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Day 9 - Quebec City (22 October ‘23)

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This morning it was up and out. We were off to Quebec. It was a 2.5 hour journey. There is a stop in between at a place called Trois-Rivières that we liked the look of, to break up the journey, however due to the terrible weather we thought we would just power through to Quebec City and stop there tomorrow when the weather is better.


We skipped breakfast in our apartment to sample a Canadian classic - a Tim Horton's breakfast. I am not sure we chose the best outlet to do so as it was a corner of a petrol station on the side of the highway, but it was a fun experience nonetheless. The menu was entirely in French and the server only spoke French. With a combination of hand gestures, google translate and broken French and English thrown in, we got there - though the tepid Earl Grey tea served with cream didn't quite hit the spot! After wolfing down our breakfast wraps and a couple of 'Timbits' - which are bitesize bits of donut, we got back on the highway and headed to Quebec City.


The weather was horrendous all the way, but Canadian radio was pumping out some hits and the satnav was pronouncing French places so hilariously bad, that the journey felt quick and relatively painless.


We made it to our hotel, parked our car and then headed in to the city. Quebec City is like an even more French version of Montrèal. It is hard to remember you are in Canada. We wandered through the 'Petit-Champlain' district which is a network of old cobbled streets and took the Funicular up to the Dufferin Terrace - which is a sort of boardwalk that overlooks the St Lawrence river from a height. We walked along the boardwalk and around Chateau Frontenac - which is an enormous 600 bed hotel. At the end of the boardwalk we climbed the 310 steps up to the walls of the Citadelle de Quebec. This is the official residence of the Governor General of Canada and also one of the residences of the British monarchy. We did a lap of the Citadel and headed down into the Old Quebec quarter. It was nice to mooch around with really quaint buildings and squares, buskers and lots of little shops and cafes etc. We carried on through and ended up walking down to the old port area where there were lots of art galleries and antique shops - many of which were starting to close.


We ended up back in the Petit Champlain district and explored a bit more. It was like something out of a movie - very atmospheric and a distinct 'vibe' to it. There were quite a few halloween related decorations up and about and yet more buskers. We popped into a shop and was scooped up by a chap who worked there who took us upstairs for a tour of his wood carving workshop. He was super friendly and really enthusiastic about the work him and his team produce. His tactic worked as we ended up buying a couple of bits!


After mooching a bit around the area, we ended up at a restaurant where I had Steak Frites and Kirstie had some Poutine - but a pork version of it. I tried a bit of the Poutine without the cheese - but for those that aren't sure, it is basically chips with a delicious gravy, served with Cheese curds.


After dinner we called it a day and headed back to the hotel.


Pretty much the entire journey. Very wet, but very easy!


A very autumnal pub...


The street up to the Funicular


Chateau Frontenac, overlooking the boardwalk


The view from the citadel, overlooking the Chateau Frontenac, overlooking the boardwalk overlooking the Petit Champlain district, overlooking the river. Yeah, Quebec is on a hill.


The square outside City Hall


Canada or France?


Canada or France?


Petit Champlain


The workshop...


An autumnal 'scene' in a little square


Similar mural to the ones in Toronto...


A little street being overlooked by the Chateau Frontenac


Poutine - Quebecois slang for 'mess'. Makes sense.



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