2010-11-03

Quebec City

Alley cat

I had the opportunity to spend a few days in beautiful old Quebec City last week. It was typical fall weather - a bit of wind, a bit of rain, and a bit of sun. Here are some images from my wanders. (Mind the post, it's a long one!)

I came across the above alley as I walked along the city walls heading towards the Port. The light that was bouncing around made me wish I was a people shooter. It was divine. Instead, a furry little ruffian helped me out. ;-)

Sous-le-fort

A view taken in Lower Town. You can just barely see the Fleuve Saint-Laurent, or Saint Lawrence River, in the background.

View rue du Fort

rue Sainte-Anne

Two views taken, one looking down rue du Fort (first) and then down rue Ste-Anne (second).

Chateau Frontenac archSpider and web

The photo on the left is part of the decorative ceiling of the portico leading into the Chateau Frontenac.

rue Sainte-Anne leaves

Tower of Notre-damerue du Trésor artwork

The tower of Notre-Dame de Quebec on the left, artwork on display at the entrance to rue du Trésor.

Chateau Frontenac from lower town

A view of Chateau Frontenac from Lower Town.

JesterChateau Frontenac wall covering

A close-up of the jester, a bronze sculpture by Nicole Taillon on the left, and wall-covering from the Chateau on the right.

rue du Fort grafNumber 47

I spotted the creature graf on the Walk/Yield sign (left image) on a number of signs throughout the city.

rue du Petit-Champlain

rue du Petit-Champlain

Two views of the purported oldest street in North America, rue du Petit-Champlain, in Lower Town.

Cochon restaurant nameplateCochon restaurant menu

Cochon restaurant

Lights on lower town

Wrought ironMonument to the Faith

On the right, the Monument to the Faith fountain in front of the Chateau.

Statue of ChamplainLower town stone building

The Father of New France himself, Samuel de Champlain on the left. (The pedestal is made from stone also used in the Arc de Triomphe and Sacré-Coeur Basilica in Paris.)

rue du Trésor

Another view of the artisans and their work along rue du Trésor.

Tree berriesFuniculaire

The Funiculaire, on the right, taking people from Upper to Lower Town etc.

Lower town wall art

Trompe l'oeil mural at Place-Royale, above and below on left.

Lower town wall artTree berries

Lower town alley

Another lovely street in Lower Town.

Lower town bird

rue du Petit-Champlain

Lower town cobblestone

Cobblestones.

French v English

The above chess set gave me a chuckle: Montcalm vs Wolfe.

rue du Petit-Champlain

Chateau FrontenacChateau Frontenac Saint-André at night

rue Saint-Louis at night

rue Saint-Louis bokeh

Epicerie Richard at night

Sky at nightChateau Frontenac window at night

14 comments:

  1. What an amazing tour.

    I still love the cat/street photo the best (as does Jim) but both of us are almost as crazy for the two shots of the rue du Petit-Champlain.

    I see the street is now a walkway but when I was a kid and we visited Quebec (in 1957) we drove on it. I still remember being really nervous because it was so "skinny" and the car seemed too big for it.

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  2. Gorgeous photos! We visited Québec City for our honeymoon. We figured it was the next best thing to seeing France itself. :) I just love all the cobbled streets, old architecture and colourful buildings. ~C

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  3. oooh! beeyooteeful. I went to Quebec about 10 years ago and loved it. We stayed at the Chateau Frontenac. The whole trip was magical.

    I want to go back!

    I can't pick my favorite pic, I love them all.

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  4. Andi, I can't imagine driving down that wee road! :D The cat was my fav too ... and, I got close enough to get a curmudgeonly shot w/ the 105mm. He was standing in for Noods. Ha!

    Caitlin, oh yes! A perfect spot for honeymooning. We went for 5 year anniversary way back when. :-) And living here in Ottawa, it's not too terrible a drive to get there.

    maryb, that's where I stayed this time. I actually got stuck in an elevator! Had to ring the emergency alarm, and use the phone to call the front desk to let them know. They sent a doorman who yelled down through the floors to tell us what to do to shut down the elevator and sort of a reboot I guess.

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  5. Gorgeous captures! What a beautiful city ~ though I have never been there, your photos make me want to visit in the rain! Beautiful images.

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  6. Wonderful set of images Candis and looks like you had a good couple of days away ;-)

    I love chess sets and that one would have really grabbed my attention, would have a hard time passing by ;-)

    Will look at the images more closely when I get home, still on a business trip and the internet is slow and I'm on the run here.

    Take care!

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  7. Thank you Lori! I have to admit that being there at this time of year, with rain and all, was really cozy. The lights sparkled in almost every window and people were wearing jaunty hats and warm wool, and it all added great character. I've never been there with snow, but I imagine it adds great character as well. :-)

    Hi Scott, lol yep I got a great chuckle from that. I hope the trip is going well! I think I heard them say on the news that we may be getting more snow here ... brrrr.

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  8. What a beautiful city. You present it so well. My aunt, who is 20 years older than I am went there for her honeymoon. They stayed at the Hotel Frontenac. So that would have been 63 or 64 years go.

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  9. WOW Oh WOW!!! These are gorgeous!!! You make me want to visit Quebec!!!

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  10. I LOVED this virtual tour with you. Never been there and appreciate the pics.

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  11. Oh, thank you SO MUCH for this wonderful tour! You have truly captured the beauty and magic of the city!

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  12. Hi Candis, I came back to enjoy these photos again and was surprised that the comment I THOUGHT I left weeks ago was not here. I'm so sorry. At any rate, this is a brilliant tour, just wonderful travel photography, beautiful images and interesting details. Love, love, love it! I could look at your photos all day long. Thank you also for your sweet comments, they really made my day. xo – g

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  13. Okay, that's IT! I'm planning a trip there, soon. I'm not kidding. I visited Old Quebec City once in the early '80's for an overnight stay (omygawd, has it really been that long...?) and loved it then. Have wanted to go back and spend more time, ever since. This pushed me over the edge.

    So nice to visit. I'll be back!

    Adieu,
    Carolynn

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  14. hello et bonjour candissabean

    i have emailed you earlier but thought i would drop a line here too:)
    i fell in love with your quebec city photos! looking forward to seeing more of your photos here and flickr!

    you must have a very nice 'eyes' to take such a lovely photos that i was deeply moved:)

    a bientot!

    riko

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