Old Quebec city

Wake up at 8am, went to Parliament to join the tour. I was the only visitor and have a personal tour at 9am.

From the Parliament, I went to the citadel at 10am but found out there was no changing of the guards in winter:( The only tour is at 1:30pm and otherwise I was not allowed to roam around. I took some pictures and went on the walking tour suggested by my guidebook.

First stop is at the Ursuline convent, but again it has limited hours in Winter. No luck:(

Walk further to city hall and took some pictures. According to the tour guide last night, this is the only building that has both its French and English name written on the main entrance.

This is because the french name is Hotel de Ville and tourist keep going inside to ask for a room:) The mayor got upset and decided to add the English name!

Next stop: the Museum of French America. The museum is free on Tuesday! It features a pretty good collection of early Quebec settlement relics, old scientific instrument used for studying science and a section of prominent french Canadian (besides Celine Dion:).

Stopped for a quick lunch, then it is off to the main attraction: "Chateau Frontenac". This is the beautiful landmark hotel that can be seen around the old city with stone wall and a green copper roof. Built by the Canadian Pacific Railway company, it is now managed by Fairmont.

I went to the wine shop, SAQ Signature in the hotel and bought a bottle of maple syrup wine, the local specialty.

Then it is down the Break Neck stairs to Le Petit Champlain. Break Neck stair is quite steep and so named because sailors would get drunk on shore leaves and break their neck on their way back to their ship.

Le Petit Champlain is the oldest shopping street in North America. In summer, it is supposed to be beautiful, but in winter look rather deserted. There was a place showing live glass blowing which is quite cool. I stayed there for a while, looking at glassblowing.

From Le-Petit Champlain, I took the Ferry across the Saint Lawrence river to Levi and take pictures of the Quebec skyline, then return just in time to visit the Museum of Civilization.

The museum has a good exhibit on the history of Quebec and Canada in general. I went to the Tin-Tin exhibit, but miss the exhibit on First Nation(ie the Native Canadian).

Dinner is at a contemporary french place call Le Paris Brest. I have the table d horte (ie Pri-fix menu). Ordered the leek tarlet with brie, beef consumme soup,braised bison with pasta and a chocolate mousse cake. Quite good, but not outstanding. Service is not consistent.