Canada Day Nine - Shopping in Quebec

Today was all about shopping. We spent about 11 hours out and about shopping and sightseeing. Normally I would hate this but not only do I love walking around Quebec, I was also able to find a fantastic store! 

We started the day off with brunch at a cute little French crepe place. The waitresses wore costumes with elaborate hats and were very friendly. The place was tiny but we were luckily able to get a table for six without too long of a wait. The crepes were excellent, James said they were the best he'd ever had. I enjoyed mine but since they didn't have any option for a plain crepe I had to order one with ice cream (the simplest version) and it was much too sweet for me. (I can't believe I'm saying that!)

Brunch at a lovely restaurant

Jon drawing at breakfast

Will enjoys his crepe

After breakfast we wandered for a while in the Old Town. There are tons of shops here (and tons of tourists!) and we visited a number of them. We spent a nice long time in a French bookstore and even though almost everything was in French we still found a lot to enjoy. 

In the bookstore

Silly hats!

Then we came upon a real gem, a medieval clothing store full of beautiful handmade quality clothing. I was in heaven! We ended up spending a good bit of time there while I tried on various shirts and skirts. And by the time we left I had a beautiful skirt in a style I've wanted but never seen before and a beautiful new shirt with the long sleeves that I have wanted for years! The only problem is that this store is only in Quebec City and they don't sell online, I can't even find a website. Oh well, it is just another reason to come back! While we were there Will also bought a parchment that tells the meaning of his name and how to write it in a couple of ancient languages. He is planning to sign his name only in viking runes from now on. :-)

Jon walking the streets of Quebec

Spinning Christian

James and his oldest boys

After a little more shopping we took the funicular down to Rue du Petit Champlain which is another tourist area full of shops. We enjoyed looking at the stores but Christian was getting pretty wiggly by then so he and I went off on our own and did a little drawing. He's doing so well! But he hates it when I tell him that. He thinks I give him praise he doesn't deserve and he is always his harshest critic. That breaks my heart a little. But it was a nice time with him and he was a bit calmer afterwards. 

Sightseeing

Jon stops to draw

Christian gets a ride

Three witches :-)

Christian thinking about what he wants to draw

Christian and I look at the scenery

He spots the camera!

It was time to head back after this but we had to make one stop first. Camille loved the chocolate place (we knew she would!) and we all wanted to try it again. This time though we went to another company that also dipped ice cream in chocolate. This chocolate was a little different and not quite as thick. I'm honestly not sure which one was better but I did get orange chocolate which I quite enjoyed. It was more messy though, I think they keep their chocolate at a higher temperature. 

Christian's picture of Daddy

Hoodlums

We didn't stay long at home but soon headed out for dinner. We went up the road to Chocolate Favoris (again!) to buy some chocolate for home and then we went to a wonderful Italian place on the same street. It may be the best meal we've had on this trip (and we've had some good ones) and it was definitely the perfect way to end our vacation. Jon has been drawing a lot lately, especially some of his action figures, and he has been doing amazing work! I am so impressed. 

Jon's picture of Broley

We had one more stop to make before heading home and that was back to Imaginaire where we bought a new game that I am excited to try with my family. I really do love that store. Once we were home James went out with Christian again to drive his car around the plaza. He was so happy! 

The boys shopping in Imaginaire

Christian drives his car near the walls of the Old Town

 We have had a wonderful time in Canada. Quebec and Ottawa especially are fantastic cities and I want to come back to both of them! Hopefully we will sometime soon. But tomorrow we are heading home and back to real life. Talk to you again on the next trip! :-)

Canada Day Eight - Exploring Quebec City

We had another slow morning today and with the sun out I was finally able to enjoy reading on our balcony. I love the view but it was so cold! After a late breakfast and a little discussion we set out for the Plains of Abraham and the Citadel. 

Reading on the cold balcony

The Citadel is pretty close to our apartment but we couldn't find parking close enough for Camille and she was having trouble walking. James and I walked the boys up to the fort hoping to get a good glimpse but all we were able to see was the high walls. But we all did get a good view of the Saint Lawrence River and the boys had fun playing in the field. 

Our family at the Plains of Abraham

The Saint Lawrence River

Boys rolling on the grass

Me and the boys at the Citadel

James and Camille

James and the boys at the Citadel

It was a beautiful day so on a whim we decided to head up to the Montmorency Falls right outside of Quebec City. The waterfall was beautiful and we were able to walk up pretty close to the bottom of it. Christian and I held hands and went skipping down the path, it was pretty sweet. We hung out at the waterfall for a bit and threw rocks into the water. 

