Bonjour!
We have conquered Old Quebec City in single day.
The sights anyway...the French language, however, is perhaps getting the best of us as it is prevalent in these parts and we are not. Thank you for your patience, Canada, we are trying.
Founded in 1608 by Samuel de Champlain, The Father of New France, Old Quebec is rich in history and bistros alike.
It is the only North American city to have preserved its ramparts and together with the bastions, gates, canons, and other defensive works that still surround the colonial city, it very much feels like we’re back in Europe.
We began the day with breakfast fuel at the popular La Buche and proceeded to walk down hundreds of stairs to explore The Lower Town.
Zinc roof shingles, narrow and crowded cobblestone streets, double paned wooden windows, great old signage, and more treacherous staircases encompassed the area.
What a beautiful place!
We busted out the free hotel map of the city a couple times, but had more luck just getting lost. (We unfolded the map on the street only, never in a restaurant...this is a hard rule.)
Come lunchtime, we found ourselves at Maison Livernois where I outdid the table again with my lunch order.
We’d been in Canada for over 24 hours and it was high time to try poutine, which, they say emerged in Quebec in the late 1950’s, though its original origins are unknown.
Alas, poutine is to Canada as cheesy fries are to The US.
Salade? Non, merci.
I opted for the Poutine Au Canard which had the classic base layer of French fries with applewood spices, cheddar cheese curds and peppercorn gravy, two crispy duck wings and a curved pile of pulled confit duck, all topped with scallions.
Heaven on a plate. Better than the pizza. I hate myself.
After lunch, these guys made me walk up a really big hill because that’s what food-jealousy does to people...or because that's where the Citadel is located.
We made it to the top just in time to catch the changing of the guard. Very cool!
Dinner, wine, a hairy-hobo-pole-dancing street show, and more wine...and that was the day.
A satisfying, full day, in every way.
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