Tomorrow Marie and I are driving up to Quebec City, a distance of about 500 kms from Ottawa. We'll go through Montreal, drop off some mail for Phil, then head to the property first. We'll stay there Friday night, then head north. For those of you who have never been to Quebec City I suggest you make plans soon to visit. There is not much time left to get in on the major parties of the year as you all know by now that 2008 is the 400th anniversary (founded in 1608, making it the oldest city in Canada). It certainly has one of the most beautiful natural settings in North America, sitting on a cliff above a narrow point in the St. Lawrence River - reminds me of a French provincial town. The only fortified city in North America, Vieux-Québec (Old Québec), is small and dense, yet it is steeped in centuries of history and French tradition, so get ready to do some exploring. When we go Marie and I like to explore the 17th-century and 18th-century buildings and churches, stroll around the ramparts that once protected the city, check out some of the old book and second-hand shops, then try out some of the fabulous cuisine. Forget about any diets you might be on! One feature of the city is a steep and precipitous rock which separates the Upper Town and Lower Town, against which were built the city's more than 25 escaliers (staircases) - these are neat and walking up and down these you'll know if you're in shape or not! Old Quebec City was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1985, shortly after my first visit - I met the HMCS Iroquois there when I was posted from Masset. I think she was there for a refit if I'm not mistaken. Those were the days when the Nordiques were still around...Quebec City is a safe place as well - for what it's worth it reported the lowest crime rate of any large metropolitan area every year from 1991 to 2006, and last year it was the only major city in Canada without a murder. I have been there in the summer three times now and loved it, yet winters can be pretty fun there as well, according to Marie. The annual Winter Carnival allows Quebecois to show their irrepressible joie de vivre as they freeze. Everywhere you see ice sculptures of Bonhomme,
the logo of the winter festivities. They even build a hotel of blocks of ice (The Ice Hotel). It's made of 400 tons of ice and 12,000 tons of snow, but we won't be there to see it as they don't start on it till mid-December. Maybe...next year! I'll let you know how our week went and will have lots of pictures to post. Don't forget Don and Lyn we have a date at Le Cafe du Monde next summer. Till then have a great weekend! Salut! gws
