Wednesday, March 11, 2015
My Alphabe-Thursday (5th), the letter "Q" — Some places I've be,en starting with "Q"
"Q" is for some places, countries and cities starting with the letter "Q" where I have traveled:
- Countries: I've visited with none beginning with "Q"
- States: (I've been to all 50) None begin with a "Q"
- Large Cities over 100,000 population I've liked:
United States: (larger to smaller) None, U.S. or Foreign
So, I'll pick Quebec City, Quebec Province, Canada.
In 2010 we spent a week plus another weekend, dividing our time between Montreal and Quebec City. We flew into Quebec City from Houston (Texas), rented a car and promptly drove up to our B&B (Bed and Breakfast).
The first of two B&B's we had for three days, within the old city walls. The second was in the suburbs on a quite little street.
Quebec City has the old walled city to the north and a modern older city outside the wall to the south.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w9YPuggrbm0
[click on each of the smaller pictures when the video stops
to view the nice mascot goat, the horses, and the presentation]
On our last day we drove to Île d'Orléans which is northeast of Quebec City. Although very touristy, it is still quite agricultural oriented. The following day we drove to Montreal for a four night retreat at a resort.
- Jenny is now on her tenth series of Alphabe Thursday. With 52 weeks in a year and 26 letters in the alphabet she is now in her fifth year. I am linked to her blog, GO HERE for more participants and their offerings.
- Countries: I've visited with none beginning with "Q"
- States: (I've been to all 50) None begin with a "Q"
- Large Cities over 100,000 population I've liked:
United States: (larger to smaller) None, U.S. or Foreign
So, I'll pick Quebec City, Quebec Province, Canada.
In 2010 we spent a week plus another weekend, dividing our time between Montreal and Quebec City. We flew into Quebec City from Houston (Texas), rented a car and promptly drove up to our B&B (Bed and Breakfast).
The first of two B&B's we had for three days, within the old city walls. The second was in the suburbs on a quite little street.
Views from our Quebec City, Canada, B&B bedroom (balcony)
We got in just after noon. We got our rental car, a 2010 Nissan Sentra with only 4812 Km on the speedo, and headed for our first night's stay.
We drove right through to our place. Afternoon traffic into the old city was mean. We parked right in front of the B&B Chez Marie-Claire on 62 rue Ste-Ursule Québec, Qc G1R 4E6. Right away we had the impression of being in a nice but old French city.
I rang the doorbell and this young lady from Belgium met us. She carried our two heaviest suitcases (the other two were carry-ons) up the two flights of stairs. On the first floor we passed the opened parlor room complete with piano. We didn't have time to relax here at all.
We drove right through to our place. Afternoon traffic into the old city was mean. We parked right in front of the B&B Chez Marie-Claire on 62 rue Ste-Ursule Québec, Qc G1R 4E6. Right away we had the impression of being in a nice but old French city.
I rang the doorbell and this young lady from Belgium met us. She carried our two heaviest suitcases (the other two were carry-ons) up the two flights of stairs. On the first floor we passed the opened parlor room complete with piano. We didn't have time to relax here at all.
Quebec City has the old walled city to the north and a modern older city outside the wall to the south.
And then there is a modern newer city further outside that comes with urban and suburban sprawl. Except for the signs being in French (and a sprinkling of English for the tourists) you would think you were in most any modern U.S. city.
The picture above is also taken from our balcony. To the right you can see it goes down abruptly to St. Jean (pronounced St. John) Street and beyond. We walked up that hill later, around midnight. There was also a funicular ride but we would take another day.
Since we hadn't eaten except for Diet Cokes, cookies, and pretzels on the planes we opted for an early supper.
This was at the Crazy Pig Restaurant (Le Cochon Dingue) in the lower level of the old city, down near the harbor. There was a half hour wait for an outside table so we took a 'no wait' table inside.
I was tempted to have mussels (moules) here as they looked very tempting. But Mrs. Jim has learned to cook these very well at home. Why here then?
Both of us ended up with a half rack of ribs. They were roasted in some sort of maple sugary sauce and were delicious. Each of had six ribs on our serving and then other vegetables. We were too full for desert.
The French fried sweet potato slices were wonderful and the salad (on the plate??) was fine too. Click on the picture to make it larger and again or on the little dingy bat in the lower left, whichever you have, to make it extra large.