Montmorency Falls

Throwing rocks in the river

At the Montmorency Falls

Christian and I skipping down the path

Jon's picture of Grandma

Christian's picture of Grandma

Afterwards we headed back into the center of the Old Town, the part of Quebec that is behind a fortified wall. The boys were tired and just wanted to go home and I confess that I was ready to get away too. So after we parked the boys and I left James and Camille to shop and sightsee while we walked the kilometer back to our apartment. We walked along the wall and on the way we found a little playground. We stopped for a bit but the boys had more fun rolling down the steep hill than they did on the playground. Their pants were a mess with grass stains and mud and at one point Jon looked up at me and said "Grandma's not going to be happy with this!"

Jon on the wall

Jon walking the wall in Quebec City

Christian takes a rest

Old Town from the wall

 Rolling down the hill

Once home we had a snacky dinner. We seem to shop at the market every day so by this time of the trip we had accumulated a LOT of food. After dinner I left Will and Jon to clean the apartment and watch a show while Christian and went down the the plaza across the street. He's been wanting to drive his car in a larger area ever since he bought it but he was a little disappointed to find that the area had been taken over by a group of skateboarders.   But still he had fun racing his car around the outside and eventually the skateboarders took a break so he was able to drive it where he wanted. 

Christian really wanted a picture of this cute car

Driving his car in the plaza

On the way home we stopped to buy some milk and Christian insisted on carrying the groceries all the way. But he refused to accept my thanks and praise. When we arrived home we found Camille and James who had also decided to come back for a dinner at home. So James made eggs for us and we all watched the movie Instant Family. I love this movie. It is all about a real life family who adopts three children from foster care and their struggles, doubts, joys, and heartbreak are all so real. The ending perhaps wraps things up faster than is typical but it is really a beautiful movie. 

Afterwards James read the Hobbit to the boys and now that they are all settled the two of us are going to go out for a walk around the city to search for some ice cream. :-)
Goodnight!

Canada Day 7 - Relaxing in Quebec

Well today was a quiet one and a much needed rest! We slept in and relaxed this morning and didn't leave the apartment until noon. Then we headed out to the mall to find a store that James and I had visited four years ago. I didn't write about it at the time, but James and I had stayed in Quebec City for our ten year anniversary. And while we were enjoying this beautiful city we kept talking about all the things the kids and Camille would love. So I'm so glad we were all able to come back!

A relaxing morning

Anyway, after a quick lunch we arrived at my favorite store in the whole world. Imaginaire is a three story comic book/game store with hundreds of board games, quality costumes and swords, and lots of action figures, comics, and mangas. We found Dixit here four years ago and there are a host of other games that I'd love to try. Because we are in Quebec many of the games are in French but they always have an English version too. 
 

My favorite store

Christian tries on a helmet

I could have spent all day here looking at the games and browsing. And the boys really loved the anime section of the store. Jon spent his souvenir money here to buy a Dragon Ball Z character and he's been playing with it all day. After Imaginaire we also stopped by Toys 'R' Us where Christian bought his souvenir, a remote control car that he loves. 

Costumes, swords, and games

Then we were off to another street that James and I had found on our anniversary trip. I've no idea what the name of it is but it had a little market, a quaint bakery, and a shop selling fresh fruit, all things that we knew Camille would enjoy. And indeed we did come home with fruit and fresh bread! 

The street also had another treat that James and I had enjoyed last time, a place called Chocolats Favoris. It is a chocolate store chain only found in Quebec that specializes in chocolate fondues and dips for ice cream. The chocolate was delicious but much more intense than I remembered. It is so much thicker than the chocolate dips at home and I confess that it beat me and I wasn't able to finish my ice cream. But we all enjoyed it. 

Waiting for ice cream

Ice cream dipped in colored white chocolate

Cotton Candy chocolate over ice cream

Enjoying our ice cream

Then we went back home for a break and a little nap before we went out for dinner. We are just across the street from the old town so we just walked down the street until we found a promising little Bistro where we were able to enjoy and excellent dinner. Our waiter was wonderful, so friendly and attentive. On the way home we bought some "Quebec style" popcorn to munch on as we walked. And just a block away from the apartment Christian tripped over Will and fell in a puddle of water. He wasn't hurt but he was so cold! So Jon lent Christian his sweater and Will lent Jon his and we were all able to get back without too many tears. 

Jon takes a picture through the leave

Jon's picture

The city from our balcony

Quebec City at night

That's it really. It was a quiet day. Tomorrow I think we will go and explore the old town.
Goodnight!

The view from our balcony