Traveling Gaspese--- a day trip to Isle d'Orleans

Ile d'Orleans may be only a 20 minute drive from Quebec City, but in character it is world's away from the hustle and bustle of the busy tourist city.  Everything moves at a slower pace here-- there is no industry~ only farms, and cows, and sheep... and the people who own them...

 Isle d'Orleans

(September 16, 2014)

~

if you don't live here,

then your only reason to be here

is to marvel at the tranquil

scenery,

and to say to yourself--

"yes, I could live in this beautiful

place"~

driving to the island,

takes you across the bridge that is pictured here...

although we have been here several times,

we never tire of making the journey

all around this island~

Ile d'Orleans is located in the middle 

of the Saint Lawrence River. 

Tiny in distance,

21 miles long

and 5 miles wide--

you can easily drive around the island

as a day trip from 

Quebec City~ 

~

the island is divided into 6 quaint little

parishes-

each unique in it's own way~

~

come along with us

as we drive all around this beautiful

place,

stopping for photos all along 

the way~

the island is famous for it's 

chocolate--

turning right after you cross the bridge

will bring you to the lovely

Chocolaterie.

~

inside you can purchase

ice creams,chocolate candies

and also eat in the little

 cafe.

(this is probably the only touristy spot on the island)

the island is a haven for artists~

almost every little shop and

roadside market

will have art for sale

all along our drive

are beautiful views of the river...

there is no where along the drive

where you cannot see the

 water~

the island is also famous

for apple ciders and

ice wines..

 quaint little farms

are seen all along the drive around the island..

I fell in love with the old, tumbledown

barns

many of the farms

provide guest houses,

similar to "bed and breakfast"

lodgings

we stopped for lunch at a lovely

restaurant,

and found this cozy

little place to sit and enjoy

the views

the island is home to many 

wonderful restaurants...

this is one of our 

favorites~

the view from the restaurant lobby

another beautiful little roadside

inn and restaurant --

we stopped to walk around for a bit

and take photos~

(of course!)

there are such beautiful views

all along this drive --

we found ourselves stopping 

over and over again

for photos!

one of my most favorite places

on the island~

a Catholic respite, (hidden from the road)

with the most stunning views

 of the river...

~

we found this place quite by accident

the first time we visited 

Ile d'Orleans--

now, we visit every time we

make the drive~

(you are SO going to love this place!)

we spent several hours here,

walking all over the grounds

and taking photos~

the flowers

are always so lovely...

 

 this is one of those places

that lingers in your soul long after you

have left...

beautiful views that leave you

breathless~

 

 we have been here in the spring

and now the early fall--

there is no season

that this place is not beautiful

beyond words~

 

 it is easy to see 

why people would want to come to this place

for silence 

and to find peace and comfort

in their lives~

 

 

 

wouldn't you love 

to just sit here all day,

 watching the river 

lazily float

 by?

 

in all the times that we have visited here,

we have never seen anyone 

walking around~

but this time,

I met someone who truly

touched my life...

 

 her name was Cecile...

she had been out for a hike

when we met walking the grounds--

although she spoke mostly French,

and only broken English,

we had a lovely conversation~

~

she was visiting here 

to rest and recover

from a recent serious illness,

her elderly parents were

also visiting here with her...

 

 she invited us inside to see her room

and to share with us this amazing respite home,

some of the rooms which date

back to the turn of the

 century~

inside the house

only "silence" is spoken--

so we tiptoed around all the rooms

and she whispered to us

the incredible history of the house..

~

the painting above the fireplace 

is one of the oldest artifacts

in this old house--

an ongoing restoration program

is in place to bring this

treasure back to life

once more... 

 

 to be able to walk the grounds

and enjoy the beauty that surrounds this place

is truly special--

but to actually be given the opportunity

to quietly breathe in the history of the house

and to see first hand the historic treasures inside,

 was truly an unbelievable

experience --

after filling our souls

with the beauty of the respite house--

we continued our drive around the island~

 

 this lovely little cottage

houses a working artist studio

and a chic little boutique

in addition to the gorgeous

black-eyed susan flowers,

the yard was filled with these

incredible

pink hydrangeas~

I thought they were absolutely stunning! 

 

 Isle d'Orleans is home

to many historic and beautiful churches

~

Church at Sainte Famille

est. 1749

Sainte-Famille is the oldest parish on Île d'Orléans.

 this church, built in 1743 and consecrated in 1749, 

is one of the last dating from the 

 French regime.

~

(note the shadow play on the roof line of the church)

 

 

 next door to the church 

is a little museum--

this old window 

is in the upstairs of the building

and looks out on the cemetery and the

beautiful gardens

below~

it seems like

everyplace you look on this island

is a picture postcard scene~

 

a most perfect place

to have a picnic~

the climate must be just perfect

for flowers here--

the blooms are so beautiful

everywhere~

with this island being only 21 miles long--

you could actually drive all around

in less than an hour~

but for us--

it took us the entire day...

 

our last look at this beautiful

church~

 

continuing our drive around the island--

our next stop was at this cute

little roadside market~

 

 quaint little roadside markets 

are found all along the road 

as your circle the

 island~

 

fresh raspberries in September!!

(and look at those beautiful apples!)

 

 autumn on the island

is glorious color~

I'd love to have this old

wooden cart in my yard

at home!

another one of my most

favorite places on the island~

Saint-Jean-de-Ile d'Orleans

est. 1662

 

I am in love with this

shady little cemetery on the banks

of the river~

 

 some of the tombstones

here date back to the 1700's~

I love how the cross in the middle of the gate

is bent and crooked~

just beyond the church

is this awesome rocky area

beside the river

(we sort of climbed over the fence to walk among these rocks!)

 

as the evening shadows 

started to fall...

it was time to make our way

back to Quebec City~

(note the shadow play on the door of the church)

 

Some notes from me~

I'm sorry for the excess of photos --I wanted to truly take you along as we drove all around the island.  This "Traveling Gaspese" series is meant to be a photo journey and I want you to feel as though you were really there...

Next up-- we will take one last day trip from Quebec City.  This time I will take you to the historic St. Anne de Beaupre church--one of the world's most beautiful churches, and to the quaint little artist colony town of Baie- Saint- Paul. We spent 4 wonderful days in Quebec City, making day trips from there during our stay. At the end of this series -- (and heaven knows, it may well be sometime this summer!!)-- I will post our entire itinerary.

 

In case you missed the first post of this series (a tour of historic Quebec City) -- you can find it here--

 

Spring is starting to really happen in my little corner of the world.  I can hear the birds singing and we have daffodils in bloom --- just knowing that warm days are ahead has put a spring in my step~

 

xoxo,

Vicki