City Walk

   Thursday was our last full day in Quebec and we decided to walk the few remaining streets of the old city that we haven't yet seen. After breakfast we went through St Jean's Gate and headed for the west city wall and followed rue De Ramparts around and up to the Hotel Frontenac at the top of the city. From there we had a great view of the massive amounts of ice flowing in the St Lawrence from upstream.

   We then walked down a long series of wooden steps to the bottom of the hill where an even older part of the original city developed near the river docks. The government helped restore the original buildings and convert them into a neighborhood of tasteful shops and restaurants. We walked through and spent a few hours at the nearby Museum of Civilization. By the time we were heading home, we were really happy the Funiclaire' was working so we wouldn't have to face all those stairs again to the top.

   Something we both really enjoyed around the city were parents walking their little toddlers all bundled up in the cold air. There were lots of them in the winter carnival area and many were pulling their kids behind them in plastic sleds that seemed to move well over the dry patches of sidewalk as well as through the snow.

   We fly home tomorrow after having a great time; the weather was cooperative all week and we both handled the cold well. We didn't even need the warmest clothes we brought, but it was wise to have them along anyway. For my next trip like this I learned that I need waterproof boots with good traction. My boots kept my feet pretty dry, but they were smooth bottomed and I spent the whole week being really careful where I stepped. So far I haven't fallen on my butt.... we'll see if I can keep it that way till we get home.

   I'll make one more post on the weekend; there are a few more pictures I couldn't get to without my digital card reader.

   Thanks for following along for our winter change of scenery. Hope you had a good week also.

   John