to Quebec City

So now you know: I'm meeting up with the young family, arriving a day later, but still, joining up for a handful of days in Quebec City.

It wasn't my decision to come here -- I'm the invited tag-along -- but I'm sure happy they chose this town for their family trip, because it really is one of my very favorite cities on this side of the ocean. Compact, beautiful, walkable, with great food, fresh breezes, and wonderful Quebecois speaking people. So, French, but with a few choice words flipped around to confuse you.

I'd been here twice with Ed (and several times before Ed) and I'd always hoped he'd want to return, but of course, once I said no to camping in the wild, he said no to travel, so I have only my memories of our trek through the Canadian section of the Appalachian Trail and an end-of-hike stop over in the city (12 years ago), and, too, memories of our February visit here (17 years ago) when everything was snow covered and beautiful!  [My trips before him were equally memorable: the first was when I was just a student: a road adventure with friend toward whom I had a surge of romantic feelings all during our meandering drive up and down the St Lawrence River. I shlepped us around in my very first car -- a very ancient and not very reliable Volvo that occasionally leaked oil. The second trip was with my older daughter and her dad. The girl was not even a year old and suddenly ready to walk. We had to get her Quebecois baby shoes.]

My flight out of Madison is an early one, but I do still take the time to feed the animals and survey the garden...

(my hollyhock decided to start its blooming period just now! I'd say that's a good two month delay!)

A quick breakfast, with an Ed stumbling over to join me, and I'm off. 

I had to stray from my usual connecting cities. American Airlines offered the best fare and the best routing, so against my better instincts, I fly through Chicago. Impressively, there are no delays. From there, straight to Quebec City.

(Approaching Quebec: Oh, forested Canada!)

(Quebec City)

I'm staying at the Auberge Saint-Antoine -- a lovely old hotel in Vieux Quebec. (The young family is in an Airbnb just a ten minute walk from here.)

My room, with a view...

(the view is over the St Lawrence)

No lingering allowed though! I promised the young couple two adult nights out while I kept an eye on the kids. Sandpiper is not easy to keep still at the dinner table. Better to feed him at home at least some of the evenings we're here. 

Off I go to meet up with everyone!

(a walk through Old Quebec)

(saving the upper town for tomorrow; it's a climb!)

The older kids are excited to show me their sleeping arrangements!

For a long while, they amuse themselves playing checkers on the checker table, until Snowdrop wins for the tenth time over. Not fair indeed!

Sparrow retreats to doing some logic puzzles I'd brought with me.

And now the pizza is here. Theirs is plain, but mine has seafood on it. Very delicious. The two big kids each want to sit at the head of the table. So they do.

(Dad left some pastries, but the kids are suspicious, opting in the end for the more familiar macarons...)

And then it's surely bedtime, though only Sandpier, tired from not having had a nap since Friday, in Madison, acquiesces. Us older guys watch a movie. Oh-oh! Kids are still up and parents are back! It's the time difference! Yeah, that's it! I would have had them in bed (maybe) but for the time difference! 

I leave them to their evening in this lovely place and walk home in the gentle evening light of Old Quebec. 

Yes, it's good to be here!