A Full Day In Quebec

Tuesday morning, after a special crepe breakfast at Le Petite Chateau, the favorite restaurant of our good friends Carole and Pete from Long Island, we walked down to a part of the old city called "Petite Champlain," named after the city's founder. The narrow streets are full of old houses, shops and bistros. At 11 AM we took a guided tour of our hotel, the Chateau Frontenac, which opened in 1893. Yet its most interesting wing was built in the 1920s, which still survives and includes the lavishly decorated lobby. Lunch in the old town, at the wonderful Lapin Saute restaurant was hearty. Jim had a seafood cassoulet, and Dan enjoyed a salmon vol-au-vent. A scrumptious chocolate souffle concluded our meal. We returned to the hotel by the funicular for a rest. Then, late afternoon we had a French language class (with wine!) at the hotel, with a vivacious teacher, a Quebecois woman who is both a licensed tour guide and a former nurse. Dinner later was full of Quebec specialties at Anciens Canadiens, located in one of the city's oldest houses, built in the 17th century. - Dan