Quebec City Is Beautiful!

We arrived in Levis Quebec on 21 July 2024 to stay at Camping Transit Campground for four nights. Levis is across the St. Lawrence River from Quebec City, so we took the ferry to Quebec City two days in a row. We bought a two day pass on the hop-on hop-off double decker bus to see Quebec City the first day and the Montmorency Falls the next day. Once off the ferry, we had to take the Funicular up to the bus stop and Old Quebec. We enjoyed the tour of the city and learned a few things along the way too. The architecture is eclectic, but has mostly French and British influence. The city has modern buildings alongside historical and beautiful buildings all throughout the city. Before hopping on the bus on Monday, we walked up to the Citadelle in hopes of catching the changing of the guard at 10am. We made it in time, but learned that the ceremonial changing of the guard with music and marching is only Wednesday-Sunday. The visitor guide encouraged us to take a picture with the guards, so we did. After we walked around the grounds of the Citadelle for a while, we hopped on the bus for the quicker way to see the city. We hopped off at Joan of Arc Garden to have our sack lunch then hopped back on to continue the tour. By the time we saw all 15 of the bus stops, it was almost time (4:45pm) to catch the ferry back to our truck. We made it with no problems.

Arriving at Quebec Visitor Center 21 July 2024

Quebec Flag has 4 Fleur de Lis with a white cross dividing the 4 corners

Quebec Visitor Center 21 July 2024

View from the ferry approaching Quebec City 22 July 2024

Funiculaire du Vieux-Québec 22 July 2024

Cable car to take up to Old Quebec

Funiculaire du Vieux-Québec 22 July 2024

Quebec City 22 July 2024

Language spoken is French and military customs are British

Citadelle de Quebec - Quebec City 22 July 2024

Citadelle de Quebec - Quebec City 22 July 2024

Citadelle de Quebec - Quebec City 22 July 2024

Citadelle de Quebec - Quebec City 22 July 2024

From Bus Tour of Quebec City 22 July 2024

From Bus Tour of Quebec City 22 July 2024

From Bus Tour of Quebec City 22 July 2024

From Bus Tour of Quebec City 22 July 2024

From Bus Tour of Quebec City 22 July 2024

From Bus Tour of Quebec City 22 July 2024

From Bus Tour of Quebec City 22 July 2024

Tallest building in Quebec (Observatory de Capital)

From Bus Tour of Quebec City 22 July 2024

Tallest building in Quebec

From Bus Tour of Quebec City 22 July 2024

Ciel! Bistro-bar revolving restaurant from where you can see Quebec City in 1.5 hours over dinner

From Bus Tour of Quebec City 22 July 2024

Mural on one of the buildings

From Bus Tour of Quebec City 22 July 2024

From Bus Tour of Quebec City 22 July 2024

From Bus Tour of Quebec City 22 July 2024

From Bus Tour of Quebec City 22 July 2024

From Bus Tour of Quebec City 22 July 2024

Huge outdoor stage venue being assembled for big name music festival upcoming

From Bus Tour of Quebec City 22 July 2024

From Bus Tour of Quebec City 22 July 2024

From Bus Tour of Quebec City 22 July 2024

From Bus Tour of Quebec City 22 July 2024

From Bus Tour of Quebec City 22 July 2024

From Bus Tour of Quebec City 22 July 2024

Teaching Hospital founded in 1637 by Augustine Sisters

From Bus Tour of Quebec City 22 July 2024

From Bus Tour of Quebec City 22 July 2024

St. Patrick's Pub

From Bus Tour of Quebec City 22 July 2024

From Bus Tour of Quebec City 22 July 2024

From Bus Tour of Quebec City 22 July 2024

From Bus Tour of Quebec City 22 July 2024

From Bus Tour of Quebec City 22 July 2024

From Bus Tour of Quebec City 22 July 2024

A few churches have been re-purposed due to lack of attendance

This one is now a library

From Bus Tour of Quebec City 22 July 2024

Co-Cathedral of Saint-Antoine-de-Padoue

From Bus Tour of Quebec City 22 July 2024

From Bus Tour of Quebec City 22 July 2024

From Bus Tour of Quebec City 22 July 2024

From Bus Tour of Quebec City 22 July 2024

From Bus Tour of Quebec City 22 July 2024

Joan of Arc at the Plains of Abraham (urban park similar in size to NY Central Park)

