Thursday, August 17, 2023

Quebec City, Canada

Today it was time to leave the ship and all the pampering behind.  Started the day with a tour. I have visited here before, but there is always more to see and explore.

Quebec City was established by the French settler Samuel de Champlain before the British landed on these shores. Towering over the banks of the Saint Lawrence River, it was initially known as New France and is one of North America's oldest cities and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. 

Started with a drive through the Old Town, beginning in Lower Town filled with shops, restaurants and Palace Royale and the oldest standing Catholic Church in Canada, Notre-Dame-des-Victories. Then ventured to Upper Town with  the beautiful National Battlefields Park and views of the St. Lawrence River and city. 

Next stop was Montgomery Falls - the photos say it all. Sunny skies and great views. The last stop was Westlake on the outskirts of Quebec City, a First Nations Village within the French nation. 

Time to begin the journey home, and oh what a journey with delayed flights in Canada, and thank goodness in Chicago, or we would not have made it home. The walk to get to customs in Chicago was two to three miles, so thankful that we had Global Entry so we did not have to wait in the long, long lines. Then we had to take a tram to another terminal (still not knowing if we could make our flight) and go through TSA again, where my bag got tagged for a "rock" - a carved bear. Got to the gate and the flight was delayed and delayed and delayed. Still better than spending the night in Chicago. 

Nice to be back in SUNNY Denver.