Before I was blogging, my family and I used to spend whole summers in Canada. Over three summers, I've been to the major cities and toured the country extensive. I've only been back once with friends I have now, and the gay experience was much different, then with the family. While Vancouver and Montreal I enjoyed, Montreal was one of the most fun gay cities I've been...but I'd have to say Quebec City was, my favorite, being a old soul at heart, with it's charming taste of France without leaving the continent. Just strolling the cobbled streets, popping into boulangeries, cheese shops, and tucking into little nook and crannies was great fun. Old Quebec was great. The Chateau Frontenac is no doubt the crown jewel of the city. Although I found the interior rather dated. I wondered if they ever updated the interior? The streets of Petit-Champlain was a favorite of mine for shopping and drinking. The funicular, I believe it was called, was an incline dating back to 1879, and linked the Dufferin Terrace with the Lower Town. It was fun to ride and offered wonderful views of the neighborhood and St Lawrence River. I need to get back again. So many places, so little time...these brought back some fond memories.
Really nice post!
ReplyDeleteThank goodness for Canada, it provided many a get-a-away for us when we wanted to trip abroad, but didn't want to fly to another country. Never got into Niagara Falls...way to touristy... so Quebec was a nice option.... is a great city, and Old Quebec is very particularly, is the best way possible: beautiful buildings and art, coffee shops, and amicable people everywhere, with a hint of European style. William did the incline car...I don't like heights.
Been to Canada many a time, but never yet to Quebec. And why? This post sold me!!! You had me at the opening snap shot. I loved seeing Niagara Falls...but the falls themselves. WAY to MANY damn kids. I too did Montreal with my gay peeps. What a city.
ReplyDeleteAnd did someone say cheese shop?
Boy you do get around don't you?
ReplyDeleteLove this. I will have to put Quebec on my bucket list. The only part I have seen is Ottawa and Niagara Falls also. But I was very young.
"you do get around don't you?"
Deleteyou have no idea....
I may have been around the block, and have some serious mileage, but at least my under carriage is in tip top shape.
DeleteLOVE!!!! Because I’m from this amazing City, THIS is real ! It makes me homesick. I liveD right in Old City and going for a walk in old Québec never got tiring. Every season feels and looks different. The architecture is interesting and it has a vibe. The restaurants are great, with a fairly diverse menu to choose from, even we locals did lots of our shopping and eating here as well. For the most part, the idea is to walk the streets and absorb the history, don’t be shy to wander down a couple of side streets, you can be amazed at what you can find. After many many years of living there, I never did become bored when wandering the streets, compared to where I live now in the US.
ReplyDeleteOMG! I never knew you were from Canada! I can understand why you'd miss the city.
DeleteI love Old Quebec City and have been there several times over the years. When this pandemic is over, I plan to go again. It's been too long since I've had a drink at the Chateau Frontenac and ridden the funicular down to Old Town! Good shopping, good dining, it has it all!
ReplyDeleteYour so lucky to be near it! I so need to come back again.
DeleteI haven't been to Quebec since I was 11 years old. I loved it even then... more than 10 years ago. (Oh, be quiet.)
ReplyDeleteIn dog years?
DeleteLove the Chateau! That should be so much fun to visit, dated interior or not. I have always thought Toronto was the place to go because all my friends raved about it. The funicular reminds me of the Incline in Pittsburgh!
ReplyDeleteXOXO
I did love Toronto too, but not nearly as much as Montreal for some reason. I think Montreal had a night scene more closely related to NYC...filled with colorful characters.
DeleteI've only been to Canada once and unfortunately I was too young to fully appreciate it. Your photos are wonderfully intriguing (as always!).
ReplyDeleteIt certainly does have that "European feel"... I have relatives in Canada (Toronto), yet I have never been! One day, maybe - although there's plenty of Europe on our proverbial doorstep that I've never visited, either. Jx
ReplyDeleteSometimes...we have much that has gone unseen in our own backyard, so to speak.
DeleteQuebec City is the only place I've wanted to go and never did. A European style city in North America. How Wonderful these photos are!
ReplyDeleteYou can join me and JM on our road trip!
DeleteGirl, I think you should do a international Mistress Borghese-Tour of Sin, tour.
ReplyDeleteI think to see the Chateau one day would be something. When I went years ago, I was obviously with the wrong people. A lot of this went right over my head.
