Oct 27 Quebec Quebec

 We have an excursion to cover the highlights of Quebec. It turned out that we traveled much further than I had expected but saw some things that were very historical.

The first stop was the old town of Quebec, located at river level below the bluffs that hold the new town. Here we're looking up at the Hotel Frontenac, a Quebec icon.

Notre-Dame-des-Victoires is a small church located on the site of Champlain's residence when founding the city of Quebec.

Around the corner is a mural depicting Quebec throughout it's history. Chaplain is center bottom.

One way to get from the lower to upper part of the city.

The funicular represents a much more reasonable approach, but we'll stay on the lower level for now.

Shopping street in the lower village

Window shopping

This is really the old town

We drove about 10 miles outside of Quebec for lunch at the Auberge Baker restaurant, and then a drive through houses from hundreds of years ago, still occupied.

 

 

Still far outside the city we visit the Basilique Sainte Anne de Beaupre. Anne was the mother of Mary, grandmother to Jesus.

Impressive bronze panels on the doors

 

 

Second church we've visited with a display of crutches no longer needed by those that have been cured of their afflictions. I don't see any artificial limbs in there. 

 

PJP II prayed before this statue of Mary and child. 

A full size reproduction of the Pieta

 

Modern methods for ancient votive candles 

 

 The original church built in 1676

 

 

A quick stop at Montmorency Falls

In the women's restroom at the falls. Was this a big problem?

Back to the city of Quebec and the Plains of Abraham where Montcalm and Wolfe fought and Britain defeated the French and made Canada part of the empire

Our final stop is the new city and the Hotel Frontenac, overlooking the old city below.  

City Hall (Hotel de Ville)

Hotel Frontenac

The lower city and the river

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Oct 26 Saguenay Quebec

 After a day at sea we pull into Saguenay at the head of a long fjord. Unfortunately, the ship docks about 10 miles from the town itself at a little place called (I think) La Baie. The "big" ship Allura probably can't go further up the fjord. 

First, news on the gustatory front. Instead of the usual offerings from the buffet we had pizza for dinner. After a cheese, onion and ham pizza we tried a dessert pizza, essentially dough with Nutella. It was surprisingly good. There was way too much, but an interesting food choice. I should note that Allura also has a creperie and offers a Nutella crepe. I can confirm that that's a good choice.

I want my money back for this cruise. Halfway up the fjord (a grey, cloudy day today) there is a statue of Notre Dame (Statue de Notre-Dame-du-Saguenay). I ventured out into the cold to take a picture and this is what I got. The statue is currently wrapped up for some sort of restoration/repair. The highlight of the trip unavailable. I want my money back.

Everybody at the terminal at Saguenay was friendly and cheerful. We must have just missed the lumberjack demo.

Saguenay seems like the real rural Canada, with a float plane delivering passengers.

Obligatory sign with big letters and a heart

We did visit the true Canada at this stop -- Tim Horton's. It was Sunday, there was a long line, but the donuts were very good.

Canadians seem very Halloween happy.  

 

 

 

 

Oct 24 Halifax Nova Scotia

 No excursion today so we explore on our own. There's a grocery store about 1.5 miles inland, so let's go there.

On the pier is the World's Largest Fiddle. I'm guessing it plays about 3 octaves below a bass violin.

Not sure what was being portrayed here. But hockey is the national religion in Canada.

Homage to the steel industry that built Halifax. 

Lots of oranges in nature as winter is on the way.

A monument to Merchant Mariners. A lot of WW2 convoys to Europe/Russia departed from Halifax. And a lot of ships were sunk by U-boats, particularly early in the war.

 

 

 

 

Oct 23 Halifax Nova Scotia

 Our excursion today was to Peggy's Cove known for its scenic beauty. It was a beautiful sunny day and it did not disappoint. The drive to the cove was along the coast.

Peggy's Cove Lighthouse  Here we are in late October and the place was still crowded.

This was a "calm" day.

Tough way to earn a living. Dressing in an inflatable lobster costume and offering samples to passers-by. I would assume a free meal comes with the job.

A military helicopter flies by on a "training" mission, passing very close to the lighthouse.

And two minutes later it comes back the other direction. It was loud.

Besides being a Hallmark card, Peggy's Cove is a working town. The few locals who spend the winter lobstering season here are out tending their traps daily.

A monument to fishermen carved into the granite outside the artist's home. The commute to work was easy.