June 20 and 21, 2008 . Quebec City and Countryside, Aeroport Camping Park
We have just had the longest day of the year by whichever summer solstice day you choose to follow. We are in Quebec City, Qu?bec, Canada and the darkness happens about 9:30 pm our time. The past two days have had me frustrated by the exclusive use of French language. While I studied French for 4 years in high school ( from 1962 to -1966 ) I have forgotten a bunch. Road signs are not in English nor are any of the public tourist sights translated into English. Despite the fact that we are still in Canada we have not seen many Canadian flags flying, but we have seen the beautiful blue and white fleur de lis flag of Quebec flying all over. Still I feel like we are someplace in France and not in Canada. Quebec is like a little country inside of Canada. That said,?. I am loving this visit.
Yesterday we took the ?city bus tour? that was recommended by our campground host who has been more than friendly to us. He even had the guys drop gravel at our site as the rains flooded and muddied the entrance to our rig. The tour bus picked up Terry , Russ and me in front of our campground yesterday morning for a tour of the city. It was bilingual. Again I was frustrated thinking I should have understood the French part of the trip . I didn?t. I did appreciate the English portion of the tour . This is an old city. It is considered the first French city in North America . Quebec City is celebrating the 400 year anniversary of it?s existence. Signs and decorations all over town say 1608 to 2008. There are special events scheduled to occur through this weekend. At one locale 250,000 people are expected attend the event. Sorry but we are out of here . Since we are not French Canadian, we cannot relate to the Quebec pride in their heritage, but we still appreciate the landscape and the city. Besides we don't like big crowds!
The old City of Quebec reminds me of my visit to Europe long ago in 1970. The old world architecture is exquisite and very European. Despite the fact that this land is called Nouvelle-France, we found the homes and farms on the outskirts to have a Dutch influence. We saw the walled city and listened to the history of the city from within and outside. Once again I wish I had paid more attention to my history classes in school. No matter what details I report to you, I shall recommend a trip to Quebec City, Quebec, Canada. You can figure it out for yourself.
On our second day of touring (and in our own) car with tour maps in hand, we traveled 105 miles. We visited Parc de la Chute-Montmorency and were enthralled with the waterfalls that are 1.5 times the drop of Niagara Falls. We trekked out across the falls on a suspension bridge and while loved the views, I became frustrated by the numerous ?foreign tourists? who did not? keep right.? We still prefer those tourist spots with no visitors! We stopped at Chez Marie to get a sample of fresh bread with fresh maple syrup. Yum I bought some.
Our next stop was the Sainte-Anne-De-Beaupre Shrine, celebrating it?s 350 year anniversary. It stand huge in the landscape as a big building everyone can see from everywhere! There is a religious conference in town and the church was filled with visitors. We snapped a few photos and went on our way to have lunch at St Herbert?s.
We followed the ?tourists things to do? and came upon an art Gallery. We met the woman whose husband is the artist and came from Italy when he was 19 to work on the ceiling of the Shrine of St-Anne-de-Beaupre ceiling. He is an artist who specializes in Mosaics. We saw that ceiling and it is indescribable. If I was made of money I would have purchased one of his mosaics!
We visited the Albert Gilles Copper and Art Museum and I purchased a pair of copper earrings. They made the Copper doors we saw at the Shrine! We asked Hilda (our GPS) to take us home and we headed back to the Aeroport Camping Ground. It is filled up. We are content at home in our rig. Photos to follow
We have a day off from touring things tomorrow as the guys watch their auto races. I may take a tour on my own.
Betty