Traveling Gaspesie--a photo journey (We begin our travels in Quebec City)

Our travels to the beautiful Gaspe' Peninsula in Canada's Quebec province was absolutely the journey of a lifetime.  No amount research and planning could have prepared me for the unparalleled beauty that we found in that amazing place. You are invited to follow along with me as I share photos and narration of our adventures along the way. By the time we have completed this photo journey,you will feel as though you have truly been there as well~ 

 September 14-18, 2014

Quebec City

~

From my journal--
"we began our journey in this place

that we have visited often and love so well..."

 

Historic Quebec City is the only fortified city in North America.

A UNESCO Heritage site --

the city is famous for it's well preserved architectural treasures.

This beautiful place is a living history book --

every garden, building, and street corner

is it's own chapter.  

~

Come along with us as we walk the streets of this 

incredible city.

 Be sure to put your best walking shoes on

 because

you don't drive in Quebec City!!

The only way to venture onto these cobblestone streets

is to WALK!

Quebec City, 

one of the oldest cities in North America

has origins that date back to the 16th century.

  around every corner are tiny little streets~

this  is one of our favorites--

 

Near Place d'Armes and close to Ste-Anne street, la Rue du Trésor is absolutely charming. Here you will be delighted by the craftsmanship's and paintings of all kinds.

 The French charm of Québec is reflected in this outdoor art gallery.

It is a beautiful and unique place to see and stroll.

  

the scenery in and around Quebec city 

is visually stunning.  

Artists are drawn to this magical place 

to paint and sketch~

Paillard~

one of our most favorite bakeries

~
From my journal--
"ohhh my favorite raisin pastries-
I am truly in heaven!"

 there is no way that you can stay on your diet

when you are visiting Quebec City--

I don't think I even made it through the first day!

~

the only saving grace for me 

was that 
we must have walked about 5-6 miles a day

around the city every day!

around every corner is an incredible
opportunity for photos!

you can wander for hours and hours --
finding cute little outdoor cafes
tucked into tiny little spaces...
(I love how they furnish blankets for your cool weather
outdoor seating) 

 cute little shops everywhere
selling maple syrup and maple flavored
candies and cookies...
I loved this beautiful display --
but this is not where you should buy your maple syrup--
hang on a bit longer here and I will show you where to buy it
at a great price! 

Quebec City is known for incredible restaurants--

every time we visit here we find new favorites! 

Cafe Saint Malo

 was our favorite from this trip

(The Gardener loved the mussels!) 

Quebec City is divided into an upper and lower town

You can access the lower town by walking down a series of steps

or ride the funicular.

~

this lovely area is located in the lower town

From my journal--
"the streets are always so festive

and the feel of the city is so very European--
it is almost like we are walking around in France"

more views of the beautiful streets~

From my journal--
"by night--

the city is pure magic"

~

the ancient fortress wall

is beautifully accented in the darkness of the city

one of the most famous and enduring symbols of the city~

the famous (and beautiful)

Le Chateau Frontenac

can be seen from almost every vantage point

as you walk around the town

these stairs separate the upper city

from the lower city
~
From my journal--
"my heart beats faster, just to walk down the stairs to the city below
because I know what lies along the narrow streets and around
all the corners.  Sometimes, I feel as though the city
has secrets to share with us ." 

no matter what time of year--

the streets are decorated with festive lighting

and the shops windows are decorated

with beautiful displays

Marche' du Vieux-Port

one of our most favorite places in the city

~

THIS is the place to purchase your maple syrup souvenirs--

the prices here are more in line with what 

the "locals" pay

the local market is simply an amazing place to visit~

you can buy fresh flowers, fruits and vegetables 

as well as dozens of local specialties,

 from Île d’Orléans-- blackcurrant wine to ciders, honeys, cheeses, sausages,

 chocolates, and, of course, 

maple-syrup products.

 we walked around for the longest time--

just taking photos!

Go early if you want to casually walk and enjoy the scenery--

this market starts to get very crowded by mid morning!

