We bought two tickets at Air Canada in euros with internet.
We were surprised that
we had counted
bank
financing costs because the
Air Canada accounting center
was located in Winnipeg. We
sent our
bank statement at
Air Canada which has
repaid the bank charges.
A first good point to
Air Canada!
When we flew,
we immediately saw
that the space between seats
was
greater than during
our last 2
trips with Air France and
Japan Airlines. Service on board
was
excellent and we will give
a second good point to Air Canada.
We rested two nights at the Queen Elizabeth Hotel before taking the train to Ottawa.
We chose this hotel because
we access the train
station directly from the
elevator lobby.
We left on a Friday
and stayed at the
Chateau Laurier Hotel.
We visited our
friends Rachel
and Claude
living Gatineau,
the Separated Town of Ottawa by
the Outaouais River.
Saturday was sunny and we walked on two sides of the canal Rideau, representing 7.8 km.
Designated as World Heritage by UNESCO, the Rideau Canal becomes every winter
the world's
largest skating rink .
 Canadian families come skate |
 Hotel Chateau Laurier in the background |
The next day, Sunday, the weather is snowy and we went to the Museum of Civilization in the
Quebec. This
museum is a
must for learning about Canadian
history.
 the museum of civilization along the Outaouais river |
 inside the museum |
We spent a good part of the day in the museum and returning to our hotel, we took views
of main
attractions of Ottawa.
 Parliament of Canada |
 Library of senators |
|
view of the Chateau Laurier Hotel from the Museum of Civilization |
Hotel Chateau Laurier |
|
the Museum of Fine Arts |
Notre-Dame cathedral |
|
Sculpture honor the women |
On Monday morning we took the train to Niagara Falls,
Previously, the train station was located across from the
Chateau Laurier Hotel, and accessible by a tunnel.
Today it is located outside the city center. |
We stayed two nights at the Sheraton Fallsview Hotel, a hotel located at the foot of Horseshoe Falls.
 the hotel |
 the view from our room |
|
|
|
We've been to Niagara Falls in September. We had flown in a helicopter. We had approached with
the Maid of the
Mist. We much prefer
the show saw
with the boat. This year, we
decided to
see in winter under the
snow and ice and it's a
completely different show,
without any organized tour
and quiet without the crowds
of tourists.
We left on a Wednesday,
a stormy day on the Great Lakes
and have
joined the Toronto train
station by bus,
then we took the train to Montreal
and stayed again
at the Queen Elizabeth Hotel.
The next day,
we visited the Atwater Market,
a market with
high quality products and very
often "Bio".
We were surprised to learn that
it was selling
Grenoble walnuts from California or
french cherries
from Chile!
After we went to
3000 Rue Saint Antoine,
in a
recycled fur factory.
This is done to see the creators and their achievements.
On Friday, we took over the Abitibi train, which runs three times a week and that stopped us at a level crossing
in the village of St.
Paulin where is
the Baluchon. A car
was waiting for us from the hostel.
This is the
best way to get there
and back to Montreal
but you will need starting
a Friday and returning
Sunday
for example.
 the reception of baluchon |
 Archipelago Hostel where we stayed |
At Le Baluchon, we visited the Eco Café which replaces the Micro Brewery and is operational this year.
In the center of activity,
we have found Nancy
that we had seen
two years ago.
The evening
dinner
it must be said here
supper, Nelly
immediately recognized us and
the next morning at breakfast,
Jeannine welcomed
by Anny
"a Mrs. Tea"
because she remembered
that Anny is a big
tea drinker.
 ski tracks marked out every day |
 2 km boardwalk to get to the restaurant |
|
the fall aux Trembles with snow |
the Loup River |
With the price of the pension, many activities are free as cross country skiing, snowshoeing, skating, sledding.
During the week, Elizabeth
replaced Nancy .
She immediately
remembered
she
had advised us the previous year.
All these little signs
of recognition for us that
are Baluchon
is the
warmest places on Quebec.
We had the great pleasure of
meeting Line. She
is beautiful and we could have
spent by her side
without recognizing her.
We, we age,
she, she
rejuvenates. Line
thank you for the
nice gift that you have
placed in our room.
It's too nice.
All week, we enjoyed
the cuisine of Chef
Mr. Gerome, it is still
our best table
in
Quebec this year and
the dish of
seafood that
Mr. Luc
has given us for
our last night was
divine.
Congratulations to the Chief! you are a GOOD!
Last year we had
befriended John and
Lina and
we had the pleasure of spending
the last 2 days
with them. Lina
had come
with her brother Roberto
and Bertha, his wife.
Lina, Jean and Bertha at the 1st plan and Charles, Anny and Roberto at the background
On Friday we took leave of our friends. We leave for Quebec City.
In Quebec, we had booked a room at the Clarendon thinking be close to the parade on Saturday evening.
Now the parade
is several miles from
our hotel and it
is better to come on the second
Saturday
for the parade in Old Quebec.
Hotel Le Clarendon
What about this hotel? It was the wrong choice of our trip:
you arrive with lots of luggage
but there is nobody to
receive you.
. There are only 2 lifts
obsolete and
slow to serve all rooms.
When there are
many customers at the restaurant,
we seem to be
into a refectory.
The first 2 nights we
had a warm plate
with cold vegetables.
The last night we asked for
hot vegetables. Phew!
What makes
this hotel in the guide
Ulysses?
Besides its good location, you should avoid this address because it is more expensive
 the bonhomme Carnaval |
 the ice house where is the contest of sculptures on snow |
|
a sculpture
appreciated by the public
|
Award of Excellence |
|
the boat race of women who make the crossing of St. Laurent Quebec-Levis-Quebec |
males do 2 times the crossing in 45 minutes |
|
preparation of a tacot before the race |
the ice rink |
We loved this carnival of the 400th anniversary of the founding of Quebec City by Samuel de Champlain.
By going to the race boats, we met the firemen of the city who trained in
the icy waters of the St.
Lawrence.(video)
click on the picture to see the video
 the chateau Frontenac |
 a street in the snow |
|
the porte Dauphine |
the porte Saint Jean |
|
ice sculpture for 400 years |
roof's view from our room |
|
church in the city |
We enjoyed the weekend
of Carnival
in Quebec City with
|
view of Mount Royal from our room
The day before our departure, we went in Old Montreal, at 84 rue St. Paul East, in the shop
"Aux délices de l'érable" is
to do if you
want to bring a typical gift
from Canada. We also
stopped into a
pub to taste
poutine, a
Quebec specialty made
of chips, cheese and sauce.
This might be
acceptable without
the sauce but
it is not worth another
specialty of Montreal
which is
the sandwich "smoked
meat". The restaurant of our hotel,
The "Montrealais",
serves very good.
The day we left,
we had our last snow storm
and Lina and Jean
invited us into their
"condo" to
spend the day with them.
Lina had prepared an excellent meal before she drive us to the airport.
