Friday, 28 December

Quebec

Woke up to snow for our last day in Quebec. We’ve now had snow showers, snow flurries and snow. Walking was a challenge as it hadn’t all been swept away or gritted and it was difficult to discern the edge of the footpath and kerb. Also very icy in places. I could feel my leg muscles complaining after taking so many tiny, tentative steps.

Bus into town, coffee at the nice place where we had it yesterday and then off to the funicular to take us down to the lower town. Unfortunately the funicular was closed for snow clearing. We had intended to take the ferry across the river and back but they didn’t seem to be going anywhere fast so we went to plan B and headed for the Plains of Abraham Museum. But first we stopped to watch people having a ball on a toboggan run right outside the Château Frontenac.

I had to put my glasses away as the snow was freezing onto them and I couldn’t see. As soon as we entered the nice, warm museum the ice on our coats melted and dripped everywhere. I’m happy to say they had dried out by the time we left. The museum is in a building that looks like a castle. The displays were well done, very hands-on for kids and adults alike.

From there we walked back to Rue Cartier, which has become our favourite street, passing some interesting sights along the way, including a bloke with a little chainsaw sculpting an Indian out of ice.

After lunch in a very pleasant deli we trudged through more snow to our bus stop and caught the bus home. Peak hour and very crowded, but what an excellent bus service. About 15 minutes is the longest wait we’ve had, when we just missed a bus.

Arriving home our challenge was to make it up the ice covered stairs to our apartment. I held on with both hands, stepped extremely cautiously and made it to the top. Tomorrow we have to get down again - with our luggage!