Quebec City is home to many beautiful

churches and cathedrals --

many of them dating back to the

17th and 18th century

From my journal--
"all over the city you can hear

the sound of church bells ringing.
I try to stop and listen--
I want to remember..."

every night we walked the city--

for hours and hours,

just ambling up and down the cobblestone streets~

 around every corner

you hear the"clip clop" of the horses~

carriage rides around the city

are a romantic and pleasurable way to

view the city at night

one of my most favorite night time views~

we must have walked up and down this street a dozen time

and every time I felt the need to just stop

and take it all in

the Le Chateau Frontenac 

stands high above the city--

with the St.Lawrence River in the background~

 sometimes when you walk around the city--

you need to look UP

to see the displays and decorations~

beautiful flower filled window boxes,

hanging planters filled with blooms and vines~

 I gave my hiking boots a good workout

for sure on this trip!

Painted murals can be found all over the city--

this one is the largest and most famous~

Place- Royale
one of the most beautiful and historic areas

in the old city

 you can wander past the historic period buildings

 along the cobblestone streets,

 enjoying the area's boutiques, art galleries, and restaurants

Locals bestow Place-Royale as the spiritual and historical heart of Vieux Quebec,

 for this spot is not only the birthplace of French Civilization in North America

 but also one of the continent’s oldest settlements. 

~~ 

 That history resonates, as this site has the largest surviving ensemble

 of 17th and 18th century buildings in 

North America.

~

Dominating the plaza is the oldest church in Quebec, 

Notre-Dame-des-Victoires. 

 another one of my most favorite places in the city
~
From my journal--
"I am mesmerized by this beautiful church,
and so humbled to stand in such a place,
knowing the history that belongs to here~"

 just a few more reasons to totally blow your diet

when you come to town
~
From my journal--
"oh heavens, I already know
I've gained 5 pounds in this town!"

is it any wonder that we probably took

at least 1000 photos 

in the few days

that we spent in this amazing place??

we've been here several times

and are quite familiar with the city--

I snapped this photo of the Gardener

giving directions to the tourists!

~

little did I know that it would be one of the last photos 

of this magnificent museum

~

The Muse du Fort

is one of the cities most prized cherished possessions.

one day while we were having lunch, 

we heard bells, and sirens, and alarms of all kinds.

When we stepped outside the restaurant to see what was going on--

we discovered that the roof of this museum had caught fire

badly damaging this wonderful museum.

A terrible tragedy for the city as priceless

and irreplaceable displays were

badly damaged. 

no visit to Quebec City would be complete
without spending some serious time walking around the grounds
of the beautiful
Le Chateau Frontenac
~
a visit inside the hotel will

bring you to some lovely restaurants

and fun little shops

the view at night

is simply breathtaking

So-- do you feel as though you have truly visited Quebec City?  Even though I have filled this post with "way too many photos"--- trust me -- there is so much more of the city that I have not even shared!  But -- we must move on!! On my next post I will take you just a short distance outside of the city --- we are working our way due east as far as we can go -- to the place where the Saint Lawrence meets the Atlantic and beyond~~

 Just about 15 miles downstream from Quebec City, the St. Lawrence River splits and the land between is Orleans Island, or Ile d'Orleans.  This rural island of immaculate farms and pastures is 22 miles long and 6 miles wide. In a lazy afternoon you can drive around the entire island-- and we did.  I'm taking you there on our next photo journey~

~~~~

A note about the photos and the journey-- 

All of the photos were taken with our Iphone cameras.  We did not plan it that way-- but it made the picture taking so easy....

Sorting through the photos to compile this incredible photo journey is no easy task.  In fact -- it is a huge task.  In the three weeks that we traveled, we took over 5000 photos.  I am reliving this incredible journey as I edit the photos for these posts.  Understandable -- this is taking some time.  I'll be back in a couple of weeks with the next post -- and on and on -- until we reach the end of this journey.  On the last post -- I will provide all the details of our itinerary including our daily mileage, hotels,activities-- even our favorite restaurants. It may take us until late spring or early summer to reach the completion -- but hang with me if you can and it will be an amazing journey for you, I promise.   

xoxo,

Vicki