Quebec City

Breakfast is included in our accommodation here, but this turns out to be very minimal - basically a breakfast bar and a coffee. No complaints about the coffee, it's very good, but the bar is somewhat insubstancial.

The toilet here is also worthy of a mention. The mechanism is ancient, and consists of a plunger that lifts to release the water. Unfortunately it doesn't seal well when it returns to the closed position, resulting in water endlessly flowing down the pan. I determine that tipping a jugful of water into the cistern solves the problem, but Paula is asking a lot of her guests to work this out for themselves and follow this process.

But it's worth it for the unique way that the toilet works. When flushed, the pan at firsts fills, and as the water flows towards the exit it forms a spinning vortex,a whirlpool, that draws everything down into the depths, never to be seen again. Very dramatic.

After the success of Montreal we have booked ourselves onto a Quebec City walking tour. But booking at the last minute means we can only get the time that no-one else wants - between 12 and 2.30 pm. Our guide is Raymond, a retired biology professor, who is quite passionate about Quebec. He explains the development of the city, the different styles of buildings, the different mix of nationalities that have made their mark on the city, and the pivotal role Quebec has played in the history of North America.

The history of Quebec represented in a single mural. I love the way the scene in the picture blends in with the surrounding building and street

Quebec is low rise, full of interesting streets and buildings

I spot my first chipmunk

Our B&B is the building with the sloping roof, immediately below the imposing Chateau Frontenac 

We are aiming to eat tonight in Le Lapin Saute, who specialise in rabbit. We know that they are fully booked but were told last night to turn up at 6.30 for a good chance to get a seat on their terrace. It's raining, which reduces the number of people out and about, and we only have to wait for about 20 minutes to get seated. Great food

I start a conversation with the woman at the next table. She is a high ranking US politician in town for a conference. She answers the many questions I have about the state of the US. Will Donald Trump go to jail (hopefully), the impact on the recent Wade vs Roe ruling, can the US heal its divisions, healthcare, etc. We in our turn try to explain what's going on with Brexit and Boris Johnson. 

She took great care to avoid appearing in this photo taken by our neighbours at the table on the other side, so I won't identify her here

Previous

Next