Friday 23 September 2016

Quebec

Just returned from my latest adventure in the beautiful Canadian province of Quebec, gathering research for my next two novels (books two and three of the Josiah Stubb Trilogy) and I thought I might share just a few of the gazillions of photos I took along the way.


 First stop was Quebec City and the Old Town, of which a visit is never complete without taking a picture of the most photographed hotel in the world - Chateau Frontenac.

The streets in Old Town are narrow, and chock full of old world charm. Many of these houses were present during the siege of 1758-59, the time of the novels.

Just a very small part of the fortifications of the Citadel. Built by the British after the American Revolution, they have no part to play in the novels, but are impressive, nevertheless.

For the history buffs out there, I purchased a miniature of a cannon at the museum of the Royal 22nd Regiment - the famous Van Doos - and mounted it on a piece of slate I picked up at L'Anse au Foulon, where the British landed in the dark of night, on September 13, 1759, just six hours prior to the Battle of the Plains of Abraham. As a footnote I'll add that I walked over the site on September 13th, exactly 257 years after the famous battle.

Prior to that, General Wolfe had tried to pierce the French defences at Monmorency Falls, and got his nose bloodied for him. As you can see, I was able to get quite close (and got soaked for my pains.) 

 With Quebec in my rearview mirror, I followed scenic Highway 320 out to the city of Gaspe, out on the eastern tip of the Gaspe Peninsula.

 

While there, I stayed at William Wakeham House. Very old and quaint by our standards out here on the prairies, my room was the one in the middle with the large dormer. Joking, I asked the desk clerk if it was haunted. After some hesitation, he assured me that my room was safe....


 Part of my research included viewing the shoreline from the sea. What better way of doing that than in a whale watching tour...?

 And with that it was a six hour drive back to the airport, overnighting in beautiful Riviere de Loup, and the sun setting on my most excellent adventure.
 


 


 

5 comments:

  1. Replies
    1. Cheers Aileen! Great subject matter. Even I couldn't screw it up! :D

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  2. It must have been thrilling realising you were in that historic place 257 years later. A real sense of connection.

    Wonderful photographs. Thank you for sharing.

    I have to ask, was Poutine to your taste?

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    Replies
    1. Very thrilling, and yes, a real sense of connection - very well put. There's a footpath now, so I walked down Foulon from the heights, and was given an idea of what a massive undertaking it was, and to think that the British dragged cannon up there as well, and fought a battle just a few hours later!! It's definitely a story that needs to be told.

      Ah yes! Poutine! I had some at the airport in Montreal. Quite good, and it filled me up for the rest of the day.

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  3. It must have been thrilling realising you were in that historic place 257 years later. A real sense of connection.

    Wonderful photographs. Thank you for sharing.

    I have to ask, was Poutine to your taste?

    ReplyDelete