Tuesday Sept 7 - Quebec City

Well, this is the final posting of this trip as we're flying back to LA tomorrow. It was a rollercoaster of weather for us but it never stopped us. Today was a light mist/rain most of the day. We started by visiting the Chocolate Museum below.



We then went to the J.A. Moisan grocer which I believe is supposed to be the longest running grocer in North America. They had a huge variety of items and felt like it was 100 years ago.

We then went to the Citadelle which was the Army Regiment headquarters that has protected Quebec for years. It is on the hill overlooking the river and the cannons did their job many times. Below, you know who was taking up guard duty.

No one told me it wasn't a port-a-potty. I wondered where the door was

Any reason to try on a hat

Anyone wanna bet there was a smile on my face when taking this picture? Positioning is everything.

Citadelle grounds

Pierre, our guide

Even the moose were tired by this time

A final walk of the town

A final shot of the architecture of Quebec City

Monday Sept 6 - Quebec City

Beautiful day with a little rain late in evening. Walked around the Lower and Upper Town areas of Old Quebec today. Below is the Anglican Cathedral of the Holy Trinity.


Yippee- a whole storeful of moose.

Great outdoor cafes

Lots of horse & buggies

Defending the city

Wonderful old buildings

Chateau Frontenac Hotel

Lots of statues around

Enjoying the day

Painted buildings

Notre Dame des Victoires chuch in Place Royale

Very odd bus

First day of school

Take that Project Runway!

Windy Day

View from inside Chateau Frontenac

Took tour of the hotel

Lobby area

More lobby shots

Dinner at L'Accent

Sunday Sept 5 - Montreal to Quebec City

Left Montreal this morning and it was low 50's temperature- quite a break. Here was a remnant of Hurricane Earl's squall that came through yesterday. I'm sure there will be a lot of new umbrella sales in town.


Took the 830am train to Quebec City- breakfast included.

Checked in to the Courtyard by Marriott. ALL the staff were the nicest possible and got us in to our room by noon.

Here is the view out our hotel room.

Hotel from exterior

Place D'Youville Square in front of hotel

Went for walk through the old city

Moose pillow anyone?

Beautiful views

Basilica-Cathedral Notre Dame de Quebec- home parish to many of my ancestors 400 years ago (not this building, but same locale)

Checking out the town

A little window shopping

Inside Notre Dame de Quebec

Inside the obligatory Christmas Store

After an afternoon rest, went to a free Cirque du Soleil show a few blocks from the hotel- very unique as they set it up under a freeway overpass that is about triple the normal height. It was their last performance of the year. A fantastic show which would have cost $100 in Vegas for the same thing.

Finale

Outside the hotel in front of St Jean's Gate of the old walled city.

Saturday Sept 4 - Montreal

Our last day in Montreal and the weather went from 90+ degrees yesterday to a high of only 68 today. We also had a couple of rain squalls from Huricane Earl pass through but they only lasted about 20 minutes. It got so windy and it kept shifting directions, our umbrellas were rendered useless (they kept turning inside out). I never thought I'd have to think of hurricanes when planning this trip. Anyway, that was a short part of the day. We got up late and wanted to eat elsewhere so went to a Canadian chain of breakfast restaurants- Chez Cora. Clemente's breakfast shown below (omelette panini and fruit)






We went up to the "Plateau" area- lots of neat homes, shops, parks, huge variety of restaurants.

Below shows a pedestrian street with open air restaurants.

Lots of painted buildings

Cute little parks

More painted buildings

Resting

I chased this white squirrel until I could get his pic

Beware...Moose crossing

Stopped at St Viateur for one of their famous bagels (watch any travel show on Montreal)