Foregoing breakfast, we had some orange juice in the room and then headed out.
A walk to the Gare de Palais, where I made enquiries and we were directed to a bus stop on the Boulevard Jean Lesage, from where we caught the 800 Metrobus to the Montmorency Falls.
After about a 30 minute ride through the suburbs we got off to begin exploring.
First some orientation. The bus dropped us off at point A on this map:
We walked along the track (A-B), the end of which can be seen behind Amanda, who is seen resting here on a seat carved out of a tree-trunk (one of many in the area):
The cables anchored to the ground, also seen behind Amanda and here in close-up:
are what holds up the suspension pedestrian bridge across the Falls, seen here in a picture taken later in the day:
A view of the first (shallow) drop from the 'near' end of the bridge:
and a view of the much deeper drop on the other side of the bridge:
A number (quite a large number!) of pictures and videos taken on the bridge:
In moments of uncertainty, Amanda does like a nice handrail:
The Falls are nearly 100 feet higher than those at Niagara, though the volume of water flowing here is significantly less:
A view of one of the observation platforms at the side of the falls:
A 'much zoomed' view back towards Quebec City:
A view past the Manoir Montmorency restaurant back to the city:
Dodgy-looking geezer: "Psst - wanna buy a suspension bridge?"
The cable car that provides the quickest means of getting up and down the falls:
A view across the St Lawrence River:
For those with the stamina, having crossed over the falls by means of the bridge it is usually possible to make your way down a series of staircases to stop at various observation decks on the far side.
During our visit, these stairs were closed:
but we had a mooch around the area at the top of the falls on the far side.
On maximum zoom, the speck in the middle of the basin at the bottom of the Falls could be identified:
The view of the cafes, shops etc, adjoining the car-park at the bottom of the Falls:
A view back towards the bridge we had crossed:
A panoramic view of the bridge and the far side of the Falls:
Another view back to the city:
And what was this fine-looking dwelling on the other side of the Falls?
Probably the smartest public conveniences either of us had ever visited!
The Falls were mesmerizing:
and we began to get some understanding as to why the staircases on this side were closed - the spray was almost completely enveloping the lower observation deck:
A view across the Falls to Manoir Montmorency:
The site of some of the British fortifications from the Battle of Beauport:
Eventually, having seen everything we wanted to on the 'far' side of the Falls we headed back to the side from which we had started and began the scenic walk to the upper cable car station:
taking some more pictures and videos from the observation deck on that side:
The cables are part of a zipline that traverses the Falls. Was I tempted? Well - in England I had got as far as determining that my standard travel insurance didn't cover me for it, but I could add it as an option for around £100 more. Weighing up the probability that I would chicken out by the time I actually got there I declined the upgrade - which was probably just as well, because the zipline wasn't operating on the day we were there...
When we arrived at the cable car station the little boy in me was, of course, fascinated by the mechanism:
The car arrived to take us down:
More spectacular views on the way down:
The view of the returning car as it passed us:
Both cars seen from the lower station:
Refreshments in the cafe at the bottom:
followed by a comfort break:
before we spent more time admiring the Falls, this time from below.
He was still at it:
with his gear stowed on a tiny little out-crop in the middle of the basin:
Dodgy-looking tour guide:
Even dodgier-looking tour guide:
The water from the Falls passes through the basin, under a railway and pedestrian bridge (from which this was taken), under a freeway bridge and then into the St Lawrence River:
Obligatory touristy pix:
At last we decided it was time to return to the city, so we made our way back to the Metrobus 'turnaround':
Around 30 minutes later we alighted from the bus just opposite where we had caught it earlier in the day:
As we made our way back towards the hotel we were constantly reminded that the weather in Quebec City is not always this temperate, and heavy falls of snow and ice from rooftops are sufficiently dangerous and frequent to warrant warnings:
Along Rue Notre-Dame, past La Fresque des Québécois:
and once more into Café La Maison Smith Notre-Dame, where tea, chocolate doughnuts and a couple of macaroons kept the wolf from the door.
We purchased postcards from an adjacent shop and headed back to the hotel, but not before engaging in some holiday-related foolery:
The side entrance to the hotel:
Since the hotel is on a slope, this entrance brings you straight into Reception on the First Floor:
The view over the balustrade into Bar Artefact:
The view along our corridor:
and out of one of our windows:
A ship's siren alerted us to the fact that the Zaandam was leaving port:
A rest and a freshen-up, and we set out in search of dinner. Before doing so, we remembered to flip the switch just inside our room door; the effect of that was to illuminate the green indicator outside in the corridor, alerting Housekeeping and others that it was OK to knock on the door and enter:
While waiting for the lift down, Amanda studied yet another archaeological artefact mounted in the wall:
We had fully intended to walk to the Funicular and, thereby, to make our way up into the Old Town. However, once we got outside the hotel we both admitted that we were too tired to walk all that way, so we agreed instead on somewhere just a short stroll from the hotel:
In the shadow of the Crazy Pig:
I do like a nice pickle:
Amanda's pie contained lobster, crab, shrimp, scallops, salmon and potatoes in sauce, served with a green salad:
while I got stuck into an excellent rack of ribs, chips and salad - complete with croutons and lardons:
After the fresh air and exercise it disappeared quite quickly:
after which we had a short rest:
before tackling Sugar Pie and Chocolate Cake:
A slow walk back to the hotel by a slightly different route, down near the river. We came across a historic defensive position and, perhaps emboldened by the earlier beer, my companion declared, "Ils ne passeront pas!":
On arriving at the hotel there was a short wait while Housekeeping finished turning down the bed and performing their evening tidy, after which we retired for the night.
