Pbenjay's Blog

Many of my readers are personal friends and they know that we often travel with Peter’s sister and her husband.  We have been on some really great adventures with them and some,… well let’s just say I don’t always make great choices.  I say “I” because usually I am  the one that comes up with an idea of where to go.  Matt gets the ball rolling by asking “When are we going to go on a trip again”?  It’s not that they don’t travel a lot because they do and we  do not.   Once we bought the cottage we were financially obligated to it and our travel wings were virtually clipped.

In the past we have gone to South Africa with them, to an island “…who shall not be named”, to the Bahamas and now we are in Old Quebec City.  In December I got the idea to come up with a trip utilizing the miles I had accumulated on a credit card.  I had to book a trip by the end of  December or they would expire.  I didn’t have A LOT and wanted to get two tickets, go to a place that wouldn’t require traveling all day and would be interesting to all of us.  We are not resort people.  Why would I  go to a beach resort when I have my own cottage by the sea?  And also, we like to explore cities and experience their culture, which is why we always opt to stay in a Bed and Breakfast.   Quebec seemed like a great place for us to go.

Stacey agreed and when we booked this trip in December for April, I had visions of spring-like days where we would be able explore this ancient walled city on foot.  Well here we are;  It’s presently 48 degrees and pouring rain!!!  We’re used to being pedestrians and in fact that was one of the more attractive features of Old Quebec for us:  We would be able to walk everywhere  and not deal with renting a car.  Walking in the rain is a whole other story.  We arrived around noon and it was pouring  and it has been steadily raining ever since.   We ventured out, looking for a nearby place to have lunch;  Peter wanted an omelette.

Mous arrivons Chez Marie-Claire

YES we are having omelets

Photos courtesy of Matt Weinstein

We stopped at a cute little place called Cafeé Bistro L’Omelette. For a tourist city (read trap) the prices were reasonable (sort of) and lunch for the four of us was $50.  Not so reasonable after all and that was only lunch!  We walked around a bit and lo and behold what did we find but a Starbucks! What a spot they have – in the lower level of the Chateau Frontenac and on the  promenade overlooking the St. Lawrence Seaway.   From there we explored some of the shops and the beautiful lobby of this grandest of grand hotels.  It was virtually empty and one of the shop owners confirmed this is the very slow season.  I guess this  was one reason the room rates seemed attractive.  Duh ya think??

Not only is it raining, there are also mounds of snow here and there around the city.  Every time we have gone on a trip I’ve managed to find at least one place to visit that is unique to the country we are in and often off the beaten track.  I don’t know about this time.  So far all I’ve discovered is a street outside the walled city that is renowned for its Canadian cheese shops AND that would require us finding a cab and traveling outside of Old Quebec.

Gite Chez Marie-Claire (our B & B) is charming as are the owners, Marjorie and Pascal.  Our room is on the third floor and I have never been in a B & B with an elevator.  Oh well, I need the exercise.

The Grandest of the Grand Hotels The Chateau Frontenac