Day 58 Rest Day in Quebec City, QC

For the first time during this tour, I really feel like I am in a foreign country, the nation of Le Quebec.  Having no French, I understand almost nothing.  This is a pub sign with pub hours at Universite Laval where we are staying.  The reflections in the picture are of me and our Montreal native, French speaking rider, Louis.  However, people here are very patient with my lack of French language.  Some Canadians tell me that my American accent gets me treated better than non-French speaking Canadians.  Many young people working in stores have a difficult time with the English language.  I believe that they are taught some English in school, but not enough to become fluent, as are the same aged people in Europe.

 

Pictures help a lot, as compared to the French writing on this poster, which explains how to wash one's hands easily and effectively.  I observed that in non-French speaking Canada, most everything was written bilingually, but here in Quebec, everything is pretty much written solely in French. The Canadians from other provinces tell me that, since Canada was first explored and settled by the French, rather than the English, Quebec considers itself a separate nation with French as its language, not to be tarnished by spoken English.

This is a piece of art on a building at Universite Laval.  Very typical of the art loving French.

 

 

Here you see the church of Saint-Jean-Baptist followed by some photos of accompanying displays.

 

The plaque below explains, among other things, that the church was designed by the architect, Joseph Ferdinand Peachy, and it is an example of the style of the Second Empire of Quebec, built on the foundation of the first church of Charles Ballairge, which burned in 1881.

 

A beautiful statue at the church.

 

At the Velos Roy (King's Bicycle Shop) in Quebec City,  I stopped to get my broken spoke changed and have the wobbly wheel trued while I explored the Old City.  My bike needed to be treated properly, just as my wrist did after the unfortunate accident yesterday.

 

An interesting statue I passed.  There was no information provided, so I had no idea what this unusual figure was about.

 

My lunch, of course, had to include the mandatory genuine French baguette, the best kind that one has to fight to bite off.  

 

Here you see the beautiful and ornate Basilique-cathedrale Notre Dame de Quebec.

 

Gates of the walled Vieux-Quebec (Old City).  Porte Saint-Louis and Porte Saint-Jean.

 

Quebec pride on display in  Vieux-Quebec.

 

Street cafes a la Paris.

Fairmont Le Chateau Frontenac in Quebec City.

 

A plaque explaining about  Le Chateau Frontenac.   Chateau style hotels were built in the 19th century to attract the wealthy and the income they brought from Europe and the USA to Canada.  We previously saw these type of hotels in Banff and Ottawa.  Le Chateau Frontenac appears to be the grandest of all.  Additional photos of the chateau follow.

 

 The inner courtyard.

 

 

This grinning tourist wandered into the picture and seemed to like the cannons used by the French to defend Quebec against the English before the hotel behind them was ever built.

 

In keeping with the elegance of the grand Chateau, giant butterflies constructed from living plants sit in front of the entrance, welcoming the guests through the front doors.

 

The French Canadians celebrate their explorers as heroes of the new world. This, in particular, is Samuel De Champlain.

 

Louis, our French speaking cyclist, tells me that Quebec City employs a large number of government workers, and many of them work in this Ministry of Finance building.

 

Here are some views of the St. Lawrence. 

 

The Citadel old fort built for protection of Quebec City

 

A formidable fortress, the Citadel was double walled in most places.

 

 

The Battle of the Plains of Abraham, also known as the Battle of Quebec, was a pivotal battle in the Seven Years' War between Britain and France.  The same War in North America was called the French and Indian War.  The battle, which began in 1759, was fought on a plateau just outside of the walls of Quebec City and could be seen from the Citadel.  In the end the British won, and their victory influenced the later creation of Canada.  

 

Canadians believe that German mercenaries helped protect Canada from the American colonies during the Revolutionary War and thereafter.  American history speaks of German mercenaries employed by the British to help put down the Revolution.  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Germans_in_the_American_Revolution

 

 

Similar in fashion to some T-shirt companies in the US, Little Blue House displays a sense of humor.  The shirt below celebrates the three iconic Canadian mammals, the beaver, moose, and bear.

 

This one requires a deeper knowledge of French that I have at my disposal  to fully appreciate.

 

Heavens!  A bilingual sign!  Another of our riders, Guy, tells me that Quebec has a "language police" to monitor signs and make sure that French gets top billing.  If a purely English sign is posted, it must come down.  

 

Art on offer in Quebec City.

 

After an enjoyable, but long day of sightseeing, it was incumbent upon this visitor to sit down to a decadent chocolate eclair with chocolate cream filling. It was important to consume sufficient calories to support tomorrow's ride, of course.

 

 

Fully satisfied, I returned to my dorm room at Universite Laval.  It is quite comfortable and well appointed.  It feels like Chateau Frontenac after so many nights in my tent!

 

 

I will be back in the saddle tomorrow with my bicycle repaired and wrist feeling much better.  Come back for another chapter in our saga.