Côte de Beaupré—a side trip from Quebec City



Basilica of Ste. Anne de Beaupre

After breakfast the next day, we headed straight to the shrine of Ste. Anne de Beaupre, an incredibly majestic structure. The basilica houses the miraculous statue of Saint Anne. Many pilgrims go there in the hopes of getting healed. After saying some prayers, we asked the priest to bless the religious items we bought at the gift shop and also got a family blessing. We were no longer able to explore the museum. Instead, we decided to ascend the wooded hill beside the basilica and do the Stations of the Cross. It was a solemn experience praying at each of the 14 stations that depicted the passion and death of Jesus Christ. The life-sized statues were made of bronzed cast iron. This Way of the Cross was built over a period of 32 years!

Stations of the Cross

As if our day had not been packed enough, we decided to drop by a winery we passed on the way to Montmorency falls. The vineyard was atop a hill and the view, which overlooked the water, was simply fantastic. We were allowed to try the grapes at the vineyard (not really good for eating) and we bought some Bivouac (from wild cherry, perfect for dark chocolate and dried fruits).  It was all good until we got home and realized that the guy managing the place pulled a fast one on us. For our purchase, he wrapped the same bottle he had opened for the tasting—which he separately charged us for! I emailed the company to give them a chance to claim it was an honest mistake but I never got a reply. That has never happened in any of the wineries we visited in Ontario! Needless to say, they will get no further business or recommendations from us.

Our last stop before heading back to Montreal was Montmorency falls. At 83 meters, it is one and a half times higher than Niagara Falls. With all the walking we had been doing, we could not muster the energy to climb the hundreds of steps for a panoramic view of the falls. So, we took a cable car to get to the top. The views were stunning from inside the cable car. And at the top, we got more lovely views of the falls. We even walked on the suspension bridge over the falls to get a closer look. After visiting the basilica and seeing this beauty of nature, we felt truly blessed. We no longer hiked and explored the other points of interest at the park. We also passed on enjoying a lunch at the elegant Manoir Montmorency and went on our way.



Montmorency falls

We started the drive back to Montreal at past noon. While we were on the lookout for a place to have lunch, the girls decided to take a nap. So, hubby and I decided to just keep on driving until we found something of interest. And something of interest we did find--the Fromagerie Bergeron!  With regional cheese makers producing award-winning cheese in recent years, we couldn’t really go home without having had a sample! So, lunch was crackers and brie in the car. When the girls woke up, they had the same thing (along with other snacks). We were quite satisfied for the next couple of hours until we got to Montreal—just in time for a snack of poutine (what else?) at La Belle Province. Let`s just say, it wasn`t the healthiest of meals we had that afternoon. But it sure was delightful!

Quebec on Dwellable

Bonjour Quebec City!

The beauty of having one’s birthday in the summer is having another excuse to go on a summer trip. Hubby and I decided to go to Quebec for one of my birthday trips. Since we were projecting Quebec City to be about an 8-hour drive, we decided to break up the trip—stay overnight in Montreal, then head off to Quebec City first thing the next day. We then planned to spend the night in Quebec City before driving back to Montreal again for a night, and finally heading for home. With two young kids in tow, we figured we had to keep the trip lengths manageable—at least for our sanity!

As with other trips to faraway places that we would not expect to visit often, we wanted to do so much but had so little time. After an early McDonald’s breakfast on the road, we arrived at Quebec City at around 10 a.m.  After checking into our hotel, we proceeded to the Upper Town in beautiful Old Quebec.  The first thing that signaled to us that we had reached our destination was the sight of the towering, historic Chateau Frontenac. This beautiful hotel was built in the late 1800’s as a luxurious stopover for Canadian Pacific Railways passengers. It was like a castle—complete with turrets and towers—and is said to be the most photographed hotel in the world!  

Chateau Frontenac

at Upper Town

Lunch at 1640

As it was almost lunch time, we decided to check out one of the many nice restaurants in the area. We had lunch at 1640 Restaurant in the heart of Old Quebec where the food, service and ambience were all quite good. The girls shared and enjoyed the sole fillet, while Hubby and I each had huge, juicy steaks! After that hearty meal, we were quite ready to walk around the city. We passed various charming structures as we headed back to the Chateau Frontenac for some breathtaking views of the Saint-Lawrence River.

We then decided to walk down to the Lower Town. Hubby struggled to hold on to the stroller as we walked down the steep hill! There were steps to go down to Lower Town, but with the stroller, we had to take the winding, cobble-stone road. We passed by the main plaza called Place Royale where we saw the late 17^th century Notre Dame church, another one of the city’s main historical landmarks. This is the oldest stone church in Quebec.  At the plaza, there were costumed vendors on the cobbled streets. Museums and art galleries were all abound. It felt like we stepped back in time--in Europe! As we walked along, we also saw the colourful Fresque des Quebecois, a mural which depicts 400 years of Quebec’s history and created by 12 different artists.

Going into the Petit Champlain area in Lower Town, we were fascinated with all the quaint shops and charming cafes. Each store was unique and bright and just plain lovely! We enjoyed walking around and looking inside the fun shops. After a few hours, we took a rest at one of the benches at the Old Port. We didn’t quite make it to the market which apparently had many more vendors and shops. The spirit was willing but the legs were not. We just relaxed for a bit before we went back to Upper town.

