We have woken up in our ‘Les Lofts’ apartment in the centre of Quebec City; trendy fairfaced brick walls snd oversized panelled doors, arched windows and vintage lights give it the feel of an old factory. We are on the third floor of a beautiful old 1800s building in the centre of Quebec City, the last time we were here was 8 years ago on my 49th birthday in 2013.
We have some very vague memories of wandering around the city and visiting shops selling bear, mousse and Christmas decorative items.
As we walk into the centre we get flashbacks to the places we visited last time, the bar on the corner, the coffee shop with the strong coffee, the restaurant with a 5 course dinner, the massive Colditz like chateau Hotel and the beautiful stone squares and lanes.
Quebec City is a gem, a natural wonder and the jewel of all Csnadisn cities. No skyscrapers no smell of marijuana, just an elegance and history that makes it feel genuine and authentic. What a fantastic place to end our road trip and holiday.
It is Tuesday and the shops and restaurants are open, the frustration of being in Canada on a Sunday and Monday when in true Roman Catholic style a large proportion of shops and restaurants are closed. You can walk around for hours trying to find somewhere to eat with the added frustration that when you find it, there will likely be a covid queue as here in Cansda you cannot eat out without a vaccination certificate which must be checked at the door.
The Brocante and Antique shops selling their bone China and wooden chests, the souvenir shops with their tshirts, thimbles and bears, the walking tours telling stories of its founder Samuel de Champlain settling the city in 1608 making it the oldest European city in North America.
And finally Poutine, the dish of French fries and cheese curds smothered in brown gravy originating in Quebec around the 1950s. Not fine dining and certainly there is no elegant way to serve it, however it is one of the defining flavours of Canada.
Mark, Quebec City, Quebec, Canada, 19 October 2021
