Trip Day 4 - Quebec City

Sunday May 27    -  A glorious day!

After James woke up very early he went to deck #6 to make his rounds and get his steps. The ship had reached Quebec City early in the morning and had already docked and the skyline was right in front of us. I had just woken up at 7:30 am when James came back. He took my new thermos and got some coffee for us. Since you can screw it closed and can dangle it from that loop he had no problem to also carry 2 cups (which get washed and put on a little towel into an otherwise empty drawer for daily use. I am happy with my purchase.

The signs of getting old: we now need glasses when we shower. And this is what you see! Which one is the shower gel and which the shampoo? I had to call James to tell me.

After getting ready we went to our first breakfast on board and could not resist having the equivalent of a cooked English. Pretty good.

Kate and David found us and we agreed to leave the ship 9ish to explore the city. And what a cute City it is!

I had not seen a sign warning you of icicles before. Of course everything is in French.

This fire escape with a counterweight to let the last part down is clever. And a cage for it so it doesn’t fall on anybody’s head if the rope breaks.

We are impressed with this house. The side is totally flat without windows but the painting makes it very special. You could spend a lot of time looking over the details. How about those nuns looking out of the window ... looking so real.

We were looking for the funicular because my knee is giving me problems. The steroid shot I had got before going to Nashville never really took this time. And the other two times they had been such miracles. Sigh.
Quebec City is on two levels. Lower and upper. So cute looking around each street corner.

Found it! One way on the funicular was 3 CD each. There were no lines at all and it was fun.

What a view!!! And so much more to see. Sun was shining and we could hear musicians on the promenade.

James had found out where the Anglican cathedral was and a service in English at 11 am. We were a little early so we had a coffee right opposite it.

The church was charming and the service very uplifting. The priest started by saying this which was also written in the bulletin:

I took some pictures afterwards and we signed the guestbook. The priest wanted to know where we were from but then questioned me where I was from originally. Of course I told him and he said that we could talk German then. He explained that he was a former Lutheran from Bavaria. When we asked how a former Lutheran Bavarian becomes an Anglican priest he says “love”.

Outside the church we discussed which way was to the Fort. That’s where we wanted to go next. We figured it out and set off. This seemed a much easier way for my bum knee  then from the promenade since it was a gentle slope up. It was all very nice. And of course the view was fantastic.

We made our way down. Since it was about 1:30 pm it was time for lunch. We decided it was probably easier to find an appropriate place in the lower area than in the upper. We took the funicular again. 

At dinner two nights before in Montreal, I saw a section on the menu with a lot of different “poutine”. We could not figure out what it was but it didn’t matter since there were plenty of other things to choose from. Last night at the orientation we were told that there was a special dish in this area of Canada called “poutine” and we really should try it. And that’s what we were determined to do.

In the morning we had wondered that there not many people about. By know that had changed. The streets were full. James went up these stairs to scout out to find a table for 4 where they serve that dish. He waved us to come and we went up. Great find. So full outside but empty inside. A very nice place with very friendly servers. The menu had two kinds: POUTINE CANARD, POUTINE COCHONNE (with duck or pulled pork). I had duck and James pork. After inquiring Kate and Dave were told they could have plain. We all were very happy to have had a chance to try it. 

Afterwards we made our way back to the ship trying to find some free WiFi. Not much luck. I managed to get one photo up to FB but had no luck with my email. It was funny though when we were at our cabin I had several without any contents though. Since it looked like there was a photo from Sarah and still time (all aboard 4:30) James went out again to where we had a slight connection just in front of the ship. The things you do.

At 5 pm the ship left. By now clouds had come in and the skyline wasn’t quite as pretty any more but it is always fun. 

A little rest and refreshing. Some libation in our cabin this time before dinner. We had found a bottle of champagne from our travel agent in our cabin upon arriving. Dinner at 7:45 pm. I really wasn’t hungry. What a shame but I still injoyed the roasted shallot and butternut squash soup and then picked on a prime rib with horseradish. James had a curry he was disappointed about (not much taste). But we can always manage some dessert.

At 10 pm there was a show "Dance" with the Maasdam's Singers and Dancers. Kate and Dave went to that. James and I skipped it.
There is a lot to see and hear all over the ship. There are several different bars with piano or violin players. It is even fun to stop and watch same of the gamblers in the casino which you can walk through to get from one end of the ship to the other.

A towel art stingray waited for us in the cabin.