Although the day started out cloudy and cool, by mid afternoon the sun has come out and Quebec City started to feel more like July. Our slow start to a carless - not careless - day started with another trek down into the heart of old Quebec. Construction at the ramparts stopped us from going up to the Plains of Abraham and then down the boardwalk to the Chateau Frontenac. Also, the main stage for the Summer Music Festival is set up smack in the centre of the Plains.
Our prime objective was to find a way to the lower town without all the steps. On this route we stopped in at Simons Dept.Store where Dawn worked as a teenager.
Our route eventually took us along the lower ramparts with its guns still pointed out over the St. Lawrence, protecting the city from those nasty English.
We finally comingled with all the other tourists in Lower Town.
As it was once again time to put on the feed bag, we stopped at the Cochon Dingue (Crazy Pig) after also contemplating Lapin Saute (Fried Rabbit). We shared a substantial poutine with all things pig - sausage, bacon and pulled pork. Yum!
Stairs to return to the upper town were still not an option, so a quick trip up the funicular took care of that.
The summit was at the foot of the Chateau Frontenac where an avant grade statue of Alice in Wonderland by Salvidor Dali was on display.
Then it was time to waddle our way back to our hotel for a rest. On the way we found a new restaurant in the place of the Cafe de la Paix that had been on that site and a favourite of the Wilsons for many years.
On this excursion through French Canada, we have noted that compared to previous journeys, just about everybody we encounter will readily speak English to us, even though we always start off in French. It's certainly great for most tourists. For happy hour today, we went about fifty metres up la Grande Allee to the Hotel la Concorde, then up to the roof and their revolving restaurant called Ciel.
In the 90 minute revolution, we got some pretty spectacular views of the city.
For our one revolution, we started off with a Grey Goose martini and finished with a glass of rose Cremant de Bourgoyne. We had some crudités including this dish.
We also got a good look at the roof of our hotel. It's the gray peaked roof on the right.
Also a look at the major concert venue from the back.
What a good choice for cocktails!
Then we returned to Louis Hebert for dinner and shared three appetizers - a mixed salad; foie gras on a bed of cripsy rhubarb; and veal sweetbreads with wild mushrooms. Yes, I did say share. Dawn quite enjoyed the sweetbreads better than the foie gras. She was certainly a good sport and I do applaud her. Then it was back through the throngs to the hotel as the city continued to vibrate. What a fabulous city!!
By the way, the crudités? Cheese curds in olive oil and basil. How Quebecois!
Our prime objective was to find a way to the lower town without all the steps. On this route we stopped in at Simons Dept.Store where Dawn worked as a teenager.
Our route eventually took us along the lower ramparts with its guns still pointed out over the St. Lawrence, protecting the city from those nasty English.
We finally comingled with all the other tourists in Lower Town.
As it was once again time to put on the feed bag, we stopped at the Cochon Dingue (Crazy Pig) after also contemplating Lapin Saute (Fried Rabbit). We shared a substantial poutine with all things pig - sausage, bacon and pulled pork. Yum!
Stairs to return to the upper town were still not an option, so a quick trip up the funicular took care of that.
The summit was at the foot of the Chateau Frontenac where an avant grade statue of Alice in Wonderland by Salvidor Dali was on display.
Then it was time to waddle our way back to our hotel for a rest. On the way we found a new restaurant in the place of the Cafe de la Paix that had been on that site and a favourite of the Wilsons for many years.
On this excursion through French Canada, we have noted that compared to previous journeys, just about everybody we encounter will readily speak English to us, even though we always start off in French. It's certainly great for most tourists. For happy hour today, we went about fifty metres up la Grande Allee to the Hotel la Concorde, then up to the roof and their revolving restaurant called Ciel.
In the 90 minute revolution, we got some pretty spectacular views of the city.
For our one revolution, we started off with a Grey Goose martini and finished with a glass of rose Cremant de Bourgoyne. We had some crudités including this dish.
We also got a good look at the roof of our hotel. It's the gray peaked roof on the right.
Also a look at the major concert venue from the back.
What a good choice for cocktails!
Then we returned to Louis Hebert for dinner and shared three appetizers - a mixed salad; foie gras on a bed of cripsy rhubarb; and veal sweetbreads with wild mushrooms. Yes, I did say share. Dawn quite enjoyed the sweetbreads better than the foie gras. She was certainly a good sport and I do applaud her. Then it was back through the throngs to the hotel as the city continued to vibrate. What a fabulous city!!
By the way, the crudités? Cheese curds in olive oil and basil. How Quebecois!
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