Trinh's Travel: Quebec City, Quebec

The weather in Québec City was perfect in July! It was considered hot for the locals but perfect for a southern gal like me (around 74 degree F). The best thing about Québec was Old Town Québec. Once you step into Old Québec, it was like stepping across the ocean into Europe. The streets were filled with outside cafes and cobblestone walkways.

Language Police

It is a French colony so French is the primary language but many are bilingual and spoke both English and French. To maintain their culture, Québec has a "language police" to enforce the French language. French must be the primary language in all businesses (i.e. retail, dining, etc) and workers must speak in French first. Language police will disguise themselves as regular civilians and have the ability to give out tickets for failure to use the French language. English can be displayed on signs but must be less prominent than the French language.

Arriving by ferry to Old Quebec City

Ferry

Getting to Old Town Quebec required crossing the St. Laurent River via a ferry or a bridge that's out of the way. The ferry is much more convenient and it operates every 30 minutes. Tickets can be bought at the station before departure.

Citadelle of Quebec

This is a military base constructed after the Americans attacked the then British Quebec. It is still active so you have to sign up for a tour in order to go inside. Two guards stood motionless at the the front gate and were dressed like British soldiers. They seem to be more of a tourist attraction than of guards. Around the fortress, on the cliff is the Promenade des Gouverneurs. It is a wooden boardwalk that allowed for strolling along the cliff to overlook the river.

Citadelle of Quebec

View of Saint Laurent River from outside Chateau Frontenac (Terrasse Dufferin).

Relaxing right outside the Chateau Frontenac overlooking Saint Laurent River.

Port

Along the port there was a market that was similar to a farmer’s market. I found the sweetest strawberries there! It makes sense since Québec is a major producer of strawberries. You can find just about anything fresh there: fresh pasta that you can buy to take home, maple syrups, wines, cheese, and much more!

Quebec has the sweetest strawberries!

Shopping for Spices

Bicycle Ride

There were bicycles that you can rent and I highly recommend this because you can cover more area. There were several bike paths that take you to beautiful parks around the city. Rollerblading was still in style in Québec. I tried to go to Ile d’Orleans but ended up getting lost several times. The people were very nice and stopped to help. It will take about 1 hour to bike from the bike rental in the city to the island. I didn’t make it but it will be a place of must visit when I do come back. Ile d’Orleans is a big park and a lovely place from what I heard from the locals. I ended up biking in a park that was still very beautiful.

Lost again....

Lower Town (Basse-Ville)

The lower town in Québec reminded me of something from an alleyway in London. It was filled with petite shops close together with cobblestone walkways. This was the original neighborhood of the city. You can catch the funiculaire to go up to Upper town where Chateau Frontenac resided. I chose to take the steep stairs up to the Chateau to build up my appetite.

Upper Town (Haute-Ville)

Perched on the cliff overlooking the Saint Laurent River is Upper Town. The iconic structure of Upper town, Chateau Frontenac, was the first thing right off the funiculaire. Here you can find many cathedrals, more shops, and cafes. The Citadelle of Quebec is also in Upper town right next to the castle-like Chateau Frontenac.

Sitting at a restaurant in Youville Place

A church turned into a library.

Street performer outside of Chateau Frontenac

Christmas Store all year long!

Where's Trinh?

Tresor Street

Notre Dame

Shopping even in the rain!

Cannon ball still stuck in the tree from the war back in the days.

Chateau Frontenac

This is a historic structure and can be view from different locations. The Chateau was the main location for several WWII conferences with President Roosevelt. The building now housed the Fairmont Hotel. I got to go on a private tour of the hotel because I knew someone who worked there and it was very much like a museum. Paintings and antiques filled the hallways. The hotel was beautiful but the rooms were very old. It was France in North America!

Passageway at the Chateau to the entrance.

The Pink Room where President Roosevelt held conferences during WWII.

Bar at the Fairmont Hotel in Chateau Frontenac

Gare du Palais

The Gare du Palais was located next to the market. This train station was a bit more peaceful than the ones in Europe with only one gate. It was a very nice and clean station with multiple restaurants and food stands in the area. You can leave your baggage with the agent for $6 a piece before retrieving it 30 minutes before your departure.