Destination Québec

DAY 3: MAJESTY AND MAGIC

We were excited to venture out into the city and take in the sites and beauty we had seen in Old Québec City the day before. The city evoked wonder and excitement as the streets became vibrant and alive. Everyone was warm and welcoming.

Historic Old Québec City was charming and unique with its architectural beauty. Boutiques and cafés lined the streets and horses drew carriages past stately old homes. We stopped at the cliffside boardwalk for amazing views of the St. Lawrence River and great photo ops. Indeed this highly walkable and enjoyable district felt like a living history book, with a new story to tell at every turn. The Plains of Abraham was like a kind of Central Park, and offered stunning views of the river. Truly an extraordinary landscape.

The attractions were endless. Oh yes, let’s not forget the Mural of Québecers, which pays tribute to the great figures in Québec’s history and to its citizens, and comes to life with its impressive scale and rich colors. All of this, combined with winding streets and quaint town squares…

Truly, in its immense historical value, this city deserves to be called a World Heritage Site. Another great thing about Québec City was the never ending chain of festivals and events the area had to offer. The city felt like a giant outdoor stage. Most memorable will be Petit-Champlain Street, with its staircases, flower boxes and signs along small shops and cafes. The Louis-Jolliet House, built in 1683, was inspiring. Le Chateau Frontenac was majestic as well as breathtaking.

We will always hold historic Old Québec City dear to our heats, and will return for our honeymoon.

Seen from a distance, Montmorency Falls was spectacular in its astonishing natural setting. We got a much closer look as we took a ride up the cable car to the top of the falls. Once we reached the top, we were amazed by the numerous view points and stunning lookouts over the St. Lawrence River.

The Manor House, where we had breakfast, offered a beautiful terrace with panoramic views for great pictures. The boutiques and reception rooms were charming. The presentation was buffet style, which offered an array of cheeses, French food and freshly baked breads. An accordion was being played as backdrop music, creating a soft and very French ambiance.

The waterfalls are impressive, reaching almost 85 m high. That’s one and a half times the height of Niagara Falls. Dazzling, impressive, striking and overpowering are but a few words to describe the emotions Montmorency Falls evoked.

Later that day, we had the thrill of exploring the canyon carved out of the rocks by the majestic and towering St. Anne Falls. Mother Nature in all her grandeur inspired in us a sense of reverence and awe. This is truly a great place to meditate as you walk through the giant potholes, paths and cascades of the mini-canyon. It is undoubtedly one of the most amazing attractions Québec has to offer.

We must say walking across several suspended bridges was invigorating, stimulating our spirits. One of them is among the highest in Québec at 60 m high.

As we continued to absorb the canyon’s beauty, we learned it was now time to “take the plunge”. We obviously came to experience the canyon and all it had to offer, so it was now time to strap on a helmet and ride the suspended cable across to the other side.

Anxiety, doubt and anguish begin to take over my fiancé as he stood on the edge of the cliff, staring down at what he thought perhaps could be his last sight. I could not stop laughing! Robert had volunteered to go first and was being strapped in, but he was seriously hesitating, so I offered to go first and be brave for him.

Needless to say it was awesome! Then it was time for my future husband to go. I kept cheering him on to cross as he finally did it, with a facial expression I will never forget!

The Hôtel Manoir Victoria was stately and impressive. Our suite was beautiful and spacious with two romantic fire places and great views of the city. The guest service representative, Bernard, was pleasant and helpful. We really loved the location—right in the middle of Old Québec City—and the fact that the hotel offered valet parking meant that we could leave the car and enjoy what the city had to offer.

Everything we wanted to see in Old Québec City was an easy walk away. Overall, the Manoir Victoria was fantastic! Of course we’ll stay there again. We had a memorable weekend getaway, in a perfect location. We couldn't have asked for more.

As the night approached, it was now time to experience the Cirque du Soleil. We obviously had heard about the Cirque and their grand shows in Las Vegas at The Mirage. This travelling outdoor show brought the streets of the lower town to life, and it was a free show for all to come and enjoy.

The performers were dazzling as they interacted with the crowd and provided a magical fantasy world coupled with dance and acrobatics. The effects were overwhelming and took you through different dimensions of advanced technical effects and the symbolic use of fire. We could not help but hold each other’s hand tightly as we experienced this fascinating show together.

Truly the Cirque du Soleil is an amazing form of live entertainment, where the drama of fantasy plays itself out before your very eyes, awakening the senses and sparking the imagination.