Quebec City – 10/2 and 10/3/11

 

Quebec is the heart and center of French Canada.   Although many of the citizens are bilingual, the majority are French speaking and 94% have French ancestors.  As Quebec is a major tourist city, English is spoken around the major attractions and stores.   Due to the city’s strategic location at the juncture of the Saint Charles and St. Lawrence Rivers, Quebec’s history is closely intertwined with the sea.

The Old City (10 square kilometers) is the only walled city in North America.   Essentially a living museum, the narrow cobblestone streets and walled fortifications create an old world charm that gives Quebec its unique character and European flavor.  

We arrived after lunch and proceeded ashore to meet with our tour guide to begin a culinary walking tour.  This tour was quite different from the Portland culinary tour.   Since it was a Sunday, no restaurants were participating, so the guide brought us to a market where we sampled some of the local wines, cheeses, chocolates and fruits.   Below is the brunch which was served on the ship before we went ashore.

  

 

After the tour, we went back to the ship and the captain announced that we wouldn’t be able to go to Prince Edward Island or Sydney because of severe weather.   We would stay in Quebec for 2 more days and would stop in another port in Quebec on Wednesday.    We suspect that the hurricane that appeared to be brewing a few days ago has made it’s way up the Atlantic, but we’re not sure of that.   

Anyway, today day 2 in Quebec (Monday), we went out on our own and walked around the lower town and then up to the upper town.   Very steep hills and lots of stairs.  Directly below we are standing on the back of the ship with the Chateau Frontenac behind us.   This landmark hotel was built between 1893 and 1925 and is world renowned.  

    

    The front of the Chateau Frontenac.  

  The Queen Mary 2

The stairs to the upper town.

 

Pictured above is the funicular which brings you up to the “upper town” for $2.25.   We took the stairs, which is also pictured above.     The Queen Mary 2 was in Quebec today too, along with 2 other ships.