We walked a lot and later that evening we went over to the harbor to see a 'Canadian history' movie that was free. The movie was projected onto a row of silos across the water. The animation for the movie was just wonderful. I am sorry but somehow I forgot to take pictures.
We didn't have desert and no, we still didn't have room later for any of the delicious looking gelato.
We walked a lot that evening and I do have a few pictures for a later date. Our walk home was long, especially since we had to climb the hill that they call a 'mountain.'
Below are a couple of not-so-good pictures of the parlor in our B&B which we didn't didn't have time to use.
.
.
.
Since we hadn't eaten except for Diet Cokes, cookies, and pretzels on the planes we opted for an early supper.This was at the Crazy Pig Restaurant (Le Cochon Dingue) in the lower level of the old city, down near the harbor. There was a half hour wait for an outside table so we took a 'no wait' table inside.
I was tempted to have mussels (moules) here as they looked very tempting. But Mrs. Jim has learned to cook these very well at home. Why here then?
Both of us ended up with a half rack of ribs. They were roasted in some sort of maple sugary sauce and were delicious. Each of had six ribs on our serving and then other vegetables. We were too full for desert.The French fried sweet potato slices were wonderful and the salad (on the plate??) was fine too. Click on the picture to make it larger and again or on the little dingy bat in the lower left, whichever you have, to make it extra large.
We walked a lot and later that evening we went over to the harbor to see a 'Canadian history' movie that was free. The movie was projected onto a row of silos across the water. The animation for the movie was just wonderful. I am sorry but somehow I forgot to take pictures.
We didn't have desert and no, we still didn't have room later for any of the delicious looking gelato.We walked a lot that evening and I do have a few pictures for a later date. Our walk home was long, especially since we had to climb the hill that they call a 'mountain.'
Below are a couple of not-so-good pictures of the parlor in our B&B which we didn't didn't have time to use.
.
.
.
From the left, the funicular, typical down-below street walk near our restaurant (beneath the boutique Louis Jolliet souvenirs sign is the funicular entrance), and on the right, halfway down on top of the old city wall where they had built a walkway. Below and beyond the walkway is the old wall and remnants from the old, old, city.
.
The funicular runs from the bottom of the bluff, although you can go lower still, to the top of the wall.
The next day we took a guided walking tour from the Information Center people that took about three hours. After that then, we had a late lunch at a quaint little place halfway between downtown and our B&B. We each ate local cooking type dishes but I can't remember what.
The rest of the afternoon we walked around the town and did some nightlife things after dark. The next morning we watch the changing of the guard at the Guard-Citadelle which was at the top of the hill (their little mountain). It was quite impressive, we especially liked the role of the mascot goat named “Batisse” (link telling all about the daily ceremony). Batisse was given by Queen Victoria in 1883.
The next day we took a guided walking tour from the Information Center people that took about three hours. After that then, we had a late lunch at a quaint little place halfway between downtown and our B&B. We each ate local cooking type dishes but I can't remember what.
The rest of the afternoon we walked around the town and did some nightlife things after dark. The next morning we watch the changing of the guard at the Guard-Citadelle which was at the top of the hill (their little mountain). It was quite impressive, we especially liked the role of the mascot goat named “Batisse” (link telling all about the daily ceremony). Batisse was given by Queen Victoria in 1883.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w9YPuggrbm0
[click on each of the smaller pictures when the video stops
to view the nice mascot goat, the horses, and the presentation]
On our last day we drove to Île d'Orléans which is northeast of Quebec City. Although very touristy, it is still quite agricultural oriented. The following day we drove to Montreal for a four night retreat at a resort.
[click on picture for a larger view-click again for a larger still picture]
It took Hillary C two years to delete all her 20,000 personal e-mails. A lot
more than that of mine (95,140 unanswered alone in my Yahoo, right now it
is 96,152, I have no idea how many total records.), she might never finish.
- Jenny is now on her tenth series of Alphabe Thursday. With 52 weeks in a year and 26 letters in the alphabet she is now in her fifth year. I am linked to her blog, GO HERE for more participants and their offerings.
Labels: Alphabe-Thursday [5th], Jim Does, Jim's Life, Travel 2
