From Quebec City to


Continuing our parade of signs en Francais: The Little Pig cafe	No Parking This Side	No Parking This Street	Danger - Falling Ice

At least this sign is easy to figure out in any language.	Loosely translated: Lost our cat - reward for information	Enough signs already....This is the Quebec train station.	The beautiful dome inside the Quebec train station. Check out the stained glass work on the top panel.

The main lobby of the Quebec station.	Some pieces of Americana you just can't get away from - this is our bus parked outside the train station.	At the core of Quebec City is the "Walled City" originally fortified to protect against the British.	That's Jim Frederickson documenting our trip around the Walled City. Our hotel was just inside the wall.

Mo and Elinor Pippin walking just outside the wall. The Chateau Frontenac is visible behind them.	Many cities have examples of freeways that go nowhere. This was a stunning example: The money ran out before the tunnel was built, so now this freeway ramp ends abruptly at the rock wall.	In Quebec City and elsewhere, trees were frequently wrapped for the winter, to protect against nature and de-icing salt.	This is Notre-Dame de Quebec Basilica-Cathedral. Construction of this cathedral began over 350 years ago!

That's real gold leaf on these interior structures.	While visiting the church, an organist came in to practice on the beautiful pipe organ. We stayed and listened for quite a while. I could have stayed for much longer if there weren't so many other sites to see.	More exquisite stained glass.	From the edge of the Walled City, complete with cannon fortifications.

Eglise Notre-Dame-des-Victoires, the oldest stone church in North America (built in 1688).	The interior of Notred-Dame-des-Victoires contains a suspended replica of the vessel "Le Breze" which crossed the Atlantic to New France (Quebec) in 1664.	The streets of Old Quebec are very European. Narrow, no cars, shops lining both sides.	Another 3-D mural in Quebec City.

A toboggan course is built on the hill next to the Chateau Frontenac. It was very busy on this icy cold day.	A view of the Chateau Frontenac from the top of the hill.	A funicular tram connects Lower Town with the upper Walled Town near the Chateau.	Narrow, colorful streets in the Walled City.

Mo in front of Quebec City Hall (Hotel de Ville). It looks a lot like Hoquiam City Hall. Well, OK, there are a few differences.	Tony Mahar celebrated his 72nd birthday during our group dinner at Restaurant Aux Anciens Canadiens in Quebec City.	Departing Quebec City by bus, we stopped at Montmorency Falls. This viewpoint looks directly at the top of the falls.	From the falls viewpoint, looking across the frozen solid St. Lawrence to Ile d'Orleans. The main shipping channel of the St. Lawrence is kept open, but the river on this side of the island freezes over.

There's a bridge across the top of Montmorency Falls. Mo was brave enough to get out on it.	No way I was straying far from solid ground. I hobbled this far, then quickly turned around and headed for cover.	Max Frye constructed this snowman to greet everyone on their return from the viewpoint. While you can't easily tell in this picture, Max assured us it was anatomically correct.	Here is Montmorency Falls from the base viewpoint. You can see the bridge across the top. And piles of ice everywhere at the bottom.

This gives you an idea of how much snow was on the ground at the base of the falls.	This is almost as good as a Rohrschach test. Some members of our group claimed to see "SEX" in this sign on our bus. Being of pure mind and spirit, I didn't notice it until it was pointed out to me.	This is a view of the town of St. Lawrence on Ile d'Orleans.	We parked next to this church to view the town of St. Lawrence. Our bus driver, Richard, found a caretaker who was willing to let us in for a look. I'm not sure how old the church is, but it bears a plaque celebrating 300 years of history in St. Lawrence.

	We stopped for lunch at Auberge Le Canard Huppe on Ile d'Orleans. In addition to tasting awfully good, our meal was presented in artful fashion.	Next stop was at the Basilique Sante-Anne-de-Beaupre. The magnitude of this chapel is hard to imagine. I can only say that it was enormous inside. I'd guess this is four or five stories tall.	Gold leaf artwork adorns the entire ceiling.

	There is a chapel built underneath the main building which houses this immense pipe organ.	Look at the tile work on this dome.	En Francais: Take and eat; this is my body. Take and drink; this is my blood.