Bit of a blog - Ambience - Grand Canada Sept 2022

[NorbertsNiece]

Walk around the ship. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited October 2, 2022 by NorbertsNiece

[NorbertsNiece]

We head ashore. Not sure how far we are from any activity in this café called Le Gros Georges! We have coffees. I have a bagel 🥯

 

The  shuttle didn't drop us off in town. May be because of the Québec marathon? 🤷‍♀️

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited October 2, 2022 by NorbertsNiece

[NorbertsNiece]

The marathon runners continued to pour through long after my video!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited October 2, 2022 by NorbertsNiece

[bluebelle]

Thank you NorbertsNiece for a wonderful review!  Have just read it all in one go and Ambiance is a ship I would like to go on sometime soon.  Friends have been on board recently round the U.K. and have rated it highly for the price they paid.  Looking forward to the rest of the review!  

[NorbertsNiece]

The Sugar Shack was fun! Was sat on the liveliest table so much audience participation involved. Food was served family wise.... in other words grab a bit as it goes by!!

 

Caribou cocktail.... wine, maple syrup and whisky! Bean soup. Meat pie. Eggs. Potatoes. More beans. Coleslaw. Ham. Beetroot. Pork crispy bits (?). Chicken. Apple pie. Pancakes. Maple syrup of course.

 

We had a talk on how maple syrup is extracted. Taffy pulling.... pour maple syrup on ice... roll a stick in it.... lollipop!!

 

I have a short recording of the country singer who kept us entertained throughout. Can't figure out how to share it here. Wooden spoons were handed out as accompaniments!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited October 3, 2022 by NorbertsNiece

[NorbertsNiece]

Day 22 / 34 Québec day 2

 

Good evening and thanks for following 😀 Just happy to have managed to log on!

 

View from our balcony. Pic sat on a tour bus to depart for my walking tour!

 

I'm going to start throwing pics up. Am absolutely shattered with all the walking and gazing in wonder....

 

Steeped in hundreds of years worth of fighting between the French/English/Americans, the old city exudes a charm and a personality so very unique.

 

Waves on the road indicating where the original sea line reached. Having walked some of the lower town yesterday having places explained was really eye opening.

 

Just throwing it out there. Québec. Wow ❤️ 

 

Ok.

 

Can't load up images. 

Sigh. 

 

INTRODUCTION: Montreal is really the epitome of French Canada and a city you should take time to explore. It is after all the largest city in

French-speaking Quebec province and the second largest in all of Canada. The city has been a destination for many immigrants and is widely considered to be one of North America’s most

cosmopolitan cities. Montreal remains a city of great charm, vivacity, and gaiety, as well as one of unquestioned modernity.

HISTORY: The first settlers of the region were the Iroquois, who spent time in what’s now called

Québec long before the Europeans arrived. The Vikings landed in Canada more than 1,000 years

ago, probably followed by Irish and Basque fishermen. English explorer John Cabot stepped ashore briefly on the east coast in 1497, but it was the French who managed the first meaningful

European foothold. When Jacques Cartier sailed up the St. Lawrence in 1535, he recognized at once the enormous strategic potential of Québec City’s Cap Diamant (Cape Diamond), the high

bluff overlooking the river. But he was exploring, not empire building, and after stopping briefly on

land, he continued on his trip. Montréal, at the time, was home to a fortified Iroquois village called Hochelaga, composed of 50 longhouses. Cartier was on a sea route to China but was halted by the fierce rapids just west of what is now the Island of Montréal. In a demonstration of

mixed optimism and frustration, he dubbed the rapids “La Chine,” assuming that China was just beyond them. Today, the rapids are still known as the Lachine. Cartier visited the Indian settlement

in what’s now Old Montréal before moving on.

 

Edit..... posts I made last night vanished in the ether. Officially one day behind now.

 

Québec day 2.......

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited October 4, 2022 by NorbertsNiece

[NorbertsNiece]

Steeped in hundreds of years worth of fighting between the French/English/Americans, the old city exudes a charm and a personality so very unique.

 

Waves on the road indicating where the original sea line reached. Having walked some of the lower town yesterday having places explained was really eye opening.

 

The Fresco.... stunning depiction of Québec through the centuries. 

 

Video of funicular ride here. 

 

The funicular ride up from the lower to the upper part of the old walled town.

 

That is NOT our ship berthed in easy walking distance to town. Ours is hidden behind massive grain silos at a berth that once held the Monet Immersive exhibit but now has nothing at all.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited October 4, 2022 by NorbertsNiece

[NorbertsNiece]

Walkabout. Château / Hotel Frontenac.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited October 4, 2022 by NorbertsNiece

[paulatsea]

Beautiful - and blue skies !

[NorbertsNiece]

The Ursuline Monastery of Quebec City (Monastère des Ursulines de Québec) was founded by a missionary group of Ursuline nuns in 1639 under the leadership of Mother Marie of the Incarnation, O.S.U. It is the oldest institution of learning for women in North America.

