Baie-Saint-Paul

Baie-Saint-Paul is about an hour outside of Québec City and an easy drive. You do need to watch out for the moose though. There are signs warning of moose crossings in the next 2 km followed by another sign warning of moose crossings in the next 2 km. Then they get serious with a sign warning of dangerous moose crossings in the next 4 km. They even have high fences along the roadway trying to stop the moose from entering the right-of-way. You're supposed to call 511 if you see a moose on the roadway.

The main street of Baie-Saint-Paul is a shopper's paradise full of artists' shops. There are enough restaurants and ice cream shops to keep the shoppers nourished.

We had lunch on the porch of Le Café des Artistes. The mushroom soup included in their lunch special was wonderful.

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Cannonball

As you walk along Rue Saint Louis heading from Rue d'Auteuil toward Château Frontenac you'll pass a small cul-de-sac known as Rue du Corps de Garde. In the tiny opening of this cul-de-sac stands a huge elm tree. Entwined in its roots is what looks like a cannonball.

The story as told by the Québec newspaper is that this is actually an ancient bomb. It was probably fired into Québec by the British in 1759. It didn't explode and was later used in the early 1900s to prevent wagons turning into the cul-de-sac from striking one of the buildings.

An elm tree sprouted in the cul-de-sac and eventually spread its roots around the bomb.

Only in Québec.

La Citadelle de Québec

Since we had been to The Citadelle previously I was looking for something different to do there. I found it.

When I was researching what we could do differently in The Citadelle I came upon the Grands Feux Loto-Québec (fireworks). The Governor General of Canada has a residence in The Citadelle and would invite 100 people to watch the fireworks from his terrace. I submitted a request and we were accepted. We got a parking pass that let us park inside The Citadelle and pretty much had free run of the new part of the residence. We seemed to be the only ones there speaking English.

I got an amazing photo of the Château Frontenac.

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Funiculaire du Vieux Québec

The Funiculaire du Vieux Québec is on the Terrasse Dufferin and will take you up and down between the Haute-Ville (Upper Town) and the Basse-Ville (Lower Town) for 3,00$. Well worth it.

The funiculaire opened on November 17, 1879.

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Vieux-Québec Churches

Cathédrale Holy Trinity

Just across Rue Sainte-Anne from the apartment is the Cathédrale Holy Trinity. Built around 1800. it is the cathedral of the Anglican Diocese of Québec.

Its bell-tower is home to 8 bells which are the oldest change-ringing peal in Canada.

Each morning booths are set up in the garden offering art, clothing and crêpes. By the way, the crêpe booth opens at 10.

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Chalmers-Wesley United Church

On one of our walks we heard organ music. We followed our ears and entered Chalmers-Wesley United Church.

It turned out we had missed the organized concert but there was a young parishioner playing the massive organ.

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La Basilique Notre-Dame

Around the corner from the apartment was the incredible La Basilique Notre-Dame.

There has been a church on this site since 1647. One of the earlier churches  was destroyed during the Siege of Québec in 1759.

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Cour intérieure du Petit Séminaire

While not actually a church Cour intérieure du Petit Séminaire fits in this group.

Next door to La Basilique Notre-Dame, Cour intérieure du Petit Séminaire has a striking entrance and courtyard.

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