I promised you that, after I'd come home and finished the laundry, I'd share more about our great time in Quebec City last week.
The laundry's done.
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| FRANCOIS |
What can we say about this city other than.....it's gorgeous (see photos,) it's old (founded in 1608) and it's French. One writer has called it charming with a dash of haughtiness.
On our second day there we arrived at our small tour bus to find a seriously handsome sophisticated guy with a dreamy French accent, dressed as a tour guide. And his name is Franscois. My first thought was, "I'll bet he has an interesting story."
Turns out he does. He was a TV commentator for the Quebec City hockey team. The team left town, and, as a life long (and, as it turns out, centuries old) Quebec City resident, Franscois didn't want to leave. So he reinvented himself as a tour guide.
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| FUNICULAIRE |
The city goes from the St. Lawrence River, straight up the side of a steep hill so, if you're game for it you can walk up the steps, and, if not, you can take the funiculaire (kind of like a ski lift.) On our first day we took the funiculaire up and walked down. Both fun.
The second level of the city has a spectacular boardwalk.
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| BOARDWALK |
In the top photo - and, by the way, Dave took all of these photos except the first one - to the left, is a park called "The Plains of Abraham." A famous battle was fought here. The first time Dave saw it he asked the guide, "Does the name have a religious significance?" The guide said, "No, it's just named after a guy named Abraham who owned the field."
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| DOWNHILL TO ST. LAWRENCE RIVER |
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| FRANCOIS DOING HIS THING |
But, of course, the crown jewel of Quebec City is the massive Chateau Frontenac Hotel. If you want to stay there, book early. It's everybody's favorite spot in one of the most beautiful cities in the world.
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| CHATEAU FRONTENAC HOTEL |
