What a day!
We had a breakfast at Holiday Inn (free!!) and then drove to the outskirts of Quebec City to check out some waterfalls. Not just any waterfalls, but the Montmorency Falls! Sources on the Internet call them large waterfalls. That is so cute, as they are immense waterfalls! Located just a bit outside of Quebec City they are 292 feet tall, only about 99 feet TALLER than Niagara Falls. There are several ways for anyone to enjoy this magic of nature. We drove up a hill and walked a suspension bridge OVER the falls, and then walked about 487 steps down to the bottom. It was incredible. We could then walk along the river (the Montmorency) and catch the tram back to the top. There were several people fishing at the bottom and, for the truly brave or ? , there was a zip line. The force of the falls crashing into the rocks below, the mist that was then launched up created a double rainbow! Nature is wow. The river flowed just so calmly at the top, very misleading, almost daring you to enter, and then, woop, the edge and down you'd go if you didn't know. Imagine one of those first explorers, checking out the river and discovering those mammoth falls! The tops of the falls were actually a natural lookout for anyone attempting a sneak attack, coming down the St. Lawrence River. Most of everything is written in French, so we have to really look and think about what we are seeing!! Apparently the falls are something else to see in the winter!! The bottom as it crashes up, freezes and then keeps getting taller. The record is 126 feet high back in 1829! While we were walking down those 487 steps a group of school children were walking up. I was thinking of how brave those teachers were to take youngsters to such a place! One little guy was WAY ahead of his group, running up those stairs. There's always one, isn't there!! Teachers, as well as other students couldn't slow him down!
We decided to check out Quebec City for a few hours. When we had just crossed over int the Quebec Province, we stopped for gas and a quick check for a map at the visitor's center. Andrew came back to the truck laughing and smiling as the youngster working at the counter shared a ton of information with him. BUT those circled Ps for Parking came in real handy! Andrew is not only a pro at getting us back in town but at backing in and around to fit in parking spaces! We found a spot near ground zero and enjoyed the leisurely walk around. We found a grand monument commemorating Samuel de Champlain, streets of quaint shops, street musicians and other performers like acrobats and hula hoop dancers (!), lots of constructions projects, grand hotels and restaurants, and lots of people. The architecture is a mix of old, very old,and new.
We stopped for a restroom break and had a water and beer, and ordered Fondue. The menu in French said Fondue and we were like, "Yes, we know what Fondue is!!" We got what amounted to two giant cheese curds!! :) They were beyond delicious and the cheese on the inside was soft and gooey, so all was good.
The alley near this restaurant was featuring Artisans, so we took a walk through. My, how some people are so talented!! Paintings, and jewelry and knitted items, and more paintings, and just fun things. Some that the most unique way of presenting common things. Very lovely!
We wandered into the Basilica Notre Dame Quebec...the church is big and beautiful and you feel you are in France or Italy. Apparently the remains of Samuel de Champlain may be buried here. They really don't know as he was going to be buried at a new chapel but it burned so they really don't know. Highly respected scholars believe he is in or near this basilica! I lit a candle for peace and good health.
We walked down some steps to the "old" part of Quebec City. Narrow streets, more quaint shop, original buildings, it wasn't hard to imagine strolling the streets 400+ years ago. There were two building with giant murals painted on them, depicting who was who and big events.
We stopped at a restaurant featuring a musician singing American songs with a French accent or in French. He was quite good actually! We shared a lemon crepe and Cheryl actually ordered a drink: lemonade. Except when she got it the drink wasn't yellow. It did have two lemon slices on the edge of the glass, but the drink was orange-ish. It didn't taste like orange juice. We haven't quite figured out what it was. It was cool and refreshing as it was our hottest day so far in our trip: 74. Yeah, we know it's hotter at home. :)
The park near where we parked was setting up or tearing down something big. It turns out they are setting up for a BIG music festival to start July 5 and run 11 days. They expect 80,000+ people! The parking attendant said some big acts have played before, including the Stones and the Who. I asked how that many people will find parking, and he answered, "Eh, I take care of my 100 spots and they are on their own!" Funny. But big cities in most countries have a tremendous public transport system and most take advantage of that to get around.
TMI (Too Much Information) moment here: I was wearing my dress/top and it doesn't have pockets. I didn't want to drag my big purse so I just tucked my phone into my upper undergarment. :) I USUALLY try to keep my phone on mute but I had listened to a video earlier and forgotten. Well, I got a text so my dress "ding" as I was chatting with the parking lot attendant. He was an older guy and he just sort of looked around, and then looked at me. I had to explain that, indeed, yes, it was me, as I didn't have pockets. He just laughed.
Our goal for tomorrow is to go visit a library. Yes, but this one straddles the Canada and USA border!! We didn't have too long of a drive, about 2 1/2 hours, but we found a cute campground about 8 minutes from Vermont. When we called to verify they had spaces, she said they had one left. Oh, my! We've really been lucky so far! We explained we have a pickup and sleep in the back. And she asked slowly, "You want the truck for extended camping??" Aw.... no, we only needed it for one night! She laughed and said come on down as the had plenty of those available. And they did. We got to drive the loops and pick out lot 72 which was nice and shady. We made hamburgers for supper and all is good.
Some random thoughts forgotten in prior blogs. Yesterday we actually spent the day hugging the Maine border to get to Quebec!! If you look at a map, Maine is really really up there!! A few hundred miles of the New Brunswick CA 2 "inter-state" which goes right along the border versus through the foreign territory of USA "Up" the long straight side then across the "bumpy" top of Maine. Then into Quebec (our 5th province of the trip so far -- we have now been in total of 9 of the 13) and then along the St. Lawrence river
Also, have you ever thought about what you see and what it could mean? Cheryl loves mysteries and noticed a man smoking outside of the hotel last night. When her and Andrew walked out and got into their truck, he looked around and put out his cigarette and walked towards the hotel; as they drove away, another gentleman at the edge of the parking lot, put out his cigarette as if on cue, and got into his car and followed us out of the parking lot. Hmmm. He didn't follow for long but is there a story there? And later, their room smelled of aftershave or some similar. :)
And, just in case you are wondering, Cheryl's hair is okay. It is much darker than "normal" and has vibrant reddish highlights, which is unusual in and of itself as we picked out a simple medium brown. Yeah, well.
The moon is nearly full, and it is time for bed. It actually isn't super late but it was a late night last night and we did quite a bit of walking today.
We can't wait for tomorrow! Libraries are amazing places. And we will literally walk all the way from from Canada into the 49th state we have now visited over the years.... only 1 left (next summer...that's another story...to be continued)
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