Sunday July 23 – Quebec City (ship)

We had to dock very early in Quebec to allow the tall ships to start sailing, so were already at dock when we woke up. All tall ships had gone by the time we finished breakfast.

This morning we went on an on-shore excursion, to Island of Orleans and Montmorency Falls. The island has very old houses, most still lived in, dating back to the 17^th and 18^th centuries. We visited an old house (a museum now) that had been restored to its original state. This had first been a tiny one-room house but gradually extended by it owner to accommodate his growing family, to a number of ground-floor rooms, and then even a second storey. The doorways were very wide to allow ladies in long dresses and crinolines to pass through. The four-poster beds were small, because the people were short in those days.

all above - examples of properties on the island, including the one just above with a swimming pool (for a place that has heaps of snow for more than half the year, a lot of homes have pools to use in the short summer season!)

the original room of the home below, which was extended by its owner over the years

We then went on to a sugar shack, heard about how maple syrup is made (same as the other sugar shack we visited). Forty litres of maple water makes only one litre of maple syrup. We tasted maple taffy which is softer than toffee. Very sweet.

this is one way to collect the syrup. Another is to run irrigation-like lines from tree to tree to a collection point

where the maple water is boiled to reduce it to the syrup

taffy on ice for us to wrap around a stick to then lick like an ice cream

On to the Falls. We took photos from the bottom then went up in a gondolier to the top. At the Mainor Montmorency (manor house), we had a provided morning tea of a strawberry and a pastry (like a croissant) with chocolate in it. Nice. Then we were free to walk across the suspension bridge and watch the adventurous take the zip-line across the falls. These falls are higher than Niagara but not as wide. Still, they looked good.

gondolier up to the falls (which are in the distance)

beautiful dahlia in the garden

The water cascades over a weir first before falling off the cliff

two brave zip-line riders

suspension bridge over the falls

view of the bridge to the island

The tall ships passed the island and we were able to get glimpses of them. Our ship will pass them, hopefully when we can see them under sail.

Back on board we had lunch then spent the afternoon on board. Pit, our cabin steward, called out to me on our return to cabin, with my hat in his hand! He got a huge ’thank you’ and a hug! J We decided a nap and then sitting up on deck was a nice way to spend the rest of the afternoon.

The ship sailed around 5pm. The dock was on our side, so from our cabin we watched them remove the gangplanks (a temporary affair because we weren’t at the usual cruise ship dock) and cast off the ropes. Up on deck to watch the ship move into the river and on our way. Chatting with others on top deck - Gary thinks it’s funny that Australians and New Zealanders hand wash their clothes, when there is a washing service (for a fee, of course). He said no American or Canadian would dream of doing that! Washing would be hanging around the rooms and in windows! [We do it – usually dries overnight in the air conditioning.] It was hot up on deck, not much breeze, so came back to cabin.

Dinner was at 7.45pm again. Food very nice.

towel critter on our bed when returned from dinner