Quebec – Slow Lane Musings

Old Québec City

Québec City is unique in many ways. It is one of the oldest and, by some accounts, one of the most beautiful cities in North America. The city has a large and well-preserved historic district, which was recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site in 1985.

We had not visited Québec City for quite a few years, so it was a delight to spend four leisurely days there recently. The city is best discovered on foot, so we left the car at home and took the train from Ottawa.

In a city that cherishes and preserves its history, we saw many sites that were pleasantly familiar. We also noted heritage buildings undergoing restoration, a few of the main public squares being beautified, and many new public sculptures and fountains associated with the city’s 400th anniversary in 2008.

Having no specific agenda or itinerary, we had time to wander and reflect on how it is possible to visit a familiar place with a mindset that keeps the experience fresh and exciting.

The power of nature

The unusual and severe ice storm that affected eastern Ontario and southwestern Quebec on April 5^th brought a mix of ice pellets, freezing rain, thunderstorms, and high winds over several hours. These were followed by heavy rainfalls and thick fog. Later, as the temperature rose, big chunks of ice pelted down noisily from the trees.

These events were predicted by the weather services, but the outcomes could not be. As a result of Mother Nature’s fury, over two hundred thousand households in Ottawa were without electricity and there was significant damage to trees, power lines and property. In Quebec, more than a million households lost power. The response to the emergency was impressive.

Plaisance Falls

About 60 km east of Ottawa is the most striking waterfall in our region. Plaisance Falls are popular with locals and visitors, and we love going there at different times of year. On the Petite-Nation River, the falls are approximately sixty-three metres high. In comparison, Niagara Falls are but fifty-seven metres high. Plaisance Falls are impressive in the summer and spectacular in the winter.

At one with nature

Ontario Parks, the body that manages our provincial parks, posted a clever tweet on December 31st. It invited followers to share a “favourite park” memory. The excuse given was that New Year’s Eve is a time for reflection. It may be so, but it is also in the depth of winter and most parks will not reopen before late May. We saw the tweet as a gentle marketing prompt. Nevertheless, this simple request triggered a pleasurable process of reminiscing and dreaming for us.