Sept. 18 - Old Québec, QC

“The pleasure we derive from journeys is perhaps dependent more on the mindset with which we travel than on the destination we travel to” – Alain de Botton

Our last day in Old Québec was cold and windy, not a good day to be outside, but it gave me a chance to do a little shopping. Since it was a dreary day and not a good day for taking pictures I thought I'd share more pictures from our first two days in Old Québec. I think we walked up and down every little cobblestone street (Rue) in town...at least once. I'm in love with this city.

A few of the streets in Upper Town. This is Rue des Jardins, just around the corner from our loft.

Bellos Restaurant on Rue Saint Louis

Rue Saint Anne (just down the street from our loft). It's a picturesque pedestrian street with colorful bistros, boutiques and craft stalls.

Rue de Trésor is just off Rue Saint Anne. During the French Regime, settlers would come to the Royal Treasury Office here to pay their taxes. Now it's a bustling open-air art gallery.

Rue Saint Jean is full of cafés, restaurants, bars and shops. It's one of the most popular streets in Old Québec.

Cote de la Farique begins at the end of Rue Saint Jean

Notre-Dame-de-Québec Basilica located at the end of Cote de la Farique. The church was built in 1647 under the French Regime. The cathedral has since been expanded, bombarded and burnt to the ground. In 1925 it was rebuilt according to the original plans.

Steps are not the only way to get from Upper Town to Lower Town, you can take the Old Québec Funicular. It's a railway that links the Haute-Ville (Upper Town) to the Basse-Ville (Lower Town). Climbing at a 45-degree angle, the railway covers a total distance of 210 feet. The funicular was first opened on 1879 and has since been totally revamped with modern technology. 

Views from the Funicular 

The following streets are in Lower Town. This is Rue Sous le Fort looking up at the Funicular.

Rue Sous le Fort with a view off the Funicular and the Château Frontenac in the background.

 Rue des Paines Bénits close to Place Royal

A view of Québec City's Old Port from the wall on the east side of town. This area has been a hive of activity, from its heyday in the 19th century as one of the world's five biggest ports to its status today as a popular cruise destination.

Looking out of one of the windows in the old wall towards Québec City's Old Port.

Terrasse Dufferin is a beautiful terrace along the St. Lawrence River built 1879. It's located just below the Château Frontenac. The walkway offers spectacular views of the St. Lawrence River. Formerly a military fortification, it's now a public park.

View from Terrasse Dufferin of Lower Town.

One afternoon we walked The Governors Promenade, it's a giant boardwalk that connects the Plains of Abraham Park to the Dufferin Terrace. The elevated promenade stretches along the Citadel with the fortification wall on one side and a gorgeous view of the St. Lawrence River on the other.

Views from the promenade. This is looking east towards Montmorency Falls and Pont de I'ile Bridge that leads to Île d'Orléans. Both places we visited before coming home. (Blogs to follow)

Looking towards Île d'Orléans with the Québec City-Lévis Ferry in the foreground.