Friday, September 27, 2019, Quebec City, Quebec, Canada
Quebec City, officially Québec, is the capital of the Canadian province of Quebec. The city had an estimated population of 531,902 in July 2016 (an increase of 3.0% from 2011), and the metropolitan area had a population of 800,296 in July 2016 (an increase of 4.3% from 2011). It is the second largest city in Quebec after Montreal, and the seventh largest metropolitan area and eleventh largest city in Canada.
The Algonquian people had originally named the area Kébec, an Algonquin word meaning "where the river narrows," because the Saint Lawrence River narrows proximate to the promontory of Quebec and its Cape Diamant. Explorer Samuel de Champlain founded a French settlement here in 1608, and adopted the Algonquin name. Quebec City is one of the oldest European cities in North America. The ramparts surrounding Old Quebec are the only fortified city walls remaining in the Americas north of Mexico. This area was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1985 as the "Historic District of Old Québec."
The city's landmarks include the Château Frontenac hotel that dominates the skyline and the Citadelle of Quebec, an intact fortress that forms the centerpiece of the ramparts surrounding the old city and includes a secondary royal residence. The National Assembly of Quebec (provincial legislature), the National Museum of Fine Arts of Quebec, and the Museum of Civilization are found within or near Vieux-Québec.
While many of the major cities in Latin America date from the 16th century, among cities in Canada and the U.S., few were created earlier than Quebec City (St. John's, Harbour Grace, Port Royal, St. Augustine, Santa Fe, Jamestown, and Tadoussac).
It is home to the earliest known French settlement in North America, Fort Charlesbourg-Royal, established in 1541 by explorer Jacques Cartier with some 400 persons but abandoned less than a year later due to the hostility of the natives and the harsh winter. The fort was at the mouth of the Rivière du Cap Rouge, in the suburban former town of Cap-Rouge (which merged into Quebec City in 2002).
Quebec was founded by Samuel de Champlain, a French explorer and diplomat, on 3 July 1608, and at the site of a long abandoned St. Lawrence Iroquoian settlement called Stadacona. Champlain, also called "The Father of New France," served as its administrator for the rest of his life.
The name "Canada" refers to this settlement. Although the Acadian settlement at Port-Royal was established three years earlier, Quebec came to be known as the cradle of North America's Francophone population. The place seemed favorable to the establishment of a permanent colony.
More info: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quebec_City
Sites we saw on our way into port (7-7:30 this morning).
Montmorency Falls from Viking Sun as we approached port at QC.
Ile D'Orleans (island).
First, exciting view of "fall colors."
Canadian 18-wheeler at our dock with how many wheels (answer at end)?
Historic Quebec City
We explored cultural and historic sights in Quebec City, hailed as the most authentically French city outside France. At Dufferin Terrace, the scenic overlook adjacent to the celebrated Château Frontenac, we took in breathtaking views of the St. Lawrence River, Île d’Orléans, and the Laurentian Mountains. Next, we drove past the beautifully restored Place Royale market square in the atmospheric Old Town, dotted with stone architecture dating as far back as the 1600s, including the oldest standing Catholic church in North America. We continued to the Plains of Abraham (Battlefield Park), the site where the French surrendered to the British in 1759. We enjoyed more spectacular river and city views from its cliff side perch on Cape Diamond, named after the stones explorer Jacques Cartier mistook for diamonds. After following the Grande Allée, the Champs-Élysées of Québec, we stopped to view the imposing Second Empire–style Parliament Building.
First stop: Upper Old Town. Statue of either:
Champlain (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samuel_de_Champlain) or
Per Wikipedia, the statue is of Champlain. However, both were very instrumental in development of the Lawrence River area for France.
Modern hotel built recently.
Sixteen-foot thick moat walls of the Citadel.
Traffic circle (round-about).
Gateway through the thick wall.
Commemoration for those lost in wars.
View looking SWS up-river toward Montreal.
Four-hundred+ years difference between historic and today.
Apartments and homes in the seven digit price range.
Humpty-Dumpty.
Grain silos with 600+ "tubes."
Hopefully leaves will turn more in next 5-7 days.
Lower Old Town.
Mary Poppins many fold. Note: Upper Old Town above.
Back pack.
Our Lady of Victories church.
Mural in Lower Old Town.
Old foundation from many shops (see next four pictures).
Street looking up to buildings in Upper Old Town.
Cannons in foreground, German cruise ship in background.
Halloween decorations already up (wonder which nation did this so early first?).
On our way toward Montreal.
Motor driven hang glider.
Will arrive in Montreal 4 AM tomorrow. About half of the passengers will be leaving.
Tomorrow will be a second day in Montreal before we head back to Quebec City for a second day there.
Number of wheels on the semi above: 26
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