We were fascinated to find this machine in our hotel room, it makes tea, coffee and hot chocolate. Gone is the electric jug. One of the nice surprises. Another was mouth wash, which I only realised after I added it to my washing, thinking it was liquid soap.
Breakfast downstairs in the restaurant - bagel for a change. Some beautiful paintings of Old Quebec decorate the hotel. Our waitress was complaining she was a little slower than usual this morning as she recovering from a new tattoo - Quebec City set in a maple leaf. Classy!
The Museum for Civilisation is only a few blocks from our hotel. It is a modern building with some beautifully organised exhibitions.
The first one we visited was Secrets Uncovered. So clever. There were a range of artefacts, ancient to modern, in large glass cases. When you stood in front of any item, it would be highlighted and a slide would appear with information, either static or a video.
The second gallery was a permanent exhibition about Peoples of Quebec..Then and Now. It began with 12,000 year old basic tools, moved to French settlement in the sixteenth century, the British conquest in the eighteenth century with helpful documentaries with headphones in each section and then migration, the issues of religion and the Quebec patriot independence movements.
Minor exhibitions were Soft Shells, where an artist, Libby Oliver, dresses friends up in all their wardrobe of clothes and photographs them -yes, there are people under there. The final was on the work of the couturier, Jean-Claude Poitras.
The foyer was very attractive and there were some eye-catching designs on the exterior of the building.
Then we climbed up to the upper section of the town towards the Citadel. We found a walkway, Promenade of the Governors, starting near the impressive Fairmont Hotel. This one is Le Chateau Frontenac. We had good view of the St Lawrence River.
The French started the construction of this fort in 1693 and was completed by the British in 1831 for fear of attack by Americans. It is still a working military barracks. Two guards, in busbies, stand by the 19 th century Dalhousie Gate. The fortifications continue around the old town with several impressive gates for traffic flow.
We found an Italian restaurant for lunch with no French fries or hamburgers in sight. Soup, grilled fish and vegetables. Heaven.
Flowers and greenery everywhere
Relatives?
We climbed down to the port by the ramparts, passing some historic buildings, some dating back to the 1500s.
The harbour with pleasure boats bordered by multiple silos used for the massive storage and export of grain. Canada, like Australia, is one of the main grain providers to the world.
Evening walk after dinner.
Quebec City is such a pretty place. A lovely way to end our trip here.
M&M
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