After 3 nights in Montreal we packed our bags and headed a couple hours northeast to Quebec (City). We found Quebec to be a bit more European and the English language even less common, but everyone was still super nice.
Since we were driving in and couldn't find a reasonable pay lot in the city to leave the car, we stayed a few miles outside of the downtown area in a residence hall at Laval University. This was a great idea, except they didn't provide any cookware. Our simple meals were made to be even more simple... :o( At least it was still easy to get downtown.
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| We had a picnic lunch stop in the cute town of Ste-Anne de la Perade. It was looking more European already! |
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| Since we were a little early, we spent a couple hours checking out the sights just outside of town. The first of which was Chute Montmorency. |
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| Chute Montmorency |
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| We next took a little drive around the Île d'Orléans. It looked strangely familiar, like Upstate New York... |
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| The island was packed with little specialty farms and vineyards (agriturismos). We almost wished there were more tourists so that it wouldn't be so awkward walking inside the empty shops! |
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| It was very beautiful! |
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| The next morning we went running along the Promenade Samuel de Champlain, a sunny path along the St Lawrence that was full of pieces of art. |
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| For some reason quite a few buildings (mostly homes) were topped with this strange, shiny metal that resembles aluminum foil. |
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| Our place of residence for these three days |
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| Artsy rue St-Jean |
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| The stone fortifications wrap around the entire city. |
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| In the heart of the Old City: Basilique Notre-Dame-de-Quebec |
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| Artists lining rue du Tresor |
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| The Chateau Frontenac looming over the city |
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| Along the Terrasse Dufferin |
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| The Plains of Abraham, just outside the walls |
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| Standing on the wall and looking towards Parliament Hill |
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| It was actually fairly chilly (highs in the mid 60s and very windy!) so we took refuge (and a nap) inside the beautiful Morrin Center, a prison-turned English library. |
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| Back at the Chateau Frontinac |
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| Looking over the "Breakneck Stairs" into the Basse Ville (Lower City). I loved that tall mural on the right. |
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| Rue du Petite Champlain, supposedly the oldest neighborhood in North America |
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| Petite-Champlain District |
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| You can't visit France without having crepes ;o) |
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| The next day we walked to the city via the peaceful and eerie Joan of Arc Garden |
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| The Old Port Market |
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| Local produce at the Old Port Market |
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| Right next door at the Old Port was BBQ Fest! |
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| An outdoor performance at the very old Place Royal |
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| Back on campus: our dorm room, just like college! |
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| The residence hall where we stayed at Laval |
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| Our last morning jog through the neighborhoods |
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| Good god it was sunny. Being so far north the run rose at 4:50 am and set at 8:40 pm. It was also the solstice! |
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| On the way back home we wanted to check out the Canadian/American border that awkwardly divides the town of Stanstead. We pulled over (into the parking area, nonetheless) to take a photo of the goofy border inspection area but then the officer came out waving and yelling at us for stopping. I suppose no one told him there is a gas station adjacent that allows cars to pull right through the border without stopping. What a lovely welcome back into the USA! |
I think that trip just about does it for my summer travels! After 5 weeks since Graduation and being on the road this entire time, I have to deal with the fact that I am back in Waltham and no longer a student... and am officially unemployed... at least I have my RD exam prep to look forward to ;o)
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