Profile
Blog
Photos
Videos
Hello!
I am now thinking that maybe Quebec is my favourite place in Canada... not Banff. Hmm it's a close call... Quebec might not have a shop dedicated to cows, but it does have a shop dedicated to Christmas :-D
Last night I went along to watch the live jazz in Fou Bar ( Crazy bar) the music was really good. I wish I could play the Saxophone but someone wouldn't let me learn as a child (yes I will keep bringing this up!!) The drums were also really impressive... maybe I'll learn to play the drums instead. I'm sure Mum and Paul would love that! It was a really nice little bar. Very narrow and dark with an open fire and random paintings hanging on the stone brick walls. The only thing that bothered me about this place was when I paid for my drink the server actually said to me " the service isn't included in the price" and stuck her hand out!!! I would NEVER do that. But maybe it's different in Canada. Maybe they rely on the tips to make up their wages.
Today has been a very productive day. I got up bright and early and wandered around Quebec. The city is on 2 levels Haute ville and Basse ville. I started in the Old town (upper town) and went to see the hotel castle here (the same company as the one in Banff and Lake Louise) The views, because it is in the upper town, look over the rest of the city. Not as impressive as the views from the one in Banff that looks over mountains and trees :-) but still very pretty. I then had a look at the Basilica Notre Dame which was built for the French Catholics and was rebuilt two or three times after fires and bombings etc... Unlucky church if you ask me! Then I went to see the Holy Trinity church built for the British settlers I think- Not as nice as the Basilica though. It was down this street that I found the Christmas shop!!! Amazing! :-D After this I went for some lunch and in my French mood, treated myself to a delicious crepe :-) Quebec reminds me of old France and how I imagine France used to be before the American/British influence. Some of the streets remind me a lot of Lyon too. They mainly play French or French Canadian music on the radio and in restaurants and bars and only seem to show French/Canadian French programmes on tv - unlike France which plays/shows a lot of American and British stuff.
After lunch I wandered up the the fortress which was built by the English to protect their new colony from the Americans. I walked all the way up to the fortress in the snow and cold only to find they wouldn't let me in without paying $10 for a tour around the military museums up there. I wasn't too fussed about that so carried on my walk through the park next to it, the old battlefields where the English fought the French to claim the land ("New France") and won! Sounds familiar to a part of New Zealand I visited (can't remember the name of the town now)... the English were obviously quite greedy with their colonies! From there I wandered down one of the main streets where all the bars and restaurants are. The buildings are weird and wonderful, with interesting detailed rooftops and colours! I took some photos of the Parliament building but they were setting something up for the Olympics in front of it so couldn't really see it properly.
I then decided I would treat myself to some chocolate and headed towards the chocolate museum only to find it's not really a museum - it's just a chocolate shop with a room covered in information panels on the creation of chocolate! Disappointing! Although you do get to watch them make the chocolate and they sell very tasty hot chocolates (all different kinds) and some delicious chocolate cookies that melt in your mouth... I may go back for more tomorrow :-)
On my museum hunt, I then went to find this museum which serves as a hospital for dolls!!! Well at least that is the description of this museum according to the Lonely Planet. Unfortunately the place was closed so I guess we will never find out what they mean by a doll hospital!
This evening I went to the Old Port Market which I thought was an outside market so I was very excited but it's actually covered. It did have a small Christmas market inside though so I was able to do a abit of Christmas shopping.
I asked at reception what was being set up outside the Parliament building and was told that the Olympic flame was coming through Quebec today so I went down to see and saw the actual real life Olympic flame!! Ok that reads a bit sarcastic but it really was impressive- there was such a good atmosphere and you could really feel the people of Canada getting excited about the Olympics. I'M getting excited about the Olympics!!! They had a small Canadian band playing on stage called the Last Fingers and were handing out little Olympic flags (and bottles of coca cola - that's dinner sorted then!) The Olympic mascots were dancing on stage and then in the audience. And yes... I did get my photo taken with one of the mascots! Haha! Maybe it'll help with my interview for the Olympic job! They ended it with an impressive firework display with flames and glittery fireworks :-) It makes up for me missing Bonfire night back home!
The plan tomorrow is to wander around the lower town and maybe even go to the Aquarium- it's the only way I'll get to see Polar Bears here at this rate! Haha! I was planning on getting the bus to Montreal tomorrow night but have just had a text from Alex ( my French Canadian flatmate in Italy) about meeting for a drink tomorrow evening so looks like I'm staying another night :-)
Hope you're all well
Love,
Elodie
XxX
P.S. In case you're interested, I got a chocolate robin in my advent calendar today!
- comments