QUEBEC CITY

After making a pilgrimage-like stop at Schwartz's, one of Montreal's most famous (Montreal Smoked Meat Sandwich) delis, Kirsten and I, along with my parents and brother, drove to Quebec City. Oh yeah, the cat, Fezzywig, was there too ;-)

Both K and I had been there before, both on school trips, me in grade 6 and K in grade 10. It was funny how different the place looked to me now as an adult. I don't think that as a child I was able to understand the full scope of Old Quebec. This time, it seemed both larger than I recalled and yet smaller at the same time. But it was still every bit as beautiful as I remembered.

We stayed at the Château Bellevue, only a stone throw away from the Château Frontenac right in the heart of Vieux Quebec.


The staff there were excellent. Because we had our cat with us, and the hotel didn't allow pets inside, we had to leave the cat inside the van. This would have been totally fine but it was really hot out. So, to avoid baking the kitty, during the day while we were out wondering the crooked narrow streets, the vallet actually checked in on the cat, moving the van into the shade when he could. We all thought that was pretty great service on their part.

Anyway, we only had a couple days to spend here before making the next leg of the trip to St. John, New Bruswick, but we did our best to see all the major sights and get our fill of Quebequois cuisine.









The photo here on the right is the Quebec City Notre Dame Basilica, and in the corner of the photo you can see a dark sign that reads "Dorsay". There's a quick story to go along with that. The first night we arrived we all went out to dinner. I had my first experience with Canard Confie, a traditional French dish that should probably have stopped my heart where I sat it was so decadently delicious! After dinner it was already late so Mom and Merrill both made their way back to the hotel, while Darryl, K and I decided to walk around a bit more in search of some live music and a bevy. We ended up at the Dorsey. We sat on the patio. It was a beautiful warm night out and we stayed listening to the music for about an hour before turning in. The next morning I woke up and as K and I were about to head out for the day, I realized I didn't have my satchel. We searched the room top to bottom with no luck. I have to say that there are few things that can put as much of a dent in your travel fun as losing your stuff. I had my wallet still, but I knew my iPod, notebook and digital camera were all in that bag.

Needless to say I was a bit put out ;-) Figuring that I had left it at the Dorsay, we went back there that morning. It was just opening when we arrived and the morning staff knew nothing about it... They checked around and said to come back later on when more staff shows up. So, with a sinking feeling in my stomach, we went for breakfast. Around 11am we went back. Still, none of the staff could help. The manager searched the place for me and came up empty-handed. She did suggest though that I come back again later on when the waitress who'd been working the night before would be back. Resigned to the fact that I had likely lost my bag, I waited, hopefully, till 5pm to check back one last time.

Fortunately though, when we returned our waitress was there, and she had dutifully stowed my bag safely in her locker overnight and had it waiting for me. Ahh... Sweet relief... Amazing how quickly my mood lightened. You can lose a lot of things when you're travelling, but next to losing your wallet, for a picture junkie like me, I find pictures to be the worst. Credit cards, ID and so on can be replaced, but pictures can't. Thankfully in this case there is a happy ending ;-)