The Chateau de Frontenac is the last Fairmont on our tour of Fairmont Hotels. Not that we are staying at this one, but it was the location of my Birthday Celebration. Our drive along the St Laurence was very peaceful. Lots of bicycles along the road and motorcycles too. We even saw a tractor that took up the entire roadway, I had to move over for that beast. It was only two hours of driving so we got to Quebec City fairly early. We did a quick stop by the AirBnB to make sure it was acceptable and then we started exploring. A quick drive through a very busy old town and then we climbed the hill and stopped at the Plains of Abraham. Here we strolled through a garden, sauntered along a walkway overlooking the St Laurence and marched right back to the car to go to the Chateau de Frontenac. This is one of the classic grand hotels built by the Trans Canada Railway as a draw to tourists and potential train riders. It is reminiscent of the one we stayed at in Banff. We got a cheese board and duck drumsticks to nibble on while we had some fancy celebratory gin drinks. My drink was a huge gin drink the Madam Marie. It contained some Star of India Gin, rose wine, lemon juice, sparkling rose wine and a grapefruit basil Campari Absinth syrup. Leslie had to assemble her drink. Three shot glasses filled with the makings were on a board with the glass of ice. When I was done with everything, the waiter asked me if I wanted another drink! Only if it comes with a driver. We strolled along the walkway on top by the Chateau. There were sailboats, ferries, families with kids, dogs with families, walking tours, wedding party picture taking, joggers, grandparents with babies and much more. After a week waiting for the valet we were off to our AirBnB to get settled. The stairs were something crazy. Steep narrow with a turn at the top is not for the faint hearted. A block and a half away was a nice pizza place, this was the St. Roche district. Nina Pizza Napolitano The brick oven that they use was brought over from Napoli Italy. Yes the pizzas were outstanding! More gin some how made it into my order so it was a shnokkered old time. Since we sat at the bar, the bar keep was able to provide the gin rather quickly as well as a fine beer for Leslie. Another half block took us to the market where we bought breakfast essentials. Then it was back up those pesky stairs.
This bridge was so small that folks coming the other way stopped to let me by
The day was bright and the sky piercingly blue
Another oversized church complex
We have arrived in Quebec City
Only three of the original four defensive towers remain from 1779
A fine place to shoot canon
Ring around the round house
The gardener was very busy
Most delicate
they build them big and impressive around these parts
The Chateau lobby
A new take on antler art
Guilded Elevator Doors
Lots of folks watching the street performer
Big floral butterfly display
There was a line for selfies with the butterflies
My Pretty Flower
Cooking up a storm
The bar at the Bistro
We have a table on the outside
Our View
Leslie had a do it yourself drink
I had a huge gin drink the Madam Marie. It contained some Star of India Gin, rose wine, lemon juice, sparkling rose wine and a grapefruit basil Campari Absinth syrup
A three cheese plate
Good to the last drop
Of course there is a Bride and Groom outside
Welcome guest, right up these stairs
At Nina's the good gin drinks abound!
We sat at the bar for our dinner
It is a smallish place
A very fun salad of sugar beets, carrot shavings and zuccini
The Barcelona
The secret ingredient is cream cheese. Then mushrooms and carnalized onions
Gin then wine you will be fine
Gin then Wine then Gin well, you be the judge
Happy Birthday to me!
It has been 84 days since we began our Migration.
