I’ve spent the last two days going up and down the hills of Quebec City. I spent Day 1 doing Frommer’s walking tour of Upper Quebec and day 2 exploring the lower town. Old Quebec is a UN designated World Heritage Site.
I happen to be visiting Quebec as it prepares for it’s big 400 year birthday celebration. There is a feeling of expectancy in the air as you walk the streets. This sense is heightened by the preparations being made at the parks and on pedestrian streets in the setting up of stages and other props to aid in the grand celebration. I won’t be here for the celebration as I’m leaving on the 28th, 5 days too early. Still, summer in Quebec city is beautiful and I’ve enjoyed it.
The upper town seemed much more active and vibrant. Perhaps it was the time of day as I did not begin my tour until 11 a.m. and the streets were busy with tourists. I stopped to have breakfast at Hotel Parlement before going off on a guided tour of the Citadelle, a star shaped fortress in Old Quebec (or just outside it?). At the Citadelle, I learned about the history of the British armies in Quebec. From there, I wandered the streets, stopping at Notre Dame Cathedral, an ornately decorated Cathedral that makes intense use of Gold. I only stayed a few moments as I am always a little uncomfortable visiting churches as a tourist, feeling as if I am intruding on the sanctity of the place. From there, I went to Place d’Armes and explored la rue de Tresor, stopping at Quebec Experience to take in the show. I was a bit disappointed in the show. It was quite cheesy and I had to work hard to stay awake. I didn’t learn much there, perhaps due to the fact that I was so focused on staying awake. From there, I walked along the Terrasse Dufferin. What a beautiful boulevard with its green roofed gazebos, with the river on one side and the Chateau Frontenac, the Boulevard de Governeurs on the other side, etc. It was quite busy when I walked it but I can imagine walking there in the early morning and enjoying the peace and quiet of the day before it truly begins. From here, I stopped at the Chateau Frontenac and went for a guided tour. The tour did allow a view of one of the rooms, which was one of my wishes so I consider it money well spent. I don’t imagine myself shelling out the money to stay here unless I get richer than my wildest dreams. 🙂 On my way back to the hotel, I decided to take a different route. As I walked down d’Auteil, I noticed the Baha’i Center. I stopped to visit with the friends (who were there for information night, Fridays @ 7:30 p.m.) before continuing on my way to the hotel. What a beautiful, unexpected end to the day.
This morning, I walked in the lower town. On the way, I grabbed an apple croissant and coffee from La Boite a Pain and ate while I walked. I first went to Chateaux Frontenac and walked down l’escalier Frontenac and l’escalier de Casse-Coux (which was most easier than I expected). I found the walk quite peaceful but that may be because I had done Frommer’s walk 2 (or most of it) by 9:30. I curtailed the rest of the tour in favour of stopping at the Museum of Civilization. It was a bit of a whirlwind tour as I only had 1.5 hours but I enjoyed the exhibitions. The one on different cultures (with exhibits from different countries in Africa including Somalia, Algeria, DRC, CAR, Mali, etc) and the one about Urban development were my favorites. I enjoyed looking at the models of city of the future although I have a hard time seeing what the cities featured (e.g. LA, Chicago, Quebec) will look like in the future. I walked up de Cote de la Montagne and l’escalier Frontenac to get back to Upper town. I defintely have been doing lots of climbing in Quebec. I decided to reward myself by stopping at the Museum of Chocolate on St. Jean and bought coffee and chocolate ice cream for myself and some chocolate to gift my sisters. I returned to the hotel taking St. Claire. I had climbed up the staircase leading to rue de la Couronne the day before. The walk down was much easier. I had noticed the elevator on my way to the hotel the previous evening but decided that I could walk down just as easily. (I must admit that I’d have been sorely tempted to take the elevator if I’d noticed it the previous morning).
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