My time as a dual citizen the family
ReplyDeletenever went East of the western edge
of Alberta. Pictures are very pretty.
xoxo :-)
I too keep forgetting your from Canada too dear!
DeleteNo wonder this city is Unesco world heritage site. The history of the city mesmerizing in many ways. Would have loved to spend some more days visiting the city when I breezed through.
ReplyDeletebeen to montreal and vancouver and victoria, but not quebec city. looks lovely!
ReplyDeleteI've only ever been to Mississagua (sp) in Canda. And that was beautiful. I have cousins in Vancouver that have been inviting me to visit. I have just never found the time.
ReplyDeleteThe pictures you posted makes me want to go...
I urge you to visit Vancouver, having lived there for 6 months and then revisited years later; mountains, beaches all in one beautiful package. If I didn't live my side of the pond I'd live in Vancouver
DeleteLets do a road trip JM!
Deleteit is on my list of cities to someday see.
ReplyDeleteHaving visited there myself on more than one occasion, I can say it has a certain "je ne sais quoi."
ReplyDeleteNo doubt on your National Tour dear?
DeleteThe photos are great. Canada is wonderful.
ReplyDeleteLove,
Janie
Love Quebec, with it' old world charm. It feels like a very European city without crossing any pond.
ReplyDeleteYou've been to Quebec City? I'm jealous. Maybe one day, once Canada allows us American animals to cross the border again.
ReplyDeleteThe whole of Canada was beautiful. I think it's the only country I have spent a lot of time in and all over. But Quebec City is by far my favorite place.
DeleteI've been to Niagara Falls on the Canadian side, and also Toronto. In the latter there was Casa Loma, an early 1900s mansion/castle that's open to tourists. I recall it being smack dab in the middle of a modern commercial district. The contrast with its surroundings alone is something to see!
ReplyDeleteBut now you make me want to visit Quebec and see that huge building in the top picture. I take it that's the Chateau Frontenac. It looks like a cross between a mansion and a skyscraper office building.
I too loved Toronto, but not as much as Montreal, but more than Vancouver.I m now wondering if I didn't see Casa Loma. Did it look like a castle? Like a fairytale castle? I have a few pictures not marked by dad took, but not sure if it is. I have the feeling you'd love Quebec Kirk. Yes it's the Frontenac...excellent for dinner and drinks, but I didn't enjoy staying there the one time we did. The rooms bothered me.
DeleteYour post makes me long to go back to France, my favourite country.
ReplyDeleteFrance is on my list, but way down. I have some odd places on my bucket list still before France. Im one of those who goes to the less "go to" place I'm told.
DeleteBetween Harrisburg and NYC, I soooooo need to get out more henny.
ReplyDeleteOnce the pandemic lets up, the boy is itching to start touring Canada by way of Philadelphia first of course! Made you could join us?!?! Beautiful views, good food I hear, cute little shops, charming allies... what's not to like?
ReplyDeleteIncredible pictures! It's been forever since I was in Canada. I loved Old Quebec, it’s insanely pretty and it has so much character. I can't wait till we can do our trips together again.
ReplyDeleteVisited this city 27 years ago and it was just as beautiful as I remembered it from your pictures. I was always so impressed with, how this beautiful Canadian town has maintained it's quaint European identity and ambiance. I seem to remember though the food is very-expensive.
ReplyDeleteI’ve only been north of the border twice. The first time with my parents back in my 20s. Did Niagara Falls, Toronto and Montreal in a two week trip. This was before I had ANY relations with men or women, so I was just a wide eyed tourist. I enjoyed it and would love to go back sometime. Your tour sounds like much more fun.
ReplyDeleteNot been, gotta go, when they will let us in again.
ReplyDeleteI've only been to Toronto.... I think I would love the architecture of Quebec.
ReplyDeleteTravel: When I said "oh, be quiet," I meant everyone, not just The Mistress! (But, dog years would be an improvement. So, thanks!)
ReplyDeleteTravel: Di you know I'm nearly 337 years old?
ReplyDeleteYou don't look a day over 250!!!!
DeleteThanks! It's the moisturizers.
ReplyDeleteI would have liked the French taste spreaded more in North America. But France in the 18th century lost most of the colonies there.
ReplyDelete