Queen Mary 2

Last evening we attended the most spectacular event. Real and Nicole invited us to go to Old Quebec City and the Port of Quebec to see the arrival of the cruise ship Queen Mary 2 as there was going to be a big party for the arrival.

A few quick facts - the Queen Mary 2 had its maiden voyage in January 2004. It cost 800 million Euros (about one billion US dollars), can carry 3,090 passengers and a crew of 1,254. It is the biggest, longest, highest cruise ship of all time. It is longer than 4 football fields and is 23 floors high. Its energizing power station produces enough electricity to illuminate a city of 200,000 people and has complete internet access.

The ship was to arrive some time around 5:30 p.m., and we were there with thousands of others by 3 p.m. The city had arranged parking at some distance away with free shuttle service to the port. All this was handled very efficiently. (The next morning, we learned that over 10,000 people were there to greet the Queen Mary 2.)

It was one of the most interesting evenings. While we waited among this huge crowd, people were talking to each other--complete strangers. Laughing, giving information about what was to happen, discussing so many things. At about 5 p.m., two pilot boats and a tug left the harbor and the band started playing. In about 15 minutes, we began to see the ship enter the harbor.

It was a sight to see with over 80 personal motor boats, sailboats, ski-doos, cabin cruisers all out in the harbor on either side of the Queen Mary and at least a half dozen planes and helicopters flying overhead. It took over 45 minutes for the ship to get to the dock, turn around 360 degrees, and fully dock under its own control.

During this time from 5 p.m. - 8 p.m., the city was giving all of us free hot dogs and soda. There was a small open air amphitheater and they had such an efficient set up that no matter what line you went to, at most there might be three people in front of you. Another amazing thing is that everyone threw their napkins, cans, and paper holder for the hot dog in the garbage bags, and I did not see any garbage whatsoever on the sidewalks and boardwalks. The city had people stationed to change garbage bags as soon as they were full, and others were milling in the crowds with large garbage bags for folks to put their paper and soda cans in. I have never seen crowds this size handled so well. The most thrilling part came about 7:30 p.m. when the ship was docked and they were setting up for a walkway to connect to the ship. The passengers were all out on deck and the lights of the city were ablaze as were lights on both sides of the St. Lawrence Seaway, and then the people on the dock started clapping, whistling, cheering, and waving flags. In response the passengers began to clap, whistle, cheer, and wave anything they could get hold of.

This cheering when on and off for over 45 minutes. It just sent chills up my spine. I could not imagine how these passengers must have felt coming into the harbor with all these small boats out to greet them, and then seeing a sea of people out to welcome them.

Another remarkable thing is that there was zero visible security. Quebequers are not in fear of terrorist attacks like we would be in the US. We were told that there is usually great security around this ship and that in most ports you cannot get close, but that was not the case in Quebec City. The first row of people where literally at the docks edge. The passengers and dock visitors could yell to one another and be heard. At one point, a passenger called out is so and so there, and the crowd yelled back yes--even though they had no idea who this person was. This set off a great deal of laughter and smiles.

At one point, we were standing at about the middle of the ship length. In my field of vision, I could not see the top and waterline of the ship at the same time, and I could not see the bow and stern at the same time. There was a large condo building nearby and the ship was taller than this building of many floors.

It was a grand evening, and when we decided to leave to catch the shuttle back to the parking lot, we turned and saw Old Quebec City all in lights and there was the Chateau Frontenac which is a hotel that looks like a castle in the upper city with all its splendor shining bright. This would be our last day in Quebec City. What an ending!

Real and Nicole

I met Real when we were camping in Montreal. When I walked Wubie, often Real would stop by to pet Wubie, and he grew fond of how friendly Wubie was. Later he met Walter and they enjoyed talking with one another.

Real and Nicole had lived in Quebec City for over 30 years and retired last year. They began full time RVing by spending 6 months near Montreal where their grown children and grandchild live, and then spend 6 months in southern Florida.

A few days before we left Montreal for the Gaspe, they invited us to breakfast and from there they spent several hours showing us around the beautiful Richelieu River Valley. We had a great time visiting a sunflower farmer who was giving a presentation on the growing of sunflowers from his field of flowers. All the sunflowers (because of the sun"s position) were facing the visitors. It was a sight to see. We saw quaint small towns, river views, and visited a great friend of theirs.

Real and Nicole are very interesting and fun people to be with. They are very knowledgeable about Quebec's history and its politics, and we learned much from them gaining a better feel and understanding of Quebec. They have been so kind and generous to us.

We left Montreal agreeing that we would visit them in Florida as, a one point, we will be in a campground not too far from them.

