!)

 

We rode the funicular to the Upper City. I got such a cool shot of QM2 that the ship's photographer who was with us, took her own version. It never occurred to her to squat down for a different point of view! 

These paper canoes are part of an Inuit celebration. Are they not awesome!?

 

We visited lots of churches and Danielle took us through The Holy Door which the Pope gave to Quebec in 2014 when 2 of its early citizens were cannonized. The door is one of only 7 in the world. You walk through, touch Christ's out-stretched hand and say a small prayer. You are not permitted to go out a Holy Door, only in one to enter the worship house. I didn't think it appropriate to stop for a photo! 

In the rear of the church is a small paddock with chickens, a donkey and a goat - the animals and their predecessors have been associated with this church for hundreds of years, so the tradition continues. 

 I am too short to see over the wall for the goat and chickens!

Street art abounds in the city. This flying man has only been on his rooftop for 3 years, but the Fresco of Quebec is my favorite. The 3-D effect is so good, it is startling!

 

 

 

I met Veronica and Tim in the terminal and we kind of shadowed each other all through the tour.

 I FINALLY found some Fall Trees!!! 

 

As the tour concluded, Danielle suggested we try a "real Quebecoi food staple." Poutin (prounounced like Russia's president) is French Fries, mashed potatoes and gravy! Yikes!!!!! I declined.

Back on board, I chatted with Frances and William while having a drink and listening to but not playing trivia. Then on to dinner (excellent lamb shank, almost better than last night's lobster), where it was Kevin and me again. His last name is Cassidy, which is the name of his brother's pub in Belfast! 

Off to bed early, i have to be in the terminal by 7:45 for my bus tour in the morning. And I have to find Denis' Sortilege, which according to Danielle is an ice wine so I have to find a real liquor store! 

The good times continue!