Read more about the article The Citadel – Quebec City

The Citadel – Quebec City

We were in for a big treat while in Quebec. The changing of the guard occurs at the Citadel at 10:00 am beginning June 24 to Labour Day (note the Canadian spelling). We were there on the very first day. We arrived a few minutes before 9 am to catch the first tour.

It was outside and we walked past the parade grounds. Our guide told us the history of the fort. At one point, we stopped in front of a building that was considered bomb proof. How? Inside the walls were rounded including the ceiling, but on the outside it looked like a regular rectangular shaped building. Inside were historical displays. (more…)

Read more about the article Quebec City – Musee de la Civilisation
Interior of Musee de la Civilisation

Quebec City – Musee de la Civilisation

After touring the lower city, we walked over to the Musee de la Civilisation. The modern type building was built in 1988. Inside is four floors of exhibits. In the lobby is a cutout of a wooden boat that was found when they were building the museum. The large atrium has skylight and stairs flank both sides to the top floors and to the basement below.

We started with the People of Quebec: Then and Now a permanent exhibit which provides an excellent overview into the city. I believe we would be lost without it. It explained the tension between Quebecians and Canadians and how they have resolved their differences over the past decades.

Next, we toured Uprising 25 – 25 terrorist moments after 9/11. It was a temporary exhibit and I lost interest quickly. Instead, I went upstairs to Sharing the Meal – about Canadian food and looked at Nanotech – the invisible revolution. It was a bit over my head, but I found it fascinating that things can be so small. (more…)

Read more about the article Quebec City – Walking Tour of the Upper and Lower City
Chateau Frontenac Hotel on the Dufferin Terrasse

Quebec City – Walking Tour of the Upper and Lower City

We started our morning by walking La Terrasse Dufferin (Dufferin Terrace) from the Chateau Frontenac to the Citadel. The board-walked area reminded me a little of 1890’s Hot Springs, Arkansas. The wide terrace, popular for summertime performances, was built in 1879 by none other than Lord Dufferin. A  funicular transports visitors to the Lower City for a small fee. At the end of the boardwalk is La Promenade des Gouverneurs (Governor’s Promenade).

La Terrasse Dufferin offers beautiful (and free) views of the Lower Town and the St. Lawrence River

We climbed (and climbed and climbed) 300 stairs to the Citadel. Since our Citadel tour was the next morning, we continued our walk around the high gate into the Plains D’Abraham. This preserved area of large grassy fields is where the battle of Quebec occurred in 1759. Today, workers were setting up the stage for the upcoming big St. Jean Baptiste Celebration. (more…)

Read more about the article Quebec City at Night
The Chateau Frontenac Hotel

Quebec City at Night

We arrived! Our day had gone incredibly smooth: we caught an earlier flight, got upgraded to a minivan at the rental car counter and now at the Chateau Bellevue Hotel, we got upgraded to a king room/suite with complementary breakfast. We were one block from the Chateau Frontenac Hotel, the iconic grand hotel in the region. Much like the Empress Hotel in Victoria, BC, I read that it is the most photographed hotel in Canada. That was our first stop.

My recollections of Quebec City centered on this hotel back in 1984. We had stayed in Montreal 1-2 days and drove through Quebec City. I remember we parked at the Chateau Frontenac, walked through the lobby and walked around the town. I remember lots of stone structures and hills. I knew I wanted to come back here and spend more time. It seems we were getting ready to leave Quebec City and my father had to put something in the trunk of the rental car. In the process he dropped the keys inside and shut the trunk. This was before the buttons in the interior of the car that pop the trunk. There were no fold down seats to access the trunk either. We were stuck. Since the car had been rented in Montreal, there was not readily accessible second set of keys. After talking to the rental car agency via pay phones in the hotel, the solution was simple. Call a locksmith. We had to wait and it seemed that the entire process took several hours.dsc_0036 (more…)