Bonjour from Montreal!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
We've been here since Sunday evening, but this is the first opportunity I've had to get near a comupter.
I kind of feel like an errant teenager.
Stephen's parents have gone to a doctor's appointment, and as soon as they left we ran to the computer.
Next, we'll be eating junk food and playing rock and roll so loud the neighbours call the police.
Or we'll have sex.
Ohhh. . .the possibilities.
The drive was one of our more eventful and entertaining expiditions.
Rain was our roadside companion from Fredericton to just across the New Brunswick/Quebec border when rain tranformed before our very eyes to snow.
Which wasn't a problem until we drove through St. Loius de Ha Ha, Notre Dame de Lac, towards Riviere de Loup.
Because not only did we have to deal with a heavier snowfall on a two lane highway, but said highway wasn't plowed.
At all.
So instead of cruising along at a comfortable 120 kms, Stephen was hunched over the steering wheel crawling at 60 kms.
Because we are sans snow tires.
And his fears were not one bit aussaged when the 80s Camaro from Alberta in front of us did a complete 360 into the next lane.
Things did not improve until we got to Riviere de Loup and onto the20, or the Jean Lesage Highway, which took us all the way to Montreal.
And there was no 70s on 7 let me assure you.
Calming and soothing classical music all the way, thank you very much.
After our traumatic travels, we were more than ready to stop in Quebec City for a visit with cousins Donna and Andrij.
They met us in the IGA parking lot just off the highway and became our travel guides on a well deserved and much enjoyed adventure through Quebec City and into Old Quebec.
We drove along the St. Lawrence, looking at the lovely trails put in for Quebec City's 400th birthday.
Saw ferries cutting zig zag paths through the breaking ice as they travelled to and from Quebec City and Levis.
Best of all was the journey into the Petit Champlain district.
It was like walking to a fairy tale.
Magic.
Rows of art galleries, restaurants, clothing stores, kitchen supplies direct from France housed in 17th century buildings.
It was like stepping into a small European village.
I stood and stared for several minutes trying to take it all in.
We strolled along looking inside the shop windows. Stephen was particularly taken with an art gallery displaying glassware.
Stained glass, blown glass, witch balls. . . .
We restrained ourselves from going in, knowing if we did we'd be staying in Quebec City until our next pay day.
We came into a small square with a church on one side, shops across from it, and beside it, 17th Century homes.
I wanted to move in immediately.
A man came out of a convenience store across from the houses carrying a 2 liter carton of milk, and I was struck at how out of place the milk looked.
It should have at least been in a bottle.
Even the convenience store selling milk and egg and bread was in a breathtaking building.
A giant mural depicting Old Quebec then and now was stunning. . .I know I didn't take in even one quarter of it.
We took the Funicular to the upper streets.
Its the escalator like thing in the center of the picture.
While inside we had a stunning view of the St. Lawrence river.
I could have stayed inside and simply ridden up and down, up and down for the remainder of the day.
At the top, we decided to wander into the Chateau Frontenac.
We wandered through the lobby, taking in the luxury and beauty of it.
And it was just the lobby.
I had to remind myself that throwing myself on the floor to stare at the ceilings would not be looked upon kindly by hotel employees.
Or Stephen., Donna and Andrij.
We took a return trip on the Funciular, as the steps were wet and slippery, and ended our visit with dinner in the most enchanting resaturant in the Petit Champlain district, Le Lapin Saute: http://www.lapinsaute.com/.
Delicious, divine, mouthwatering. . .and that was just the restaurant.
The food was an entirely different level of delicious, divine and mouthwatering.
I had the rabbit pie with homemade fruit ketchup.
First, the portion was huge.
A wedge of pie big enough for me and Stephen, should I have wanted to share.
Which I didn't.
Rabbit with potatoe, mushroom, shallots. . . .
I'd never heard of Simply for Life at that moment.
Stephen wasn't feeling adventurous enough to try the rabbit, so he had the roast chicken breast with basil and sundried tomato pesto.
It was glorious.
I can't remember the names of Donna and Andrij's dishes, however, the looked and smelled like heaven.
Lovely red wine, fabulous conversation, warm, inviting atmosphere.
After dinner we had cafe au lait. . . .in bowls.
I have never had coffee from a bowl.
But I could easily make a habit of it.
With truffles, no less.
One each.
Stephen asked if he was supposed to put his truffle in his cafe au lait.
Andrij raised and eyebrow, looked at Stephen quizzically, and said, "I suppose you could if you wanted."
We were loath to leave, however, the open road to Montreal was beckoning, and the clock was telling us that if we didn't leave soon, we wouldn't leave at all.
Many, many thanks for the wonderful and generous hospitality of Donna and Andrij. We will have to return the delight on our next trip here, or, their next trip to Fredericton.
Yesterday was also quite an adventure.
Sitting in the backseat of Stephen's parent's car while his dad negotiates the snow covered streets of Montreal in a snowstorm to take us to Costco.
Stephen in Costco is a site to behold.
But we'll save that for the next blog entry.
No sense in overwhelming you with the details in one sitting.
Meanwhile, back at the ranch, Em, Mer and Keith were busy trying to balance work and depressed dogs.
Frankie and Tikka are most unhappy, and I expect we will be made to pay for our absence we we arrive home tomorrow evening.
Em is trying to hold down the fort.
Keith is sick and miserable, literally miserable.
Mer is eating us out of house and home while sleeping in our bed.
First thing when we arrive home, then?
Change the sheets.
Title Lyric: Quebec City Blues by Yesterday's Ring
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