While in Gaspe, we received an e-mail from them saying they would be in Quebec City at the same campground as us for our last week. It turns out they had some business to take care of and friends and relatives to see, but mainly, they came to show us their city, and we spent part of most days visiting Old Quebec and seeing it through their eyes.

Real and Nicole both graduated from Laval University in Quebec City. We stopped by one campus of their university in the Old City, and Real took us on a short tour inside the historic buildings and that was quite a special treat. It felt so good to be in the hallways, seeing the classrooms, and looking at the campus. It stirs up such wonderful feelings about education and it made just want to grab a book and start studying something.

We were hoping to meet folks from Quebec to gain a better understanding of this part of Canada, and we were so fortunate that Real and Nicole came our way. It feels like we have started a friendship that will endure.

tg

Leaving Quebec Province - Canada

The three months we have spent in Canada have been wonderful.  We have met so many wonderful Canadians and it is too bad that Americans do not hear more about our neighbors and their wonderful country.

Since September 15, the leaves have been turning beautiful colors of yellow, orange, and red.  Each day the changes are more dramatic and yesterday I heard Geese for the first time, and a few days before on a walk through the campground Walter and I could smell and feel Autumn in addition to seeing the obvious changes.

I have gained a new perspective on those immigrants to the U.S. that can not speak our language, can not read it, do not understand it well.  I have a great deal more admiration and understanding of what my parents and Walter's parents had to overcome when they came to America to make a new life.  I feel for all those Mexicans that have been moving to North Carolina.

You see a road sign and it is obvious that it is a warning sign, but you do not know what it is warning you of.  You want to buy a book, but all the books are in French.  You would like to see a movie, but they are all in French.  At the supermarket you can not figure out what cut of beef you are buying.  The liters and grams can really mess you up.  Butter is sold in one large chunk; no four sticks with measurements.  Also, it is sold as slightly less than one kilogram.

You meet new people, but they speak little English and you speak little French and how you would love to have a conversation with them, but it is just too difficult so you both smile speaking in your own languages, not understanding each other and then move on.

I will miss so much about Quebec, but I would be less than honest if I did not say how excited I am to be returning to the U.S.  It will be much easier knowing the language, understanding the culture, knowing what to expect, but I have grown in a way I did not expect; one of the things I cherish most about our new life style.

tg

 

Quebec City - Canada

This is a city you can't help but love and can understand the great pride the residents have in Quebec City. 

Old Quebec City is one of history and the people seem to know its history well.  There is an upper and lower city.  You climb a series of steps--about 100 steps in all--to go from the lower city to the upper city.

The lower city takes you back to the 1700 and 1800s.  It has cobbled stone streets and light gray stone buildings in elaborate and wonderful ornate architecture.  There are old homes with their wooden porches and balconies and their metal roofs.  The streets are narrow and are flanked with lovely shops and many many outdoor restaurants.   Parks are everywhere as you walk through the city, and musicians are singing and playing various instruments along the streets--classical and contemporary music.  It is so delightful!

The upper city has the Chateau Frontenac hotel.  It looks like a magnificent old castle with many steep conical roofed towers.  It is the basic landmark of Quebec City.  Below the Chateau is the Terrasse Duferrin, the Boardwalk, which overlooks the magnificent harbor on the St. Lawrence Seaway. You always find people strolling along the Boardwalk and again a number of musicians singing and playing instruments.  Beyond the Chateau are many restaurants and up-scale shops and interesting museums. 

The people of Quebec City, and in general Quebec province, are friendly, curious, helpful, and interesting.  We have not found anyone who refused to speak English with us and even when they did not know but a few words in English, they made every effort to try to understand what we wanted and to help us.  We found that when we asked in French, can you speak English, they would say yes and speak English beautifully.

A few statistics that came over the news while we were here.  Quebec City is the safest city in North America and until now had the most educated people in any province in Canada.  Now Alberta holds that honor.  However, 20% of Quebequers do not believe in God and very few are active in any religion yet they behave in a very Christian way looking out for each other and accepting of differences in people's cultures and beliefs.

Some examples,  we left a backpack we were carrying full of things we needed at an outdoor restaurant and did not realize it for some time, when we went back, the backpack was still there with everything in it. 

We were told there was a parking lot near the harbor where we could park our dually truck, but we could not find it.  We saw a worker along the way and asked him,  He walked down the street with us where we would be able to see where the lot was and explained about parking there and payment.

When we were in the parking lot, we did not see any person to assist us, there were only credit card machines and we were having problems with the machine.  All instructions were in French and we felt we must be doing something wrong.  There was a couple leaving their parked vehicle who we ask for assistance.  Not only did they come over to the machine and review the instructions with us, but when they realized the machine was broken.  The walked with us to where they knew there was an attendant.

