La Ville de Québec was founded in 1608. It recently celebrated 400 years of existence and resistance. This walled city, one of the oldest European settlements in North America has remained a symbol and a beacon for French Canada. The Château Frontenac is an imposing hotel within the old city overlooking the Saint Laurence river, la Citadelle and the famous plains of Abraham where the British army lead by General Wolfe fought French General Montcalm (neither one lived to tell about it). The Château, ‘the castle’, was inaugurated in 1893 as another stop point along the Canadian Pacific railway.
As I shop at Simons along rue Saint Jean, under a constant fall of snowflakes, I remember meeting 'Bonhomme' during my first and only winter Carnival in 2004 at -35 degrees (http://www.carnaval.qc.ca/2010/fr) . 'Le Carnaval' is a freezing excuse to visit Quebec in the winter time.
I love this city for its preserved history, for its surprising jewels, for the randomness of its curvy streets. It's got style, it tells stories. One can easily entertain in ghost tales, war stories, and narrations of heroes and princesses along with political disagreements, younger revolutions and the contemporary evolution of the French language. The past smoothly meets the present while the youngsters sunbathe on the edges of the fortified city walls and the horse carriages tour visitors right behind an electric bus. In every season, this UNESCO World Heritage site is worth a visit.
Tip of the day: I recommend the “3 Quick & Easy Walking Tours of Old Quebec” guide. Each of the three tours starts at the Samuel de Champlain monument. You can request the guide at the Maison Historique James Thompson (47, Rue St. Ursule). Greg, the owner, is very nice!
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Sunday, January 3, 2010
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