External Stairs

 

This is a very common sight all over the province of Quebec, especially in the cities like Montreal. Small buildings have external stairs which are the main access to the upper units - not as fire escapes. It would be interesting to know if the purpose is to save internal space that staircases would take up. I have no idea of the answer.

A Fountain

 

I love a nice fountain and this one was a beauty.  I had shown you the frogs in the lower pool a couple of weeks ago and thought I should post the whole thing.

Small Door

 

One thing I noticed in a few places around old Quebec City were these small doors at ground level in homes. I have no idea what they could be for but wonder if it was something to do with coal delivery in the old days. I still remember coal being delivered to my parents house through a basement window & into a coal bin.  Any ideas?  And look how steep that street was!

Lots Of Character

 

I loved the facade of this restaurant in old Quebec City. It looks like it has been there for many years and has so much character.

Taking part in Signs2. Click HERE to see more signs from around the world.

An Acrobat

 

This sculpture by Nicole Taillon brought Cirque Du Soleil to my mind.  The figure looks like one of their acrobats or clowns don't you think?

Clock

 

I loved the style of this clock found over the entrance to a store in old Quebec City. 

Beads

 

"Remembering Through Beads" by First Nation artist Ludovic Boney references the wampum beads that First Nation peoples used for trading and recording history & events. This piece was located at a high park overlooking the St Lawrence River.

A Car In The Doorway

 

I never did figure out the story behind this Fiat parked in what looks to be the entrance to a cafe or gallery. I only saw the doorway opened once so never got the story. It makes for a great shot though.

Contrasting Hotel

 

As a complete contrast to yesterday's large hotel, the vast majority of hotels in old Quebec City are small like this one which looks like it is in what had been an old house. Cute isn't it?

Taking part in Signs2. Click HERE to see more signs from around the world. 

A Grand Hotel

 

This is the Chateau Frontenac hotel, one of the grand railway hotels built by the Canadian Pacific Railways in the late 1800s. It was built in 1893 and sits at the edge of the upper old Quebec City and looks down across this wide boardwalk to the St Lawrence River. There are over 600 rooms in the hotel which is a designated historic site.

Open Walls

 

Another mural found in the lower town in old Quebec City, this one shows what we might have seen going on behind the walls of the building in the past. Unfortunately that gate was always closed and locked so we see only the upper floors with many different activities. 

Taking part in Monday Murals. Click HERE to see more murals from around the world. 

A Chapel

 

This small church is the chapel of the convent of the Ursuline nuns. It was quite pretty inside and out. They also had a museum showing the history of the nuns in old Quebec City.

A Boy With Bears

This boy with his teddy bears was spotted in the front garden of a home that had been converted from a monastery to a house. The artist is Willie Verginer.  I hope the bears can count as creatures for Saturday's Critters.

To see more creatures from around the world click HERE.
 

Evening Meal

 

There are a lot of restaurants in old Quebec City but also a lot of tourists so reservations are usually needed. In the evening all the lights come on and the streetscape is wonderful. I particularly liked the look of this one.

An Old World Street

 

This is a typical side street in old Quebec City with its cobblestone road and buildings with apartments and sometimes a cafe on the ground floor. Some of these places are even small hotels.

An Irish Pub

 

There seem to be a lot of Irish pubs in Old Quebec City which I guess isn't surprising when one thinks of all the Irish people who landed there in the 1800s and have assimilated into the French culture. I did try out this Pub St-Patrick. Once again Blogger  has really darkened this pic. 

Taking part in Signs2. Click HERE to see more signs from around the world.

Walking The Hills

 

It feels like all of the streets in Old Quebec City are uphill but there are a few that are not really steep.This is a fairly steep one which I climbed several times a day. That is a nice little cafe for a bit of lunch and a glass of wine.

A View From Below The Cliff

 

The Old Quebec City has 2 sections, the lower part which is at the bottom of the cliff that completes the parts not surrounded by the wall, and the main part which is the upper city. This mural was painted on the side of a building in the lower town and shows a typical street scene looking up the hill towards the top. Those are really steep streets to climb. The whole of old Quebec City is an UNESCO heritage site.

Taking part in Monday Murals. Click HERE to see more murals from around the world. 

Notre Dame Cathedral Quebec City.

 Notre dame Cathedral in Quebec City is the oldest church in Canada. There was a mass being said when I entered so I was unable to get close to the altar. The exterior of the building is undergoing a major restoration so was surrounded by scaffolding and building materials. It was quite a majestic place inside.

A Walled City

 

Quebec City can be divided into two parts by these thick walls that separate the old 17th century town from the more modern areas. It is the only walled city in North America north of Mexico. I spent my whole time in the old charming city walking up and down the very hilly streets.