quirky Quebec

I was in a 'mood' as the Greyhound bus trundled along the outskirts of Quebec but as we climbed into the city that began to change. It was like waking up and finding you're in Europe.

Quebec City definitely has a more European feel and look to it than anywhere else in North America and it's an incredibly romantic destination - even if you're by yourself! I didn't meet anyone while I was there but I did fall in love - with the city.

very seductive city

What got me first was the heat and the intense humidity. The streets are narrow and steep and criss-cross in every direction. Many are still cobblestoned and a fair chunk of the old wall and the gates that once protected the French from the English are still standing. My hostel was inside Old Quebec, so on the inside of the gates and it was only a short stroll down to the gates or to head deeper into the heart of Old Quebec where you can walk to Chateau Frontenac, The Notre-Dame Basilica and the beautiful waterfront. Then there is also upper Quebec and Lower Quebec.

One evening I was standing in a park watching all the horses and carts go by (there's like a trillion but at least the horses here look well looked after but I feel sorry for them in this hot weather having to pull people around all day long) and i could see little old houses and shops and people walking around down in the lower part of the city. With all the church spires and funny old buildings it looks kinda like a fairytale place to me! I figured out how to get into the lower part and wound my way down. Here the streets look even older and are even narrower. There are lots of bars, cafes and restaraunts and a big tour group of about 50 people suddenly appeared out of nowhere to crowd the streets.

I wanted to go out for dinner just cos everything smelt so good but couldn't bring myself to go to a fancy restaurant - which is what EVERYTHING is so I ended up going to Quebec's version of fast food and trying Poutine for the first time. I expected it to be awful but it was okay. Just fries with cheese and gravy I think, or some sort of cheese curd stuff.

People like to sit on top of the old walls, which are covered in a grassy carpet, and chat or drink and hang out. It's a great view from up there too. The wall is lined with cannons. I can't figure out if there are more churches or cannons; it should be a counting challenge.

It's bizarre when you walk down a little street filled with old houses and then as the street winds around a huge modern building comes into view. The city is still mainly old at its core though. It can't be changed too much cos it's been made a world heritage site.

Another thing I liked about the city is there are so many street performers and musicians, and the musicians are actually talented. A lot play traditional romantic music you would expect to hear in Paris and then there are the wacky upbeat folk music people. It's the sort of city you can go to alone and there is always something new to discover or to distract you. The Montmorency Falls are amazing too.