Quebec trip Part II

Quebec City is all about walking, and stairs. We rented an apartment for the week. It was less expensive than a hotel, gave us laundry and dining abilities, and a chance to be right in the heart of the city. Our landlady and her husband were gracious and it was nice to get to actually interact with people and be grateful they were patient in communicating. Sadly no Lutheran church.

This is the view from in front of our apartment in Lower Town Quebec.

In Quebec City, there is Upper Town and Lower Town. You have two choices for how to get from one to the other. The Funiculaire on the left $2.00, or the Breakneck stairs on the right. At the top of these stairs are steep hill and two more flights of stairs. Being there for a week, we did some of both. Knowing that there were chocolate hazelnut crepes to be eaten in Upper Town, a certain amount of rationalization occurred. If I walk, I will have earned the tasty but bad for my waist treat..

When left town for a day trip we went to see Montmorency Falls which are 80 feet higher than Niagara ( of which the Quebecois are VERY proud.) You can take the cable car, and then steps up the rest of the hill to the suspension bridge, or just take the steps. Cable car, on the left, stairs on the right.

There was no way I was walking those stairs, but the falls are really gorgeous and standing on the suspension bridge over them is pretty cool.

Taken from the cable car leaning out the window.

Taken from the middle of the bridge

What I wish I had good pictures of are any of the 70 whales we saw in the Upper Saint Lawrence river. But I am not a professional photographer as you can clearly see. So the best I can do is show you what my digital camera can capture of truly amazing and majestic creatures.

The whales and porpoises and just being on a river that is over a mile wide and cannot be bridged make you marvel at our Creator.

(Wish I had captured the tale splash of the humpback whale)

It's Vacation Time!

We are off to the Adirondacks and Quebec. The person knowing the most French is our 15 year old, so we hope the guidebooks mean it when they say that many people know some Anglais. In the spirit of adventure we have rented an apartment in Vieux-Quebec which I found from the Frommer's travel message boards. We have had great luck with tips from there before. Less pricey than a hotel in July. No torturous B & B eating and talking in the morning for the teenagers. Within walking distance of the Farmers Market and lots of places selling chocolate and crepes and all the things I should eat less of. One friend helpfully shared that if the apartment turns out bad, remember it is only a week. We would add that chocolate and wine solve many issues.