Day 1 - Arrival and stay at L'Ermitage

Monday, September 19, 2011
Quebec City, Quebec, Canada
We arrived in Quebec on time at around 10:30 am and whizzed through customs. We were out getting a taxi by 11 am and at the hotel by 11:30 am everything went smooth. The taxi ride was a bit tight as Marge, Christina and I were all in the back. Two of our bags shared the front seat and more in the trunk. We tried to limit how much we brought but we were going on a 10 day Holland America cruise. We did want to experience the cruise and go in good cloths for dinner. So you have clothes for the day, dinner, pool, gym and just whenever and it ads up to 2 large suitcase, 2 small and 2 carry-on rolling back packs. That seems like so much yet we could not figure out where to reduce. Oh by the way the tax ride from the airport was $32.50 + tip Canadian. I will try to point out these things as I journal just to help others when they go.

We even saw our cruise ship the Eurodam at dock from it's New York to Quebec cruise just completing . The cruise terminals are really just down the hill from the Chateau Frontenac and the funicular so should be a short taxi ride tomorrow. The L'Ermitage hotel we stayed at was only a short block from the St Louis Gate in the old wall and as wer had wanted to walk the wall we headed off after stowing our bags at the hotel. We walked from the Gate to the Citadel and around the out edge of that to the cliff. Not a long walk but fun going along the wall. It stone wall on the outside with stone gun ports for cannons with a large earthen wall and hill behind it to absorb cannon fire. The wall is a good 50 feet high in spots I would say. It tested my uncomfortableness with open heights to go near the edge.

After walking the Governor's walk below the Citadel to Chateau Frontenac we went looking for a place for lunch stopping at Bistro 1640. It was good but enough different that Christina and I at least went outside of our comfort zone with food. You may hear that a lot on this cruise as neither of us are adventuresome eaters . We then just went walking to see what we could. I fell in love with Quebec with the old buildings, walls, churches and such. I love history and for me I was transported a little back into the 1800's as I walked.

As for churches we visited the Basilica-Cathedral Norte-Dame de Quebec and Holy Trinity Cathedral. What a difference in two churches one a Catholic and the other an Anglican. They were both very special and spiritual attesting to the love of God that went into them but different. The Basilica was ornate, golden altar area, lovely stained glass, statues and other decorative features. The Cathedral more sedate lovely stained glass also but altar and other decorations more understated. It also had the commemorative plaques we became so accustomed to in England but so strange for us of American Catholic background.

The day wound down after that with me walking the walls, the others napping for a bit before we walked the city some more and had dinner at Cafe D'Orsay. A very nice European Pub as they said on the window. Good food and a nice place to sit and visit as we ate. The walk down one of the shop streets on our way back to the hotel stopping into a few shops on the way.

How would I rate the day? A 10 for sure I really look forward to staying for 3-5 days sometimes in the future in town to just walk around and visit places we saw and did not see.

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