Canadian Capitals 6/20/19 (Quebec City)





We had a slightly later start today, leaving the hotel at 9am.  We were joined by a local guide that would be with us until we returned to the hotel after lunch.  Portraying the character of Sir Frederick Haldimand, he was born in Switzerland but joined the British military and was appointed Governor of the Province of Quebec in 1778.  Bernard (our guide's real name) wove the history of Quebec into our morning tour of the city.

We have not seen a lot of sunshine on this trip, but today was by far the coldest and wettest day, making the outdoor portions of our tour a little uncomfortable, but that did not deter anyone from joining in.

Passing outside the old walls of Quebec City, our first stop was the Governor's Promenade which overlooks the St. Lawrence River.  Here we learned about the Battle of the Plains of Abraham in 1759 (also known as the Battle of Quebec).  Fought during the French and Indian War, it was a battle between the British and French armies for the City of Quebec.  The battle itself did not last very long, less that 60 minutes by some reports, but resulted in the death of both countries' commanders.  The British would ultimately control Quebec following the withdrawal of French troops who were now without leadership.

Our second stop was the Parliament Building.  It sits just outside the walls of Old Quebec.  The facade has 22 statues of major people from the province's history.  It is currently undergoing renovation.

Our last stop of the morning was the Place Royale.  Considered the birthplace of French America, it holds an important place in both the French and English colonization of the area.  Once the home to Champlain's Habitation, the location is now home to the Notre-Dame-des-Victoires Church.  Dating back to 1687, it is one of the oldest churches in North America.  The church was largely destroyed during the Battle of the Plains of Abraham in 1759, but was restored in 1816.  The square is also  home to many small shops and restaurants.  The church and the square were used in the filming of the movie "Catch Me If You Can."  We also saw the Fresque des Quebecois - a mural covering the entire side of a building; it illustrates a 400 year span of the city's history.

Back on board the bus, we were off to the I'le d'Orleans, an island located across from Quebec in the St. Lawrence River.  The island is where the local strawberry crop is grown; it is just now ready for picking.  We had lunch at Le Grange, a quaint restaurant and winery.  

We then headed to Cidrerie Bilodeau, also located on the island.  Making ciders, both with and without alcohol, they also make apple related products like apple butter.  We saw a short demonstration about the pressing and processing for cider and tasted several ciders ranging from 9-20% alcohol.  These did not really appeal to us.  Heading back to the hotel, we said goodbye to Bernard (Sir Frederick Haldimand).

Dinner tonight was mostly our leftover cheese plate from the night before.  During a break in the rain, we walked to a small local market (Richards) next to the hotel and picked up prosciutto, a fresh baguette and a bottle of wine.  I know, how French of us!

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Pictures 6/20/19



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