From Bus Tour of Quebec City 22 July 2024

Walking around Quebec City 22 July 2024

Walking around Quebec City 22 July 2024

Walking around Quebec City 22 July 2024

Samuel Champlain

Walking around Quebec City 22 July 2024

Modern architecture in Old Quebec

Walking around Quebec City 22 July 2024

Walking around Quebec City 22 July 2024

Parliament Building

Walking around Quebec City 22 July 2024

Walking around Quebec City 22 July 2024

"Monsieur Rose" or "Pink Man" is by French artiste Phillippe Katerine

to bring a smile to Quebec city

Walking around Quebec City 22 July 2024

Walking around Quebec City 22 July 2024

Walking around Quebec City 22 July 2024

Boardwalk above ferry terminal

Walking around Quebec City 22 July 2024

Fairmont Le Chateau Frontenac - Circa1893

Walking around Quebec City 22 July 2024

Fairmont Le Chateau Frontenac - Circa1893

Walking around Quebec City 22 July 2024

Fairmont Le Chateau Frontenac - Circa1893

Walking around Quebec City 22 July 2024

Fairmont Le Chateau Frontenac - Circa1893

Walking around Quebec City 22 July 2024

Fairmont Le Chateau Frontenac - Circa1893

Levis from Quebec 22 July 2024

Walking around Quebec City 22 July 2024

Levis from ferry

Levis from Ferry 22 July 2024

Huge grain terminal at Quebec from Ferry 22 July 2024

The second day, Tuesday, we took the blue line to the waterfalls. We got to the bus stop around 9am and learned that the first bus going to the waterfalls was to 10:45am, so we went to see the Saint-Louis Forts and Châteaux National Historic Site which is managed by Parks Canada. It was interesting, and had we not had a need to kill time, we wouldn't have even noticed it underground of the promenade.

We had a short wait for the bus after our walk through the underground site, so we were on our way at 10:45am. It was only a 15 minute ride to the falls, but there was lots of traffic with the province of Quebec being on holiday and school being out for summer. We had heard there are 400 steps to go up to the bridge over the falls or a cable car to ride in. After our 5 miles of walking the day before, we opted for the cable car ride up. We had our sack lunch at a picnic table next to the falls and watched people zip lining. We went back down after getting pictures from the bridge over the falls. Thankfully, Steve still has his phone and it's not at the bottom of the falls. After our bus ride back to Quebec City we asked at the visitor center if any of the churches that are still open are within a few blocks and Notre Dame de Quebec is close by. Once there, we saw that the church has a "Holy Door" and we went through it, although neither of us had ever heard of a holy door. Anita tried to find out more about it online and this is what's on the Internet: Notre-Dame de Québec’s Holy Door – the only one outside Europe! – will be opened on December 8th, 2023. During this year of celebration, people from all walks of life who wish to make a spiritual journey will be welcomed. As we cross the Holy Door, we are invited to do so from the outside in, as if to enter into ourselves, in search of our personal future and reach what is most essential.

The Cathedral-Basilica of Notre-Dame de Québec was built in 1633. We enjoyed seeing the art and the church's museum. Mass is celebrated there on Saturday evening and at three times on Sundays. We leave on Thursday so we won't make it there. It's probable all in French anyway. The acoustics are beautiful. While we were inside the church, we could hear "music" that sounded almost like vespers. Even though we couldn't understand it, it was beautiful sounding.