 

Today, the monastery serves as the General Motherhouse of the Ursuline Sisters of the Canadian Union. The community there also operates an historical museum and continues to serve as a teaching centre.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited October 4, 2022 by NorbertsNiece

[NorbertsNiece]

The Cathedral of the Holy Trinity (Sainte-Trinité) is the cathedral of the Anglican Diocese of Quebec. It is home to two parishes: the Parish of Quebec and la Paroisse de Tous les Saints. It stands on the western side of Quebec City's Place d'Armes.

 

The Diocese of Quebec was founded in 1793. Its first bishop, Dr. Jacob Mountain, gave his early attention to the erection of a cathedral. The completed building, designed by military officers William Robe and William Hall, was built between 1800 and 1804. It was consecrated on August 28, 1804, becoming the first Anglican cathedral to be built outside of the British Isles.

 

It has strong design links to St Martin-in-the-fields.

 

King George III presented silverware to the community.

 

 

 

 

 

[NorbertsNiece]

Montréal.

We are delayed disembarking. We berthed late at Terminal 3 not Terminal 1. 0910 now. Tour buses will be at wrong terminal. They'll have to lay on shuttles. Can't get into Marinetraffic. 

[NorbertsNiece]

Our excursion today :

 

LAURENTIAN MOUNTAINS & MOUNT TREMBLANT BY GONDOLA

 

Heading north from Montréal you reach the Laurentian area, a haven of scenic foothills and summits. This picturesque region offers vast valleys and exceptional panoramas. Originally settled by Algonquin Indians and later colonised by French Canadians, the Laurentians’ are North America's oldest mountain chain. Featuring unspoiled wilderness filled with immense forests, country villages, rolling hills and freshwater lakes, this whole area hosts a wide variety of outdoor activities in both the summer and winter seasons.

 

Your first stop is St-Sauveur village where you will have a short stop to stretch your legs or explore the fine local shops and cafes. Continuing with a drive north, you will reach Tremblant village nestled in the foothills of the mountain with the same name. Here you will find plenty of boutiques, restaurants, cafes and bars where you can enjoy some lunch independently. Fully refreshed and relaxed, continue to the base of the Mount Tremblant, which is the jewel in the crown of the Laurentians. It is majestic all year round but exceptionally so in autumn, where you can enjoy the turning of the leaves and incredible colours. A 10-minute gondola ride will take you comfortably to the top where at 875m (2870ft) you will reach one of the highest peaks in the Laurentian National Park.

 

The amazing views of the lake and the surroundings will leave you speechless. Explore the summit by reaching the observatory tower which is just a short easy walk or simply let the summer breeze rejuvenate your mind and soul. An unforgettable experience!

 

Your tour will conclude with a scenic approximate 2-hour return drive to Montréal. 

Please note

Shopping time included

 

Our day got much better. Video of what just happened here

 

Will continue Québec as soon as.

[NorbertsNiece]

Anglican Cathedral contd

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited October 4, 2022 by NorbertsNiece

[NorbertsNiece]

Walk to the prison.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited October 4, 2022 by NorbertsNiece

[NorbertsNiece]

Link to the Morrin Centre here

 

We are greated by an enthusiastic guide regaling us with stories of hangings and murders. I get locked up. The library is full of masterpieces 😉

 

Really struggling to upload pics when onboard 😭

 

 

 

 

 

 

[NorbertsNiece]

Hi 👋 

 

I have been struggling all day to post here. Posts submit and vanish! Will try 6 pics at a time. Still in prison in Québec.

 

That failed picture wise.

 

Text is saving not uploadimg so when I 'reply to topic' it reappears.

 

Now trying 4 pics.

 

 

 

 

[NorbertsNiece]

2am. Can't say I'm not trying!

 

 

 

 

[NorbertsNiece]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited October 6, 2022 by NorbertsNiece

[NorbertsNiece]

I leave the walking  tour to grab a coffee and a Canada mug for my collection. Walk back down to the lower town which is easy. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[NorbertsNiece]

 

 

I don't know how much longer I can stay awake to upload just a few pics at a time!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited October 6, 2022 by NorbertsNiece

[NorbertsNiece]

I'm back down and see the silos behind which we are berthed in the distance. I pop into an art gallery; with an artist in the family I'm keen to size up the opposition 😉

 

Sailaway

 

 

 

 

 

[NorbertsNiece]

(Current time 315am. Québec pics finally uploaded 🤞 going for some shut eye 😴)

 

 

 

 

 

 

[NorbertsNiece]

En route to Montréal.

 

I've woken at the dead of night and see the moon! There's a bridge, and a pilot boat.

 

Thanks for sticking with me here. Do hope I can catch up before Reykjavik!

 

 

[NorbertsNiece]