We decided to take the Funicular (cable car ride connecting the Upper and Lower towns) going back to the Upper town. We (or should I say, Hubby) would not have been able to manage pushing the stroller back up that winding road! We continued walking until we reached the Citadel, the military installation which is part of the fortified walls surrounding the city. The fortification of the city began in the 17^th century to secure the city against invasion. It also served as a refuge for the British troops. It was wonderful to see these walls in great shape, and still being used as a military installation.  This makes Quebec City the only fortified city in North America. A few steps from the Citadel, we relaxed at an interesting playground—at least hubby and I did. The kids, who were comfortably seated in the stroller all the time we were walking, had more than enough energy for a great playtime session.

We worked up quite an appetite for dinner with all that walking and playing! We had dinner at Le Petit Chateau where we enjoyed some beef fondue with baked potatoes on the side.  Dessert was a yummy chocolate banana crepe.  With our tummies happily stuffed, we decided to call it a day and head back to our hotel.

There was still so much to see, but we contented ourselves with the thought that we would explore more the next time we’re there.  After all, seeing the sights we had not visited would be motivation for a return trip—as if the charm of this old city was not enough reason to come back.

Quebec on Dwellable

Kites and hikes at the Kortright Centre for Conservation

Minutes north of Toronto lies not only a centre for the most leading edge sustainable technology education programs in the country, but also a conservation area open year round for lots of fun activities and events. Last Sunday, they had a Kite Festival that ran from 10am to 4pm. Several activities were slated for the day. The site also offered many picnic spots where folks can eat lunch they either brought or purchased from the hotdog booth. Our family decided to just come in after lunch.

The winds were not very cooperative that day and the conditions were not really ideal for kite-flying. Most of the activities did not go on schedule. But, if you were with family and friends on such a nice, spring day, that would count as good fun in our books. Some beautiful kites (including our own simple ones) did manage to stay up in the air for a bit. Whenever the winds died down, the kids would go off to explore one booth or another. There was a booth where the kids could feel fox and beaver furs, animal teeth, and a beaver tail, among others. There was also a face-painting booth. There was a meet ‘n greet booth for Reptilia where the kids could touch different kinds of snakes and reptiles, even a turtle—one at a time, of course! Near the area where the Kite Fest was, the kids could to see the birds of prey. The Raptor Centre of the Canadian Peregrine Foundation houses falcons and other raptors at risk and assists in their recovery.

After flying our kites, we decided to go on a hike. We went around the Maple Syrup sugar bush towards the marsh. The trails were lovely. It was quite peaceful and very relaxing to be walking in these woods and along the creek. Through the hike, we saw some bird watchers, joggers and other hikers. There are several benches along the way, should hikers wish to take a rest. We ended at the boardwalk near the wetlands for the ducks.

It was a wonderful walk to end our excursion. The girls got some good exercise and so did we. Can all Sundays be as lovely as this?

Enjoying Fro-Yo at Menchie’s

I wish I could start off this blog with “One warm, sunny day…” but on the day we first tried out the frozen yogurt at Menchie’s, it was actually raining. We just decided to have some nice dessert on a bleak Tuesday evening and get a mid-week break.

We had previously read about Menchie’s and pretty much knew about the concept.  Even then, the staff gave us a low-down on how we were to go about ordering. The whole thing is a self-serve experience where you pick and mix what you want, get it weighed and then pay ($0.55 per oz + taxes). It is quite difficult to choose a flavour or combination of flavours, so there are little sampling cups to help you decide. Apparently, they have about 100 flavours.  Twelve are featured at a time, and the flavours are rotated every week.  The only exceptions are Vanilla and Chocolate, which are always available. You get a cup (or add $1 for a waffle bowl) and pull the lever yourself from the station to get as much or as little frozen yogurt as you want.

When we went there, they had these flavours available: Marshmellow (that was really how it was spelled!), Cake batter, Red Velvet, Peanut Butter, Mango sorbet, Orange sorbet, Cookies n Cream, Original Tart, Cherry tart, Butter pecan,  and of course, Vanilla and Chocolate. There were also little icons below each flavour stating if the flavour was low carb, non-dairy, no-sugar, kosher, etc. At each station, you can decide if you want flavour one or flavour two or a combination. Or you can go to various stations and select as many flavours as you want. We spent a good 10 minutes figuring out which ones to get!

Then, you can select the toppings you want from three sections:

·         the “snackage bar” with the candies, gummies, chocolates, cereals, nuts and so much more

·         the “chill bar” where you get the fruits, brownies, and popping bobas (tell you more later)!

·         the “hotties” where you get the hot fudge, caramel, marshmallow puff

When you are done, you go to the counter to get your creation weighed. Then, you can go and enjoy your concoction!

Our tasty creations!

I ended up with a safe chocolate since I wanted to focus on the flavours of the toppings (as an afterthought, Vanilla would have been better for this objective!). Then, I got some gummy bears, Oreo crumbs, Hershey’s chocolate sauce, and popping bobas. Bobas look like tapioca but are actually a bubble with juice that pops inside your mouth. It was so much fun to eat! I tried both strawberry and lychee popping bobas and I loved them both! Hubby and the kids did not get this, so they cajoled me into letting them have a taste. But all was good since we got to try each other’s masterpieces. I really liked DD#1’s choice of Orange/Mango sorbet with jelly beans.

A Wanderlusting Mama's masterpiece

Menchie’s has a number of merchandise for sale—shirts, lip balm, buttons, bracelet charms, etc. There is also a “Hollywood” wall where you can see pictures of celebrities enjoying their fro-yos. Now we can say we share one thing with the Kardashians—they love their Menchie’s frozen yogurt! Needless to say, we will be back for more!