Canada - Day 8

Up early, intending to explore the Old Port.  As we looked out of the window we could see the Saga Sapphire leaving:

Out onto the streets for a mooch around. Once again, I was impressed by the use of relatively high-tech solutions to problems; in the UK this would have probably involved a significant scaffolding structure:

There were constant reminders that Quebec City is constructed on a number of levels:

The view along Rue St Pierre - home to a number of up-scale galleries and antique shops:

Amanda getting all "arty":

Interesting window installation at the Galerie-Loft de création Gisèle Boulianne on Rue du Sault-au-Matelot:

Oh no! - "crotchet stuff" - keep Amanda moving:

I really loved the way that all the hydrants in the old port were as beautifully decorated as this one:

La Vivrière:

Around the corner onto Rue St Paul:

and all the way to the end to the Hôtel Le Saint-Paul and its integral restaurant / bistro, Le Veravin:

We were served by a lovely young girl who claimed to be impressed by my French.  

Breakfast was ordered.  Pancakes with maple syrup for Amanda:

 and eggs, bacon, home-fried potatoes and toast for me:

Well fortified, we headed out and back towards the river and the Old Port.  

The view back towards the city, with the Frontenac dominating the skyline as always:

From a distance this statue looks for all the world like a young sailor cheerily bidding farewell before joining his ship:

It's only as you get closer and see the look of almost infinite sadness on his face:

and then read the plaque on the base, that the reality hits you:

Some 12,000 men and women served in Canada’s Merchant Navy during World War II, and made more than 25,000 Atlantic crossings.  This memorial commemorates the 267 merchant marine sailors from Quebec who lost their lives.  I found it to be one of the most poignant and moving war memorials I have seen.

Views across the marina known as Bassin Louise:

Much more walking, past many of the sailing boats, ending up not far from where we started:

A walk around the Marché du Vieux-Port (a fresh food / flower market, now relocated elsewhere and not pictured here), and we made our way to Café La Maison Smith Notre-Dame (or Café Smith as it became known to us), looking out onto Place Royale:

A revitalising drink and snack:

and then out for more exploring.  The view up Rue Sous le Fort:

towards the Funiculaire du Vieux-Québec:

The view along Rue du Petit Champlain, a quaint and very popular shopping street:

We used the funicular to ascend to the Terrasse Dufferin and our closest views yet of the Frontenac:

Along the Terrasse to the start of the Promenade des Gouverneurs - a collection of walkways and 310 steps that links the Terrasse to the Citadelle de Québec:

Views back along the way we had come:

including, in the far distance, the Île d'Orléans Bridge:

The Quebec City Ferry:

Three coastguard vessels moored below us:

Just before the river starts to freeze, the regular navigation buoys seen on the quay on the right of the picture above are replaced by these ice spars (winterised markers):

Retracing our steps we took the funicular back down to the Old Town and made our way again to the Café Smith, which was to become our "chez away from chez" over the next few days:

I have to confess that there were times that I looked out of the window onto Place Royale and was reminded of 'Allo Allo':

As we left we noticed that the doors of the Notre Dame des Victoires Church were open:

and popped inside:

Back to the hotel to collapse after a long day of walking.

After a rest and, too tired to venture far for sustenance, we agreed that we'd both be happy with a return visit to Artefact.  

A club sandwich for me:

and a chicken Caesar salad for Amanda:

A brief rest in the lounge while we waited for the turn-down service to be completed and then we made our way back to Room 403 and retired for the night.  Our room, like every other one in the hotel, featured a small glass presentation case containing a historical artefact recovered from the underlying archaeological site: