Bonjour from Connecticut! We arrived at Valley just after 9:30 last night. The drive home was very smooth. Crossing the border back into the U.S. was about as simple as it had been when we left. Everyone simply got off the bus, had our passports scanned, and got back on.
Before we left Quebec yesterday morning we experienced one last leg of our tour of the city. We left the hotel on foot (again in the unrelenting cold) to walk to Quebec's incredible Lower Town. The Lower Town includes both the historic Place Royale, a small square where Samuel de Champlain founded Quebec City in 1608, and Quartier du Petit Champlain, which is the oldest commercial street in North America. The area features quaint narrow streets, many small shoppes and cafes, and the oldest stone church in North America: the Notre Dame des Victoires was built starting in 1688.
We spent about an hour roaming the Lower Town. I was really impressed by how friendly all of the shop owners were. When visiting Quebec City this is a wonderful place to spend time and purchase souvenirs. Many beautiful ice sculptures decorated the Lower Town as well, adding even more to the magical winter ambiance.
Everyone met in front of the Notre Dame des Victoires to walk back up hill to Saint-Jean Street where we ate lunch one final time. Many of us decided to visit the Pillaird once more for a last soup, salad, or sandwich. All too quickly we had to reconvene for our walk to the hotel where we loaded our luggage onto the bus, said goodbye to our wonderful tour guide, and departed for home. Find pictures in the gallery below!
Top left: Le Funiculaire Vieux-Quebec transports people into the Lower Town from above. The first funicular was built in 1879, but it was destroyed by a fire in 1945. The current one was built in 1946.
Top middle: A view of the narrow Quartier du Petit Champlain.
Top right: A Lady and the Tramp ice sculpture sits outside a shoppe along Quartier du Petit Champlain.
Bottom left: Quartier du Petit Champlain seen from the top of the Breakneck Steps which were built in 1635.
Bottom middle: Some of the buildings on Quartier du Petit Champlain have addresses using fractions!
I sincerely hope you have enjoyed reading about our adventures and seeing pictures of the places we went. It has been an honor to write these posts for you. Au revoir!
Before we left Quebec yesterday morning we experienced one last leg of our tour of the city. We left the hotel on foot (again in the unrelenting cold) to walk to Quebec's incredible Lower Town. The Lower Town includes both the historic Place Royale, a small square where Samuel de Champlain founded Quebec City in 1608, and Quartier du Petit Champlain, which is the oldest commercial street in North America. The area features quaint narrow streets, many small shoppes and cafes, and the oldest stone church in North America: the Notre Dame des Victoires was built starting in 1688.
We spent about an hour roaming the Lower Town. I was really impressed by how friendly all of the shop owners were. When visiting Quebec City this is a wonderful place to spend time and purchase souvenirs. Many beautiful ice sculptures decorated the Lower Town as well, adding even more to the magical winter ambiance.
Everyone met in front of the Notre Dame des Victoires to walk back up hill to Saint-Jean Street where we ate lunch one final time. Many of us decided to visit the Pillaird once more for a last soup, salad, or sandwich. All too quickly we had to reconvene for our walk to the hotel where we loaded our luggage onto the bus, said goodbye to our wonderful tour guide, and departed for home. Find pictures in the gallery below!
Top left: Le Funiculaire Vieux-Quebec transports people into the Lower Town from above. The first funicular was built in 1879, but it was destroyed by a fire in 1945. The current one was built in 1946.
Top middle: A view of the narrow Quartier du Petit Champlain.
Top right: A Lady and the Tramp ice sculpture sits outside a shoppe along Quartier du Petit Champlain.
Bottom left: Quartier du Petit Champlain seen from the top of the Breakneck Steps which were built in 1635.
Bottom middle: Some of the buildings on Quartier du Petit Champlain have addresses using fractions!
I sincerely hope you have enjoyed reading about our adventures and seeing pictures of the places we went. It has been an honor to write these posts for you. Au revoir!