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Baie-St-Paul

A day trip. The perfect day trip over Appalachian mountains on a ribbon of highway through farming areas and wilderness. We climbed into the mountains into the clouds and it poured sheets of cold rain making for a dramatic drive. Not that the speckled country side needed more drama. The pine and spruce forests with their warnings of moose and bear especially where the protective fencing stops made for more drama. Thankfully no deer, moose or other wild animals were on the road. I can not imagine that stretch of a drive a night! It gives me chills to think about it. Red, gold orange and perfect Christmas trees all up and down the mountains. Massive lories in first gear with their brakes on too. It took about 20 minutes longer than expected to reach Basie-St-Paul.

Not a crowded town. Lunch on a heated porch and no rain while we visited. One or two streets filled with artists and some souvenir shops. A few restaurants but you could sense the end of the season.

We found a woolen shop the clerk said : “welcome to the paradise of wool!” She got a handsome sale. We chatted about the products and her knitting machines which were out and in use. It was very pleasant. Me in my bright pink woolen sweater and shawl. Everything in the shop earthy shades of natural, cream, brown and a splash of wine color here and there.

There was a beach but we saw a small hotel on the bay and a jetty. Rather populated for how far it seems from everything. Enchanting to see a village like this.

The ride back to QC was again rain so much so I was suggesting we stop for the night. But we continued and the rain subsided once we came out of the mountains.

For supper we found an excellent restaurant and ate mussels and I ordered A side of bread

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Step away from the ordinary and come out and meet the artists and shop.

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Final day in Quebec City

It was cold and we returned the rented car and had a bit of trouble getting an Uber back to the City so we ordered a cab too. They both arrived at the same time so we tipped the cab and rode back in the Uber.

We walked around the Fort, it’s walls and ramparts almost making a complete circle of the old City. It’s a wonderful walk the walls of the fort are impressive and there is a museum to visit. It’s a beautiful picturesque town. We looked for a bar to get a drink before we went to lunch and realized there are no bars to speak of just bars that are part of restaurants. We figured must be zoning or regulations of alcohol. So we went and stood on line to get Paella and it was worth it! A wonderful dish for two. Then on to explore some more of the town. It’s churches and squares. Feels so much like a city in Europe.

The ghost tour we had booked we decided not to take. I like taking a ghost tour at the beginning of a vacation because you learn a lot of history about a place doing one. This was a walking tour and I was very tired and did not have warm enough clothes to be outside for 60 to 90 minutes at night. Maybe someday we will return for that tour.

Quebec is a wonderful city to visit we enjoyed every minute of our stay there thanks to the good hospitality we had and the friendly people of Quebec.

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Isle-de-Orleans, Canada

Once again mobile rented a car on the internet. Challenging driving in Quebec City. Narrow hilly streets constantly under construction. Odd traffic lights what exactly does a dashing green light mean? And left turn arrows into a narrow tunnel with oncoming traffic! Plus super wide right hand turns due to right of way for bus lanes. Enough headed out to the country.

About a half hour north east is one of the last narrow bridges connecting Isle-d-Orleans with the main land. An agricultural area. Apple, strawberry and cheese farms and refining make for pleasant stops with unique pantry items. A huge lookout tower where the marshland of the St. Lawrence and the Appalachian mountains are visible on a clear day. Beautiful places to sit and have a picnic lunch and talk to tourists and locals.

The down East side of the island has small community and a village area with a few shops and restaurants. It felt relaxed and comfortable as the residents prepared for the quite season. All in all a beautiful place.

Lunch was wonderful French Fries with black mayo on mine. We learned about Putin. Which I thought was either pudding or whiskey but it’s French Fries smothered in a beef filled gravy with or without cheese. A dieters nightmare. It’s very popular all over the region. The potatoes are so beautifully cooked and seasoned it’s worth the whole journey. Drank a bit of local white wine. Wonderful with the potatoes.

Back to the mainland and viewing of a major Waterfall. There was a cable car and zip line but I did not see anyone using either. A bridge spans the top of the falls and it is quite dramatic.

That night we rested with some house wine and watched a bit of Television in our suite at the hotel. I slept so peacefully that night after walking, seeing the sights and eating great food.

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Quebec City

The cobblestone streets of Quebec are like other cities filled with pedestrians and motor vehicles.

The upper city is a fortified ring with ramparts extending from a magnificent old fort now a living museum. The lower city is a seaport with plenty of dockside trappings for tourists who visit daily on the cruise lines. A well equipped day tripper with restaurant and entertainment is also available. During warm weather I imagine a plethora of boating. We saw jet skiers but few sailboats. The water is remarkable.

It’s a bigger city than St. Augustine Florida but smaller than Savannah Georgia. That’s in the antique part of the city. People are friendly and helpful. No pub crawl culture here, no chickens roaming the streets. Lots of hills and stairs, lots of missed steps by young, old , fat and fit alike.

Chateau Frontenac Hotel is as impressive as the many houses of worship and the Seminary. Only Hilton and Delta building both outside the gated walls tower over the citadel and walls and must have spectacular views.

The gardens are magnificent throughout the city. An area once home to the Huron now boasts Hibiscuses blooming in October. There are many beautiful things to buy, fabulous meals to eat and many people to chat with.

On Wednesday evening we attended the Loreena McKennitt 30 year anniversary of release of The Visit. Alas I didn’t get good pictures of the concert. The packed audience was so well behaved that it was impossible to take photos. I did cry the whole first half of the concert her voice is astonishing and still clear as a bell and crisp as finely woven linen. Not every verse from the Bonny Swans and Lady of Shallot were sung. Lady of Shallot is 12 minutes long. The encore was of course Mummers’ Dance followed by Remember Me from Book of Secrets. Her 4 piece band brilliant. All strings no drums.

We stopped for a night cap and of course there was a performance by a single guitarist singing modern tunes he was amazing.

I

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Finally travel and it is International to Quebec City. A gorgeous antique city with an upper and lower ring to explore. Travel on Air Canada was comfortable and customs a breeze to go through. There was only small delay and we arrived in the evening to Manoir d’Auteuil right next to the wall surrounding the city.

We walked around the upper city most shops were closing. So lots of window shopping. We ate at a club/restaurant called Shakers with music videos all around and ate hamburgers and French fries something I was to learn is very popular in Canada. You don’t have to choose between hamburger and hotdogs.