August 10-11                           Quebec City, Canada

It was cool and sunny when we left the boat on a beautiful Saturday morning to catch the sightseeing bus at the market area.  Although it was not yet noon, the streets were crowded with walkers, bikers, and automobiles.  The annual festival celebrating the establishment of New France had attracted hordes of visitors to Quebec.

The bus ride had an excellent narrator (switching effortlessly from French to English) who gave a history of the area as he described the many sights along the way.  We moved slowly due to traffic and many streets being closed for the festival activities.  Everywhere we saw flowers.  Quebec City takes great pride in their many gardens and parks.  Quebec is the only walled city in North America outside of Mexico.  It has been declared a UNESCO heritage site.

We left the tour in the Lower Town (below the Chateau Frontenac in Upper Town) to walk the cobbled streets.  Amidst the tourists were many costumed citizens portraying various roles from life in the eighteenth century.  Booths along the lanes sold a variety of handcrafted items and a hurdy-gurdy player provided music.

Lunch was on the terrace of a charming restaurant in one of Lower Town’s oldest buildings.  Cote du Cote specialized in seafood.  We enjoyed an assortment of marinated calamari, salmon tartare, smoked trout, and shrimp with a coronet of frites.  It was fresh, light and delicious!

Our return to the Upper Town and Place Royal near the Hotel Frontenac was by funicular.  This interesting conveyance climbed the steep hill in about two minutes and saved us from much arduous effort.  Crowds of people filled the streets and shops. We were pleased to have an opportunity to see the interior of the Basilica of Quebec.  It was decorated in a splendid white and gold Baroque manner with a magnificent

 multi-piped organ.

We decided to return to the marina by walking in order to see more of the city.   It was a long, long journey and we collapsed upon reaching the boat.  THREE hour naps brought us back to life!

At ten o’clock that evening, we were treated to a fabulous fireworks display only a short distance from our marina.  With a “supermoon” overhead (the moon was very near the earth this weekend and exceptionally bright), clear skies, and no wind, it was a wonderful event and a highlight of the festival.

Sunday was a quiet day on the boat as we visited with others in the marina and observed the arrival of the Majestic, a 201 feet yacht.  The internet told us it had been owned originally by a Walmart heiress, the daughter of Sam Walton’s brother, Bud.  She sold it for $69 million dollars to a guy who owns a very successful investment firm on Wall Street.

We had noted on arrival the bright yellow and blue peaks of tents next to the marina and learned it was the summer home of Cirque du Soleil.  We bought tickets on line for an early Sunday performance and walked across the marina parking lot into the entrance of the main tent.  Could not have been easier! 

The show was titled Kurios, A Cabinet of Curiosities and like other Cirque du Soleil shows we have seen, it was exceedingly clever with a Surrealistic touch in the sets and props.  The costuming, lighting, and special effects were fabulous.  The acrobats, juggler, and trapeze performers were amazing and the comedy was delightful.  Precision, skill, and talent with a wonderful French flair!