If there is one thing that I got clear about during my time in Michigan, Ontario and Quebec, it is how strategically important the Great Lakes and adjacent rivers have been in the course of human North American history. Québec City is considered the “cradle of French civilization” on this continent, and was a critical port city that was fought over again and again between New France and New England.
My day in Québec’s Old City was as cold, rainy and windy as I have had so far on this trip. I fear my photos don’t do it justice. Vieux-Québec, remarkably preserved within its hundreds of years old fortified walls, is exceptionally lovely.
-
- That’s the edge of Lake Ontario on the left under the word Google. Québec City and Montréal are both on the Saint Lawrence River between the Atlantic and the Great Lakes.
-
- From the edge of the Saint Lawrence River, looking at Old Québec at the top of the hill. Place des Canotiers.
-
- Place-Royale, Old Québec
-
- Place-Royale, Old Québec
-
- Rue du Petit-Champlain, Old Québec
-
- Petit-Champlain Fresco, Old Québec
-
- Looking up from the lower area of Old Québec to the higher part
-
- You can see the funicular at the far end of the street to the upper part of Old Québec.
-
- I took the stairs. These are about half of them.
-
- That is a larger quantity of maple syrup than I ever imagined.
-
- Old Québec is a UNESCO World Heritage Site
-
- Looking out over the St. Lawrence River from atop Old Québec
-
- Le Château Frontenac, Old Québec
-
- Place d’Armes, Old Québec
-
- Beautiful, whatever it is! Old Québec
-
- Rue Saint-Louis See one of the arches in the wall around Old Québec at the far end of the street.
-
- Just nice architecture! Old Québec
-
- Jean-Olivier-Briand Building, Séminaire de Québec, Old Québec
-
- Canons still pointed at the St. Lawrence River – where enemy ships would approach – at the wall around Old Québec, high on its hill
-
- Isn’t this fountain adorable? Look at those squirty little waves! Old Québec
-
- Dufferin Terrace, Old Québec
-
- Jardins des Gouverneurs, Old Québec
-
- The national influences in Québec
-
- Gandhi! This was just outside of the wall around Old Québec, in the Parc de l’Esplanade, across from the Place de l’Assemblée Nationale.
