Quebec City: A Charming Embodiment

Quebec City is the most European of any city in North America, they speak French all the time. There is a part of town called Old Quebec which is really like being in France. The architecture is just gorgeous, food, shopping. I’d say Quebec city is the most beautiful city in North America I’ve seen.” (Sebastian Bach”)

We’d reached the end of our sixteen day cruise in late summer and eagerly awaited a relaxing, four day conclusion to our latest vacation in historic Quebec City. Seeing again the majestic towers of the Chateau Frontenac Hotel, as we sailed in along the St. Lawrence Seaway, I quickly re-imagined our youthful frolicking in a winter holiday wonderland during our first trip to Quebec City in the late 1970s. Vivid memories of those exhilarating moments for us remain. In walled section of medieval Vieux-Québec, I recall wandering aimlessly with playful naïveté at the time as we felt true romance in sharing a dripping cheese fondue over a warm fireplace then. I also flashback to admiring images of stately carriages hauled by horse and buggy in bitter cold air. Strong memories also survive of us getting lost in the narrow cobblestone streets with limited direction/distance tools to follow as steep hills provided little challenge to our youthful vigor.

Being now seasoned travelers in our early retirement years, we realized with optimism that our enduring resolve to settle into the present moment of travel would provide a similarly satisfying visit to Quebec City in late summer 2019. In particular, I would thus feel free to set out on my own to seriously photograph historic landmarks around Quebec while my wife could embrace the social company of her Canadian friends. You might then say that our 2019 Quebec visit provided a successful test of the enduring strength of our 40+ years marriage as we mutually respected each others differing sightseeing interests in a non- possessive way Enjoy the uplifting spirit of Quebec City “now” in the following photographs.

On this cruise visit to Quebec City, we cut short our first city walk on a cold and drizzly summer morning.

Yet in spite of such foul weather, spectacular artistry designs captured my photographic attention there.

Facing a steep climb in North America’s oldest walled city, I gazed with wonder at the unfolding panorama of Vieux-Québec.

Booking a four night stay just outside the old city walls at the Hilton Quebec, our 12th floor suite offered gorgeous views of the Quebec City regional skyline.

Taking strenuous walks from the Hilton to and from the old city each day offered us plenty of cardio activity.

Our Canadian friends, Fabienne and Claire accompanied us on a long walking tour along the St. Lawrence River via the historic heights of the Plains Of Abraham.

Descending by steep steps to a shaded board walk below the Hotel Chateau Frontenac came impressively into view.

I’m not known for window shopping in our city travels, but this display caught my interest for sure.

So did the colorful sidewalk displays of late summer flowers.

Admiring the impressive medieval facade of the Chateau Frontenac, we took a curious peak at its lavish interior.

Reentering Old Quebec, we passed  through the old city wall. A sentimental saunter amidst the lively cobblestone streets of Vieux Quebec then provided a romantic twist to our latest visit.

At the Plains Of Abraham Museum, l experienced the sounds/sights of colonial era warfare associated with the British invasion of Quebec City during the French and Indian War.

Outside the museum, a short path led to the restored ramparts of      “ The Citadel”, marking a key site for French defense of the city from British control in 1759.

I noticed how an imaginative redesign of a historic church could now function as a modern library.

As an esteemed center of wellness provision in Quebec City, Le Monastery des Augustines provided a celebratory setting of healthy food options for our last meal in Quebec City.