Whenever we are taking pictures, it is not unusual for a Canadian to cover over and offer to take a picture of both of us with our camera. 

We have had only wonderful experiences with the Canadians and Quebec province is a most beautiful place--whether it be Montreal surrounds or Quebec City and its surrounds or the wild and natural wonder of the Gaspe peninsula.

 

 

 

 

 

Parc Gaspesian Update

The final chapter of our new radiator for the truck.  The folks at the Dodge dealer were unbelievable in their efforts to get us on our way to Quebec City.  The receptionist kept tracking the whereabouts of our new radiator and managed to get it to the dealership late Friday afternoon. 

However, this was the Labor Day weekend and it would be Tuesday before any work would be done.  But, to our amazement, two mechanics volunteered to come in on Saturday morning to replace the radiator; a huge job!  They did wonderful, professional work on our truck, and we were on our way to Quebec by 1 p.m. that afternoon.

It is almost three weeks later and not a problem with the job they did.   It is quite amazing since they did not often get to work on diesel engines, and we immediately drove it over the mountains pulling 16,000 lbs of RV behind it.  We have been driving back and forth to Quebec City without a problem.

Sometimes bad luck can turn into good luck.

tg

 

Parc Gaspesien Misadventure

 Parc Gaspesien (8/31/04) was to be one of two overnight stops on our way to Quebec City.  However, when we began the departure activities, we did not see a steel fire rim that was in front of our truck.  Walter started to drive the truck to hitch to the RV when he ran over the steel rim.  The steel rim is fine, but our truck's radiator was punctured and twisted.

This is a somewhat remote location in the Gaspe with a small (very small) town, Pointe La Croix, 3 miles from camp.  One good thing is that Campbellton, New Brunswick is just across the bridge from Pointe La Croix.  They have a Dodge dealer there for our truck to be repaired. 

This is what being remote means:  We need a new radiator and it will take a week to get one from Toronto; then they said it would be delivered on Friday, September 3, which it wasn't, but if it was delivered on Friday, they don't work Saturday or Sunday and Monday is Labor Day (didn't know this day was a holiday here); and in remote locations,  there is a more philosophical approach to getting things done--there is always tomorrow.

We are in a campground where only two or three RVs come in for overnight stays because the tourist camping season is over.  There are about 5 seasonal RVs here.  Seasonal means they are folks from nearby who stay here for the warmer weather (50 is considered warm weather). So we are in a good size area of the campground by ourselves. 

There is good to all this.  This is beautiful country--salmon country.  There are mountains with beech, birch, and fir trees surrounding three sides of the campground, and then flat terrain that goes to the Bay of Chaleur; the dividing waterway between Gaspe and New Brunswick.  There are several mountain streams at and near the campgrounds.

The owner Andre Desrochers owns the campground and a bed and breakfast adjacent to the campground.  Andre has been wonderful.  Andre's family owns quite a bit of property here.  His dad owns and operates a ski resort which is a few miles into the mountains from here and the sons seem to have businesses in the area.  Andre is in his 30s and has been running the campground and bed and breakfast for 7 years.  He told us to stay as long as we needed and without charge which is extraordinary, but he says it is what those who live here do for visitors.  He has agreed to accept 50% payment from us, but he says it is not necessary or expected.  I know this seems amazing, but it does seem to be the way of these folks.  You cannot exist in such a wild and remote place without helping one another.

Andre has offered to drive us to town for supplies or whatever, and we did need him to help get our propane tank filled--the nights are dipping into the low 40s now. We have our bikes and have cycled to town for groceries and to ride through a bird watching preserve with bike paths which Andre told us about.  We had a hard time finding the right path, but then Andre came along with his truck to help us as he said it is hard to find the first time.  It was very serene as the path was lined with birch trees with their very white barks and light green leaves.  We could hear birds alerting the animal kingdom that we where there--how nice!

We stopped at the local Quebec Information Center and went into a log cabin from the early 1800s.  It was a post office and home at that time.  When we entered a young lady dressed in the Acadian French settler garb of the time was there and started to talk to us in the French Acadian dialect of the time, then in English - asking our last name because there might be a letter for us there, and surprisingly there was.  A newsy letter from one of the families of that time--she quickly wrote our name on a letter and stamped it.  Quite a clever idea.

We spent some time with her asking about the area.  She told us that in winter, school is not closed because of snow but because it gets too cold.  When it is  minus 30 degrees, schools close.  It was so cold last year - with temperatures as low as -57 degrees...  I think conditions like those build character, but I'll let it build someone else's character.  We're going South for the winter!  tg