ridin' the rails in quebec

QUEBEC -- Whoa, I've been one busy bear!

I think when I last left you I was falling in love with Montréal. Well, as with many affairs of the heart, we finally had to part.

Fortunately for me, Sue was headed to Québec City. And best of all, we were traveling by train. I absolutely adore trains.

We took a cab from the Auberge Bonaparte to the VIA Rail Canada station in Montréal. And on the way, guess what? Sue spotted some celebrities outside the Hotel Le St-James (that's where the Rolling Stones and other big stars stay when they're in town). At first she couldn't figure out who they were, but then the hairdos rang a bell. It was Jon Bon Jovi and his band who had performed in Montréal the night before. Sue didn't quite have it together to take a picture, though, as her camera was buried at the bottom of her pack.

That explains why I'm at the top of this blog entry, and not Jon Bon Jovi. More about the photo in a bit.

We arrived at the train station and what a great place it is. Lots of interesting shops and restos featuring yummy looking food. I hinted to Sue that I was getting a little hungry, but she went straight to the Panorama Lounge of Via Rail Canada. That's one of the perks of going first-class; you get a nice little lounge to wait in, plus free beverages. Sue popped open a club soda (Canada Dry) and let me have a few sips. I was feeling pretty sporty with my sunglasses on. Sue thought I should take them off in the station but I wanted to look cool during the entire train trip.

We left right at 12:30, another hot summer day, but cool in our solo seat. As we pulled out of the station, the scenery began rolling by: cornfields, silos, hay rolls with small towns in between. And all those French signs! After the big city atmosphere of Montréal, it was a real contrast, and the pastoral pictures outside the window were perfect. Sue was listening to her iPod and sharing her tunes with me, which sound so much better with such a wonderful view.

Before long it was time for lunch and oooh it was quite yummy. First we had appetizers of cheese, melon, figs, nuts and bread. And Sue had a glass of French red wine in honor of Bastille Day (since I'm so young, I just drank water). Then salad and dessert and time for a much-needed nap!

Three hours later we arrived in Québec City, a beautifully preserved walled city that is like stepping into a fairytale. Sue had told me about it, as she has been here three or four times before, but this was my debut. I had seen pictures of the city's famous landmark, the Fairmont Le Chateau Frontenac, and although we weren't going to stay there (no room at the inn!) we had a fantastic view of it from our room at the Hilton Québec.

So yes, that's me in the photo. Teddy in a beary fine room with a beary big view of a beary beautiful city on the St. Lawrence River in "La Belle Province" of Québec.

Ooh la la!

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Copyright © 2006 Sue Frause. All rights reserved.