Quebec City, Quebec to Montreal, Quebec

We are in the land of bonjour, bienvenue and au revoir, but this time we haven't left the continent. Old Quebec City looks just as if a cookie cutter piece has been dislodged from the side streets of Paris and set down along the St Lawrence River. This is the only walled city in the US and Canada.

We walk the Dufferin Terrace lined with cannons left over from the days when protection was critical. The terrace fronts the St Lawerence, above the Old Port. The Chateau Frontenac, a sister hotel to the Banff Springs Hotel, was built by the Canadian Pacific Railway in 1893. It is an imposing chateau rising above the walkway like an enormous castle complete with turrets and a slanted copper roof, gone green. The narrow streets are populated by horse-drawn carriages, or caleches, offering journeys through the venerable city.

A funiculaire which has been in operation for 130 years takes us down to the Old Port. The track is 64 meters in length, dropping down 59 meters. Here we find old-world cobbled streets and the Place Royale, the oldest French settlement in North America.

The Citadelle of Quebec was built in 1820 to secure the area against the Americans. It was used in more modern times as a meeting place for Churchill and FDR during the second world war. It is still in use as a military installation by the Canadian armed forces. To enter the fortress we travel a narrow walled drive that we cannot move into until the light turns green, as it is the only path in and out and is one car at a time, one way at a time.

Downtown Montreal is sleek, clean and modern; but we head into the old city near the quais where we enjoy the Basilica of Notre Dame and the Rue Saint Paul and savor a delicious Mother's Day dinner, (they have lobster in Montreal).

As we take the exit to our hotel, a rusty red fox scoots in front of the car reminding us that we are not far from the wilds of Canada.

Happy Mother's Day to all my 'Mom' friends and family; especially to the mother's of the singularly exceptional Sean, Anna, and Sophia.

Running Odometer: 7259
States: 0 Total:  24
Countries:  2