Overnight we made our way up the St Lawrence seaway to arrive at today’s destination, Quebec City, at around 6.30am. A beautiful red sky greeted us proving the old saying “red sky in the morning shepherd’s warning” totally wrong, as it turned out to be a glorious day.
The Quebec skyline is dominated by the large Hotel Chateau Frontenac which was to be the focus of our visit today.
As we are here in the city for two full days there was no hurry to leave the ship too early so we had a leisurely breakfast followed by the morning trivia. The numbers were rather depleted this morning but that doesn’t diminish our winning score of 19/20, our third win in three days.
Leaving the ship we took a slow walk through the lower old town passing decorated houses…
….and large murals painted on their sides.
This one depicting famous people from the region.
Many of the shops were decorated in Autumn (sorry Fall) colours as were the squares that separated the streets.
The hotel, where we had booked a guided tour, is situated on the higher level of the town which is accessible via a funicular railway. This is such an iconic part of Quebec that queues formed for it snaking down the street.
Rather than wait for the line to disappear Sylvia and I took the alternate route, up the steps.
The top of the stairs opened up to a large open area known as Montmerency Park and it was here that the documents creating the country of Canada were originally signed. Pulling the various territories and provinces together into one country. It is now a very pleasant park where the maple trees are beginning to show a little of the colour that we have been looking forward to.
Along the front of the hotel is a wide boardwalk where people from the four cruise ships that were in port today were walking and enjoying the sunshine.
It was here where we were to meet our tour guides for our trip around the hotel and they arrived in appropriate historical dress.
The guides gave a brief history of the hotel explaining that it was built by the Canadian Pacific Railway company and is one of a series of hotels built to mimic castles along the railway routes. This was because although many people in the 1920s wanted to visit Europe the long sea journey put them off. Canadian Pacific thought that the hotels would give the visitors a taste of Europe whilst staying in Canada. It proved so popular that the hotel was gradually expanded as it gained in popularity.
The tour took us through the reception area,which still contained many of the original fixtures and fittings, and onto some of the other public areas. The guide went on to explain that in August 1943 the hotel was given 24 hours notice to vacate all guests from the hotel and prepare for a special visitor. Being a very Roman Catholic. area the natural thought was that the Pope was making a surprise visit but it was the US President (Franklin D Roosevelt), the British Prime Minister (Winston Churchill) together with the Canadian Prime Minister (Mackenzie King). These three along with their advisors were here to discuss the latter stages of World War 2 including formulating the Normandy Landings the following year. It is believed that these meetings took place in the Rose Suite.
The trip was very worthwhile and the guide related a number of funny tales about guests and various parts of the hotel.
Just opposite the hotel sits Quebec’s main cathedral, which is styled in the French way on the exterior…
….while the interior is more Italian.
While we talk about autumn colours we must also remember that Christmas is not too far away and Quebec has this covered with a large Christmas shop.
All this walking and climbing of steps made us a bit peckish and what better way to quell that hunger than with a bit of that Canadian national dish. Poutine. Delicious!!
A walk back to the ship down umbrella lined streets completed today’s visit to the city.
Tonight the ship moves to a different berth but we will do more exploring tomorrow.