Becks and the Cities

Hey guys! I’m back with another throwback post and this time, we’re in Québec City!! Tristan and I left Boston, MA early in the morning and drove the lovely 6.5 hours to Québec City (Québec, Canada). We made great timing and reached the border’s check-point by mid-afternoon.  We had our passports ready to check and cruised through border security. Once we got to the city, we parked and made a beeline for lunch.

After fueling up, we set out to explore the maizerets (Québec neighborhoods).  The French-speaking city is full of charming characteristics and friendly locals. The streets were bustling with happy families, talented artists, and manicured gardens. From the aged, cobblestone roads to the detailed architecture I felt like I was back in a European city. Truly beautiful!

It may have been 70 degrees and the middle of summer, but that didn’t stop me from experiencing some Canadian snow. And by snow, I mean: tire d’érable, aka SNOW TOFFEE! This sweet treat is a candy made by boiling maple sap to the point where it’s a syrup, but not a butter.  After it boils, it’s poured onto snow and lifted with a wooden stick. It’s a sticky situation (*insert cringe-y pun face), but delicious!

And let’s not forget to mention the major showstopper here in Québec City, Château Frontenac! This is an enormous railway hotel that is listed as a National Historic Site of Canada.  It’s one of the most photographed hotels in the world and has over 600 rooms with 18 floors!  Here’s your party fact: it was actually designed by an American architect (go Price go), with some contributions from a Canadian (Maxwell). The rooms range from $200- $1,752 per night (top notch bringing in the lux riverside view).  Sadly, we didn’t post up here, but we did find a nice Airbnb spot! One of my favorite photos I took here was of Salvador Dali’s “Space Elephant” in front of the hotel. 

Since I had been quoting the Hannah Montana line, “in Canada, where the moose are,” since we had crossed the border,  I was really looking forward to spotting a moose. I even looked up their migratory maps in the car. However, there weren’t any in our territory.   SO, I couldn’t help myself when I saw a tourist shop called, “Cool as a Moose,” as this was probably the closest I’d get to seeing a moose on this trip.  Could I get anymore stereotypical?? 

We also explored Old Town Québec just as the sun was setting, which made for some gorgeous shots! 

And with gorgeous shots, comes the comparable goofy ones. I was cracking up at Tristan’s canon poses just long enough to make a fool out of myself, too.    

Tristan took French in high school and college.  Even though it’s been a few years since he studied the language, he could still get us a seat at a restaurant and begin the menu ordering process.  I would always give ourselves away when the waiter asked me a direct question. All I could say was, “Sorry, I only speak English.”  They would smile, happily provide me with the English menu, and continue in my native language.

Although Québec City itself is English-speaking, 5 minutes outside of the wall is a different story.  Only 1.5% of Québec City speaks English and we became very aware of this statistic when we tried to order food.  The next morning after arriving, we left for the next city and stopped at a McDonald’s for a quick coffee, OJ, and breakfast sandwich. How hard could this be??- it’s McDonald’s for goodness sake (the universal fast-food restaurant)!  We opted for the drive-thru to make it easy. Tristan started with his French and after multiple questions about our simple order, Tristan had to give in, “I speak English.” This time, they did not! In the end, we ended up with an entirely different order! The memories!

We had a wonderful time visiting Québec City! From the historical landmarks to the French cuisine, there is always something to do in this city! Next week, I’m posting on my adventures in Montréal! See you then!