Approaching Quebec City 23 July 2024

Funiculaire in Quebec City 23 July 2024

From Funaculaire Quebec City 23 July 2024

Saint-Louis Forts and Châteaux National Historic Site under Quebec City 23 July 2023

Ice house

Saint-Louis Forts and Châteaux National Historic Site under Quebec City 23 July 2023

Saint-Louis Forts and Châteaux National Historic Site under Quebec City 23 July 2023

Saint-Louis Forts and Châteaux National Historic Site under Quebec City 23 July 2023

Saint-Louis Forts and Châteaux National Historic Site under Quebec City 23 July 2023

Saint-Louis Forts and Châteaux National Historic Site under Quebec City 23 July 2023

Montmorency Falls Quebec City 23 July 2024

Montmorency Falls Quebec City 23 July 2024

Montmorency Falls Quebec City 23 July 2024

Montmorency Falls Quebec City 23 July 2024

Montmorency Falls Quebec City 23 July 2024

Manoir Montmorency Restaurant

The path to the bridge over the falls is to the right of the restaurant

Montmorency Falls Quebec City 23 July 2024

Montmorency Falls Quebec City 23 July 2024

400+ steps up to the falls

Montmorency Falls Quebec City 23 July 2024

The walk to the 400+ steps

Montmorency Falls Quebec City 23 July 2024

Those are logs at the bottom of the falls...they look like toothpicks

Montmorency Falls Quebec City 23 July 2024

Montmorency Falls Quebec City 23 July 2024

Montmorency Falls Quebec City 23 July 2024

Lots of people were ziplining the day we were there

Montmorency Falls Quebec City 23 July 2024

Montmorency Falls Quebec City 23 July 2024

Quebec City 23 July 2024

Notre-Dame de Québec Basilica-Cathedral - Circa 1647

Quebec City 23 July 2024

Notre-Dame de Québec Basilica-Cathedral - Circa 1647

Quebec City 23 July 2024

Notre-Dame de Québec Basilica-Cathedral - Circa 1647

Quebec City 23 July 2024

Notre-Dame de Québec Basilica-Cathedral - Relics of saints listed below

Quebec City 23 July 2024

Notre-Dame de Québec Basilica-Cathedral - Circa 1647

Quebec City 23 July 2024

Notre-Dame de Québec Basilica-Cathedral - Circa 1647

Quebec City 23 July 2023

Original Casket of First pastor of Norte Dame now known as St. Francois de Laval

Quebec City 23 July 2024

Notre-Dame de Québec Basilica-Cathedral - Circa 1647

Holy Door

Quebec City 23 July 2024

Notre-Dame de Québec Basilica-Cathedral - Circa 1647

Holy Door

Quebec City 23 July 2024

Quebec Seminary founded in 1663

No longer active

Quebec City 23 July 2024

Quebec City 23 July 2024

Umbrella Alley

Quebec City 23 July 2024

Quebec City 23 July 2024

Samvel de Champlain

Quebec City 23 July 2024

Quebec City 23 July 2024

Eloge Du Pas De Cote (Praise of the Side Step) by Philippe Ramette

On our last day in Levis, we went to a local preservation site and did a guided walk through a forest and bog. We made it back to the camper around lunch time. The rest of the day was spent on doing laundry and getting the blog together.

Grande Plee Bleue Levis Quebec 24 July 2024

Grande Plee Bleue Levis Quebec 24 July 2024

Cat Berry

Grande Plee Bleue Levis Quebec 24 July 2024

Sundew (cannibalistic) pink center of picture

Grande Plee Bleue Levis Quebec 24 July 2024

Indian pipe or Ghost plant (parasitic)

Grande Plee Bleue Levis Quebec 24 July 2024

Grande Plee Bleue Levis Quebec 24 July 2024

Yellow flowered plants are called Bladderwort (cannibalistic)

also Pitcher plants

Grande Plee Bleue Levis Quebec 24 July 2024

Grande Plee Bleue Levis Quebec 24 July 2024

We met a nice couple, Mike and Debbie, who have been full timers for 9 years. They're retired now, but started when Deb was a traveling nurse. They're from Colorado and we do hope to cross paths with them again. They'll be wintering in Arizona too.

Tomorrow (25 July 2024) we're heading to Johnstown Ontario for four nights.