Day 16. Exploring QC.

Quebec City. 9/2/23.

We took the day to put on 7.5 mikes walking the streets (up and down) in Quebec City. We are lucky enough to be staying in an apartment in the terre-haute (top) village area of the city. We walked down Rue St Jean to find coffee and croissant. Then strolled into the Vieux Quebec (Old Quebec) area behind the fortress wall. It’s peppered with shops and restaurants leading into the walled area of churches, government buildings, then the famed Chateau Frontenac. It’s a Saturday of Labour Day weekend so plenty busy with tourists (like us), cruise ships, and bus tours. Beautiful day…warm and sunny.

First priority was to see the Basilica of Notre Dame. The church has been rebuilt many times over its original date of 1663. The significance to my family name “Lemire” is special. My family history originated with Jean Lemire (1625-85). Jean was a Master Carpenter who came to Quebec from his home in France with Champlain. One of his major works was to build the steeple of the Basilica. He was also the elected mayor of QC 1660.

Onward and upward to see the Chateau and the promenade along the high bank over the St. Lawrence. We walked our way back to a large park where we met up with our new friends (our hosts) and their “anglophone” friends for a park picnic.

Aimee (our host) is filling us in on Québécois’s culture and history. She has lived with her family and worked at the University Laval for some 12 years. It’s all very interesting to us. We might be exhausting her with questions but we have a chance to learn from someone who speaks English. More on some of the cultural highlights to come.

We all went out for dinner tonight. Tried out a Thai-style restaurant in the neighborhood. Everyone liked their food and more good conversation. A walk back up, up, up back to their house. Calling it a day.

Tomorrow we have a few tasks to tend to and spend a little more time exploring some neighborhoods before we say Au Revoir to the city.