Thursday 17th June - Tour to Quebec

Up early this morning to catch the tour bus for Quebec, which left at 0800hrs for the three hour drive north. We arrived there at 1100hrs and picked up a local guide, having been briefed by our driver during the journey. First off was a walking tour round the old town, in scorching sunshine, which is very European in character and very picturesque. It is much more hilly than Montreal.

Straight after this we were on the trip boat for a cruise down the St Lawrence to Montmorency Falls, allegedly higher than Niagara, that freezes up in the winter to form a substantial ice mountain.

The river here is fresh water but with tidal effects and is very wide in places. Cruise ships come here in the Autumn to see the changing colours of the trees.

The bus picked us up after the cruise for a short drive around the city, including the famous Plains of Abraham where the English troops won the battle to take Quebec.

We then had free time until we were to return at 1730hrs. A late lunch was due so we tried the local crepes, which came with maple syrup - sweet stuff with a savoury meal seems strange but those who tried it said it was good.

More walking, bumping into Rotarians and a cup of coffee ate up all our time and after a short delay we dozed our way back to Montreal. A walk through China Town led us to the Chinese Buffet for a relatively cheap meal with purple ice cream before returning to the Quality Hotel to retire.