Day 22 - (09/06) Quebec, QC (Day 3)

The rain stopped early this morning.  It's cool and the clouds are giving way to blue sky.  It looks like a good day for touring the city.

Note:  We switched to the 2nd propane tank.  21 days on one tank is pretty good considering it wasn't full when we left.

====== Update

Today’s trip into Quebec City was an adventure and great fun.

The Adventure

We started with plans to drive to a free parking area 4.5 miles from the campground and then catch a shuttle to the old city area.  It was convenient (runs every 15 minutes) and inexpensive ($3/per person per round-trip).  We got to the parking area and learned … it only runs on weekends.  Arrgh!  Fortunately, Rte 175 runs direct from the shuttle parking area to old town.  We drove ourselves and arrived without incident.

Parking was a real challenge.  After wandering the narrow downtown streets for a while, we ended up in an underground parking garage near The Parliament building.

The City

The old city is the only walled city north of Mexico.  We found it to be charming and vibrant.  It has retained a European flair.  It’s clean and safe.  The sunny day provided much better views than yesterday.

Parliament

The Parliament was built in 1886.  It’s separated from the winding streets and 17^th century buildings of the old city by stone walls.  We got the impression it was overlooking the old city.

Parliament

Fontaine de Tourny decorates the entrance to The Parliament.  The fountain celebrates introduction of running water in the city.

Fountain

Gardens surrounding Fontaine de Tourny were beautiful.

No Carol, we can't take it home!

Daisy

Porte Saint Louis

Initially, there were seven gates (portes) into the old city. Three were torn down in the 1880s to improve traffic flow and to cut maintenance costs. This is the one we used.

From the outside

From the inside
(approaching from The Citadel)

Fairmont Hotel

The Fairmont Le Château Frontenac was built in 1893.  Churchill, Roosevelt and other Allied nation leaders met here during WW II.

The Frontenac

A peek inside

The Promenade

The Promenade des Gouverneurs runs southwest along the river from the hotel, past The Citadel to National Battlefields Park.  The 0.4 mile walk offers great views of the St. Lawrence.  Unfortunately, you have to climb 310 steps to get from the hotel to the other end.

Samuel de Champlain Monument (1898)
(The Promenade begins here)

The St. Lawrence
(view from the Promenade)

Some of the 310 steps

The Plains of Abraham
is part of the National Battlefields Park

The Citadel

Constructed 1820-1852, this fortification is one of the two official residences of the governor general of Canada.  It’s the largest fortification in North America garrisoned by regular troops.  We missed seeing the changing of the guard.  Monday was the last presentation for this year … and it was cancelled due to rain.

The fortress is built to “disappear” when approached from below. 

Tops of walls are barely visible

Walls seem to disappear, even at the entrance

A peek inside

Churches

This church was given to the
Canadian Institute in 1944

Some are large

Some are small

Built in 1819, St. Andrews is the oldest English-speaking congregation of Scottish origin in Canada.

St. Andrews Presbyterian Church

Street Scenes

Old hotel on the Promenade

The Jacquet House is one of the oldest in Quebec
(1675-1676)

All buildings in the old city have metal roofs

Streets are narrow

Renovation is beautifully done

There's history on every street

City wall was originally built by the French
 and later expanded by the British.

A Great Meal

We went to Café Buade for a late lunch/early dinner.  Their pea soup and sugar pie were highly recommended by our tour guide.  We had both with delicious entrées.  The service and atmosphere were delightful.  We’d come back here for soup and pie any time.