Vacation 2013-Vieux Québec

After our day visiting the Montmorency Falls, we were excited (especially me!) to get into the city of Québec and explore, particularly in Vieux Québec (Old Québec).  I've always seen pictures in my textbooks and heard from other people how Old Québec feels more like Europe than North America, and they were right!!  It is gorgeous and very old world.  Thanks to the lovely lady at the hotel front desk, we were directed to a great place to park the van all day right by the port area.  From there, we could walk and explore.

Old Québec sits along the St. Lawrence River.  The area right by the river is the low-city area, and to get to the higher part of the old town, you have to go up and over the still-existing fortifications.

A good view of the lower part of the old city in the foreground versus the higher part of the city (inside the fortifications) in the background.

We started by walking to Place Royale in the low part of the city.  This area was gorgeous with cobblestone streets, old buildings and street performers (some even in period costumes).

Heading into Place Royale.  The man sitting under the blue umbrella was playing the harp.

Amazing fresco at the entrance to Place Royale.  It depicts famous people from Québec's history.  It even incorporates historical figures with modern images, such as the children playing hockey in the street.

This street entertainer was in period costume and taught tourists about life in Old Québec.

Place Royale and Notre-Dame-des-Victoires church.  So charming!

After Place Royale, we started the climb up and over the fortifications.  It was a good hike, but we were able to stop at a couple of nice spots on the way up.  We even saw someone on the stairs playing a didgeridoo.

Looking back down on the low city from our climb up the steps.

Our first good view of the iconic Château Frontenac looking up from our climb up the stairs.

Looking back down on the entrance to Place Royale (with the fresco on the right) from our climb up.  There was a ship about ready to leave from the port.

We made it up and over the fortifications.  It was so beautiful!  It didn't hurt that the weather was just perfect that day (high's in the 70's, breeze off the river).  As cheesy as it sounds, seeing these sights made me feel like a more complete French teacher.

In front of the Château Frontenac.

Gorgeous!

Statue of Samuel de Champlain, founder of Québec.

Looking out over the river to a beautiful view.

We took a walk down the length of the Terrasse Dufferin, a terrace/boardwalk that runs along the river atop the fortifications. 

Walking along the Terrasse Dufferin.

There were charming gazebos like this all along the Terrasse to enjoy the view.

The view from the Terrasse looking out into the river: gorgeous!!

We walked and walked, and walked some more, all the way out of the fortifications into the Plains of Abraham, also known as Battlefields Park, site of several battles in the French and Indian War.

The park was set up for a huge festival.  Later that evening, when we were trying to leave downtown, we saw people flooding into the city for the festival.  When we got back to the hotel and looked up who was performing that night, we found out it was Guns 'N Roses!

A quick view of modern Québec from the park.  The back side of the big stage for the festival is off to the left.

 After that, we headed right back inside the fortifications to the old city.

Vieux Québec....so charming and not like any city in the US!

Walking down the Rue Ste-Anne (a pedestrian street), looking for a place to eat lunch.

Waiting for lunch on the sidewalk terrace of the Grill Ste-Anne.  We enjoyed listening to a street performer play the violin just a few feet away.

Cliff and I shared this amazing pizza for lunch.  Yum!!!

After lunch, we spent some time shopping and looking for souvenirs.  Cliff had been wanting a nice hat to wear out in the sun, and we found one in a swanky, little men's shop.  The salesperson and I had a nice conversation in French, and even though she was trying a little too hard to sell hats to all four of us, I enjoyed the chance to talk with her.

Watching a juggler perform in one of the town squares, wearing his kick-ass new hat.

Laura chose to have her caricature done as a souvenir.  He even drew her as a ballerina.

After our shopping, we were tired and pretty hungry.  Our waitress at lunch had recommended a little snack shop to us for a quick dinner, including great poutine.  Unfortunately, it was in the opposite direction from our van.  Cliff, ever the map reader, felt confident he could direct me there.  He did, indeed get us there, and I pulled over and parked on the tiniest side street you've ever seen a minivan in while he and Laura ran in to get our dinner.  While Nathan and I waited, we watched cars barely squeak past our van to get down the street, and we watched a little sedan make the tightest parallel parking job right in front of us; I was so afraid he was going to hit us!  In the meantime, the Guns 'N Roses fans were streaming past us toward the festival, giving funny looks to our giant minivan with Georgia plates parked on this tiny side street.  I can only imagine what they were all thinking! :)

We got back to the hotel and decided to enjoy dinner in the gazebo out back.  We enjoyed talking to other hotel guests, including a lovely couple from Montréal.  It was so fun to talk with them and compare experiences from each other's countries.

I was pretty excited to dig into one last round of poutine!

The next morning, we would get up and bid farewell to Québec.  Though I was looking forward to the next stop on the trip, it was definitely bittersweet for me to leave behind this wonderful, little French-speaking pocket of our continent.  I definitely, definitely want to go back!!

Gina