Quebec Sep 2010

Our adventure began on Friday 24^th September when Geoffrey picked us up from home at 0945 and drove us to Gibraltar airport. Our Excellent BA flight was slightly late due to French air traffic control problems but all went smoothly except finding our correct shuttle bus at Terminal 3. It appears the hotel shuttle buses don´t stop at the correct designated stops and the poor unsuspecting traveler is supposed to know!

After a night in the Holiday Inn we were up bright and early for our 0830 Air Canada flight to Toronto. Great flight-lots of legroom even in economy and only just over 7hours flying on the 777.  Only an hour and a half stopover in Toronto, of course we had to pickup our luggage and clear customs then drop our bags again but it was trouble free. Then a smooth 55minute flight on a tiny 48seat jet to a rainy Quebec.

We were met by a Princess rep and escorted to our hotel, the magnificent Fairmont Le Chateau Frontenac which has commanding views of the St.Lawrence River from its position on Cape Diamant. We were immediately impressed!

Quebec is a beautiful city with so much history. New France is said to have been discovered  by Jacques Cartier in 1535  but he only returned to France to report its existence. It was only later in 1608 that Samuel de Champlain established a French settlement in the New World  at Quebec (Kebec a word from an Amerindian language meaning place where the river becomes narrow).

The French ruled happily until 1759 when the famous battle of the Plains of Abraham resulted in General Wolfe´s English army defeating the French one of the Marquis of Montcalm. Despite both leaders dying in the battle, this resulted in British rule from that day despite attempts by American troops to take the city in 1775-6. In 1867 the British North America Act united the various provinces and paved the way for the formation of the state of Canada that we know today. Quebec became the capital of the Province of Quebec.

Quebec has its own unique feel as some say the city is more French than France. French is the first language but most people also speak English.  The city is so picturesque, clean and  colourful that you can´t help but love the atmosphere. Hence the hoardes of tourists that throng the streets during the day. Lots of tourist shops, cafes and wonderful restaurants line the streets and give it a warm and cosy feeling. It must be magical at Christmas time when snow is on the ground.

We did lots of walking on Sunday despite the bitterly cold wind, it was 20C colder than Estepona! Luckily we had woolly hats and scarves. Our ship arrived that day and looked marvelous from the ramparts outside the hotel. On Monday we checked out from the hotel and walked the 10minute walk to the ship and checked in without too much hassle-how great to be Elite members! The sun shone and Quebec was beautiful.

On Tuesday we were due to ride bikes to Montmerency Falls (said to be higher than Niagara) but torrential rain stopped that and our money was refunded. Later that day, with all 3100 passengers on board we left the berth, turned round and headed down the St.Lawrence, leaving that wonderful view of the city and the Chateau firmly in our memory.