Vermont 2023 {Vieux Québec}

21 September 2023 - (This technically fits in the middle of the last post of "ordinary" days chronologically . . . but this day was way too extraordinary and it gets its own special post.) On Thursday, we took the day off of work and school and took a 3-hour-road trip back into Canada, this time heading deep into French Quebec, to Old Town Quebec City. We were really feeling like we were in a foreign country now! We parked right in the heart of the old part of the city and then walked and walked and walked, touring all the cool old buildings, walls, cannons, towers, cobblestone roads, and amazing views of the St. Laurence River. Oh, and so. many. stairs! (Who knew Quebec was such a hilly city? I sure didn't, but then I didn't really have any idea of what we were getting into before we got there. We just had heard that it felt like Europe, and we wanted to get some good use out of our passports while we had easy access to a foreign country!)

Crossing the bridge over the St. Laurence River into
Quebec City.

And the other bridge that paralleled ours.

We headed right down into the heart of the
old city from our parking spot. We were trying
to get down by the river.

We're not in America anymore!
(And apparently, Quebec is more French
than France in this area - France's stop signs
say STOP! (I thought it was amazing that this
email newsletter about Quebec came the very
day we were there! Amazing!))

When in Canada . . . we had to try ketchup
chips. And none of us were very big fans.

While we were buying funny flavored chips,
we got these guacamole doritos to go with our
lunch. Also not my fave, but the kids liked these
ones.

We ate our ham sandwiches that we had brought along
(plus our funny chips) down in a little plaza/park near the river
(and I think where the cruise ships come in), with great views
looking back up to the city (that tall building is the famous
and fancy Chateau Frontenac).

It was all just so stinkin' cute!

And I spy the funicular!

We didn't ride up to the Dufferin Terrace, but we did
read some signs about the funicular while the kids
checked out the candy/car shop.

Like kids in a candy shop.

Petit-Champlain Street was the most
adorable little shopping spot.

A cute painting of the town in a shop window.

Remember that part about lots of steps?
Here's proof. ;)

A statue of Samuel de Champlain on the
Dufferin Terrace. I was surprised to learn
that Champlain was the guy who founded Quebec
City! I only knew about him from his Vermont
history (a la Lake Champlain).

Such cool views of the river.

And of Lower Town, where we had just been.

Looking down the funicular from the top
on the Terrace.

The Terrace is lined with these cute little gazebo
things.

There are archaeological artifacts from the original Chateau
below the terrace that you can go down and see (we didn't, but you could). 

There you go.

So fancy.

Cannons are everywhere in this city.

They're great jungle gyms.

Tasty treats on the Terrace.
(The kids and I got the creamiest, thickest
glace molle - so. dang. good! And Gregg
opted for a croissant - warmed and delectable!)

Here we are with the most photographed hotel in the world.
Ha. But can you blame us?

In the winter you can toboggan down this chute on the terrace.  

Climbing up, yes, more stairs on the terrace.

A cool coast guard boat we saw from up high.

Walking on the high terrace toward the Plains
of Abraham.

Amazing flowers at the Plains of Abraham.

Science at the Plains of Abraham.

One of the Martello Towers, which were built
to defend Quebec in case those rebel Americans
came to claim Canada after the Revolutionary
War.

Stubby cannon.

Another Martello Tower.

And some info.

Pretty walk through a garden on the Plains
of Abraham.

More cannons, these are from WWI
and are outside the museum at Battlefields
Park.

Checking out the Citadelle.

Yonder is the newer part of the city.

We've walked hundreds of stairs and literally miles
around the town and Sam says, "I want to climb
that wall and run on it."

Okay, buddy. You do that!

bonus video!

"more stairs + accordion"

As we walked from the Citadelle back toward

Old Town, we could hear music playing and it happened

to be a street musician right by the Ramparts, which was

just too fun!

bonus video!

"more accordion"

I just loved this music! Made me smile.

Okay. I just loved this door.

And this one. (There will be many, many
more door pictures from here on out.
You have been warned.)

From the wall, looking back toward
the Citadelle.

On the wall, looking the other way.

We sat on a bench in this plaza and rested our
bods for a minute. And the views were great.

Just a funny shaped intersection - not a square,
more like a kite.

Narrow streets with old buildings.

I loved the flowers and the awning.

Just lots of fun French things.

We imagined what it would be like
to go to school down here in these narrow, old
streets.

I spy the Chateau!

And we walked right next to it on the other
side from where we were looking at it before.

A few more stairs. And another spot with a bench.

I don't know who this statue is, but the fountain
was pretty cool. And even after all those stairs and all
those miles (and his climbing and running on a wall),
he sill played around the fountain.

Cal took this so we could figure out who it was
for, but we still can't tell.

Another terrace and fountain and view.

They were tempted to go all the way in, but resisted.

While the kids were playing in the fountain,
I walked over to where our car was parked
(which was actually right under where we were sitting!)
to get some ibuprofen from the car since I had
a headache.

I had to snap this on my trip to the parking garage
because I just think 7 cents a minute is kind of random
and crazy!

We had dinner at a yummy burger place back kitty corner
from that first fountain with the lady statue.
(But I really took this pic because they were both wearing
snowbird shirts haha!)

Burgers and fancy poutine and homemade
sodas. So yummy!

Just another sign talking about the city
and how it's a world heritage site.

Hello again, Samuel d!

Back on the terrace for one more view.

And then back down on some of the streets.
We thought this Christmas Store was cute so
we stepped inside. I'm pretty sure my mom would
love it!

Cal borrowed my phone to snap some photos
of her favorite ornaments. They had tons of the
s'more snowmen in all varieties.

Across from the Christmas store was a big
cathedral.

Hang on tight . . . here come lots of door
pics I warned out about.

These ones were ginormous!

This is the courtyard of the seminary school for boys, which
a tour guide who was leading a group right in front of us
said is where he went to school!

And this says it's been a play yard for over
300 years!

We had a second wind in our legs after
sitting and eating dinner, and the light
was getting lovely, so we just kept
walking down the old narrow streets
and I just kept taking pics of the awesome buildings.

We went up on the wall at another intersection
just as the golden hour light was prime.

Isn't that a cute church on the corner?

Such cool views!

I have no idea what this is all about, but
it was the first thing we saw when we came out
of the parking garage and it was the last thing
we saw as we went back in, so it needed to be
documented.

Well, I guess this was the first and last.
I just couldn't resist a photo of these
curious vines on the building right by
the entrance to the parking lot.

And then we drove back to Jay. This was such a great day! Even now, a couple weeks later when I'm getting to posting about it, I still am just so happy remembering the awesome day that it was. So glad we got to go explore.