Today we took the opportunity to explore Old Quebec. As part of the services the Hotel provides, is a walking tour of Old Quebec.
The walking tour lasted about 3 hours and covered everything you wanted to know about the city. We had wandered around the night before and so had briefly visited most places already, but we didn’t know their significance or purpose until today.
Our tour began with the gentleman who founded the city of Quebec, Samuel de Champlain. We then followed our guide through the streets of the old city, visiting both the Anglican and Catholic cathedrals. Danielle particularly liked the Catholic Basilica (of course) and was glad we had the opportunity to go inside during the tour because when she went back later that afternoon it was closed.
Our tour guide explained the structures and uses of many of the older buildings around the city and had many good stories as to their uses, both past and present. There are many cobblestone streets in this city, short and long, winding and straight, some with flower boxes decorating their outsides, some without.
We then visited the city boundary wall, which still stands today. Old Quebec is situated inside the boundary walls on top of a hill, and you can see how high the walls stand to protect the city. There are also many cannons dotted around the city (although these have been moved from their original locations) showing how the French-Canadians protected their city during sieges.
Our tour continued on to show us the original locations of parliament buildings, and a beautiful mural done in the late 90s depicting the city of Quebec from beginning to then. Our tour ended with ‘the most beautiful street in Canada’. The tour was very interesting and informative, and gave us a lot of history and information about the city.
Back to the hotel and then swimming (for Chris) and shopping (for Danielle). We then met up again to take the ferry across the river to the other side for a different perspective of the city and the hotel.
Tomorrow we head for the falls.
Until then,
Chris and Dan