Monday, 10/7/2013, we went to an early breakfast and down to our tour. We toured Quebec and the surrounding country side. The tour started, a couple of blocks from the ship, at Cap Diamant (Cape Diamond), named by a Frenchman that carried the quarts back to France. He thought he’d be very rich; he had a lot of quarts. We walked around the area, the original sight of Quebec City (lower town). The area is very well restored, the Palace Royale Square and old town. They have a huge mural depicting the history of the area, a little reminder that they are French. They also paint the freeway supports, graffiti. The city provides scaffolding so they can paint all the way up. We went around the walled city and saw the sight where the British found the French, looking the wrong way. Later the British were attacked by Benedict Arnold, on December the 31, and the cold and snow defeated them. They built fortifications to defend themselves from the Americans that never returned. The views from up here are spectacular. We stopped on top where the vernacular from down below ends. Towering above everything is the Chateau Frontenac hotel, built by the Canadian Pacific Railway and Dufferin Frontenac in 1893. The upper city is in the old walled city, the only remaining walled city in North America, a World Heritage Site. We motored down the hill and out into the country side, guided by Freeway signs in French. We crossed the North fork of the St. Lawrence River on a big two lane suspension bridge and toured lie d’Orleans. It’s an island in the middle of the river, rich farmland, and the source of the best strawberries in the world. The fall colors are in full spender everywhere. We got many stories about the things that happen when the river freezes over, we took the bridge back. We continued along the river past two beautiful water fall to Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupre’. Saint-Anne-de-Beaupre’ shrine started as a small parish church, the sight of the first miracle healing. It rivals the best shrines and cathedrals in Europe; all because of the miraculous heals that took place here. The hill side has large brass statues, the way of the cross, and steps pilgrims climb on their knees, praying at every step. We stopped at a little French restaurant near the river on the way back. The food was great and the setting was divine. After lunch we went back to the biggest of the water falls, Montmorency Falls. The fall is 272 feet high and the sight of the first hydroelectric plant, 80 feet taller than Niagara Falls and the plant is still there. It has been a great and beautiful day, in French Quebec. We returned to the ship, had dinner and a warm rest in the thermal spa. Tuesday, 10/8/2013, we were at sea and slept in, Barbara wasn’t feeling well. I ran food and drink in to her and went to breakfast very late. Barbara went to the acupuncturist for her cold, and I went for a walk so the Stuart could make up the cabin. When we returned we spent a little time resting and went to a late lunch, we sat with some Canadians from Niagara Falls. It’s a lot of fun to sit and talk to people from all over the world. We returned to the cabin, Barbara rested her pin cushion body and I sat out on the deck. The St. Lawrence River is very wide here, and a whale surfaced for a blow just below me. The time came for our next massage, hot stones. Barbara complained about the snoring but she still had to pay the full price, less the 30% off. We recovered in the thermal spa. Its formal night, but we were running late and went smart casual. It’s also welcome aboard party and the Champaign fountain. The assistant cruse director, in a beautiful long gown, visited with us and the lady in red flirted with me. Life is still good, we had dinner and readied for tomorrow.
Posted on: Wed, 09 Oct 2013 00:21:04 +0000
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