Middlebury & Boston Day 1

Our overnight stop at Middlebury and starting to explore Boston ...

We had a five hour drive back into the US to get to Middlebury in Vermont, US. There is no doubt about it, Vermont really is beautiful - mountains, forests - the lot! This historic Inn was were the Bob Newheart programs were filmed and apparently the haunt of Robert Frost, a famous American poet 

This was the bar (couldn't find all the light switches!) where we had dinner 

Of course, a real moose head over the fireplace

The dining room 

Some beautiful homes we saw on an early morning walk  

A picturesque river that was about 150 metres from the Inn 

Terri and Anne next to the same river 

More houses ... 

My favourite 

Anne with our faithful Honda Accord! We will be returning the rental car as soon as we arrive at Boston - for the record we drove 1,890 miles or 3,024 kms! 

Another beautiful river we found on a forest trail dedicated to Robert Frost 

Having travelled through New Hampshire which was just as beautiful as Vermont, we arrived in Boston about 3.00 pm. We dropped all the luggage at the hotel and then returned the rental car. After a short rest we went exploring and looking for a somewhere for dinner!

Boston is certainly very different to New York and Washington! We found the Quincy Market which had about 30 restaurants to choose from 

Some of the Boston skyline as we explored 

Very warm walking the streets

A "statue" giving out horoscopes for a US$1 a time! Part of the street theatre

A replica of the Cheers Bar. The real one is near the Park and we will check it out when we are over that way 

These two acrobats were fantastic. Yes, one guy is standing on the head of the other (one foot only) and juggling with knives!  

This time a small donut shaped pad between their heads. The top guy is juggling three balls! 

The ladder is held vertical by four ropes held by volunteers from the audience! 

Some more interesting buildings 

And more!

Quebec City Day 3

Montmorency Falls, Basilique St Anne de Beaupre and Ile d'Orleans ...

As the weather was drizzly and unpredictable so we decided to take the car and look at some attractions outside of Old Quebec, This is the view from the cable car going up to the Montmorency Falls about 20 minutes from Old Quebec

Montmorency Manor at the top of the cable car

The view from the Manor overlooking the St Lawrence River

After visiting the Falls this was the way down! Alternatively you could use the cable car again!

Initial view of the Falls. The pedestrian footbridge (top left) is where we are headed!

Looking down over the Falls from the pedestrian footbridge

In the distance is the two lane bridge that goes over to Ile d'Orleans. We will take this later

View back up the St Lawrence towards Quebec City

There were some spectacular views of the Falls on the way down the steps

Just slightly higher than Niagara Falls but nothing like the volume of water

Anne at the base of the Falls

Yes, we had just walked down all those steps. There were many people walking up!

Having left the Falls we went a further 20 minutes down the road to Sainte Anne de Beaupre where we were astonished to see this enormous Basilica. Apparently it is a shrine to St Anne who is Jesus' grandmother. We get the impression that pilgrims come from all over to visit this shrine

When we walked inside it was just stunning. It was enormous and so beautifully decorated

The ceilings were fantastic

This was the statue of St Anne

After having some lunch we decided to visit the Ile d'Orleans (remember the two lane suspension bridge?). This island is in the middle of the St Lawrence River and is about 30 kms long and 11 kms wide and noted for its fresh farm produce, wineries and chocolate. So I had to sample a chocolate coated ice cream

Terri tried a different flavour of ice cream!

The houses on the Ile d'Orleans were really cute and, in parts, it reminded us of English countryside

Another example of the houses. Tomorrow we set off for a 5 hour drive to Middlebury in Vermont, US. Our half way stop to Boston were we will return the rental car

Quebec City Day 1 & 2

Initial exploring, Citadelle Changing of the Guard & Tour and Quartier Champlain ...

We arrived in Quebec City around lunchtime and found our B&B accommodation with the help of Tom Tom. The accommodation was not exactly what we expected - least of which was the three flights of stairs! This place will be the source of many stories when we return! After "checking in" we went to find some lunch   

Our initial exploration of the town centre

I am fairly sure that this is the Notre-Dame-de-Quebec Basilica 

I know that this is City Hall - an explanation when we get home! 

I think this is the Chateau Frontenac Hotel through the trees, a magnificent structure that you can see from anywhere in Quebec City

The view over the St Lawrence River

Looking down to the lower area of Quebec City called Quartier Champlain. You can ride the funicular (in the foreground) between the upper and lower areas 

The next morning we were off to the Changing of the Guard ceremony at the Citadelle fortress. This is highest point of all Quebec City. Anne with friend!

Changing of the Guard ceremony was good but not as good as the one we saw in Ottawa 

British busby hats reminded us that this was a British built fortress to stop the Anglo-Americans invading, what is now, Canada 

The parade ground with the top of the Chateau Frontenac Hotel in the bacground

The Regimental Mascot was a well trained goat 

Not sure how some of these guys knew were they were going! 

This was on the tour of the Citadelle fortress. The views were spectacular but unfortunately it was a humid day and a bit hazy for photos 

This was one of the two biggest canons weighing in at 12 tons and had a range of 3 kms! 

This was originally the Citadelle's hospital 

Views over Quebec City were very good 

Same location, just a bit further around overlooking the St Lawrence River 

A few more cannons - there were heaps!

This was the Citadelle's chapel although originally it was a gunpowder store 

Walking back to the centre of Old Quebec 

We went down to the Quartier Champlain which is the lower part of Old Quebec. This is looking back up to the Chateau Frontenac Hotel and you can see the funicular connecting the upper and lower areas 

The Quartier Champlain had many pretty streets and squares like this one 

This is a wall mural on the side of a 5 storey building. I could not get it all in the photo. You can see where the mural merges into the real pavement at the bottom 

A beautiful little church in the same square shown above  

Lots of touristy shops and lots of tourists! 

Another little square 

Photographers' paradise! 

Riding the funicular back to the upper level 

Yet another little park, I think Parc Montmorency

Old Quebec is completely surrounded by a serious wall. This was Porte St-Jean. We were heading back to our B&B which was in Old Quebec