We have only one thing to do today. Go on vacation. Not a working vacation, clients please go to hell. But a vacay, the right way, ok? We are going to Quebec City, Canada. I think it qualifies as international travel. Sort of. It is only Canada. Which is really like 3/4 of a country, so who can say?
I did fill up the Twin last night while in town. Because today we take a right turn in 201 and not left. A right turn takes us through rural north western Maine. I mean rural. Madison is a major metropolitan area compared to what we will drive through. Hell, most of Canada we will drive through is also quite sparse.
So, we loaded up the chariot, the trust 1988 Buick Regal wagon and hit the road! Got to the end of Beach Rd, about a half mile, stopped at the sign, and turned right on Hwy 201. We will be on this road, a two lane “hiway”, for the next 85 miles. Then the border and 85 miles on basically the same road through Canada. Prob four hours plus a little longer since this wagon should not go faster than 60 for safety’s sake. Ours and other drivers. The Twin has four out of balance tires, the front rotors are warped, the suspension was great in 88, just not now. So I slow down for safety.
The drive was peaceful. Mostly because Emily is still not really interested in talking to me. It’s unnerving which also may be why she does it. She gets to do whatever she wants. I don’t tell her.
First fun part of vacation, rest stop. We stopped in Bingham, population 5. Or so. There is a new breakfast place. Lunch too but I am here early. They actually have great food cheap. It’s kinda rinky dink but the food is just fine. People friendly. Two meals about $10. Ya. Win.
Back to the road. I drove the next 150 miles without incident. Unless you count being grilled by a Canadian border guard as an incident. I was. I did not make any jokes. Treated it seriously, but come the fuck on, its fucking Canada. No one cares. Canadians don’t care. Stupid. At least the border guard spoke English cuz I don’t speak Canadian, eh?
The funny thing was, the whole drive was a bunch of nothing. Rural emptiness. Then bang!, the City sprang up out of nowhere. Very strange. Until I remembered geographically why its where it is. So it actually sprang up at rivers edge several miles in, and I was coming in the “back door” which represent s the new parts. It seem like it came out of nowhere. It was about six miles from outskirts to old Quebec where we were staying. The first 3 miles or so were very boring and kinda ugly suburbs. But as we moved into the older area the neighborhoods really improved. They were beautiful. Exceptional. Very old neighborhoods, very well maintained. Wmily is ready to move here (winter is vicious, she changed her mind).
Once we crossed through the gate to old Quebec (Vieux-Québec), it changed again. This area is a UN World Heritage Site and the place is amazing. I felt I was driving through France. The condition and cleanliness was insanely good so maybe I could call it DisneyFranceQuebec. That’s apt.
We got to the hotel, which is at the busiest corner in the entire old town. There was a parking place out front at the curb. Really. And, again, the Twin got eye balled by all sorts of people. I get used to it. She looks good and she is old. And people recognize. Weird.
The hotel was a few steps up, the lobby? was full of people. Like a hundred. Turns out there are a few tourist offices there. So we had to find reception which did not happen. We found a sign, it’s on 1. It wasn’t. Elevator was broken. I found a doorbell next to a locked door and pressed that. And just like that a guy shows up. Btw, reception is on 2.
So guy goes and gets luggage, escorts us to reception, and we are in. Hotel is quite luxe, better than I usually stay in. Better than NO, in most respects. A nice place with well appointed rooms. We like it.
We unloaded our crap, settled in, and headed out into Quebec. Before I said it was like France. Well, France with no garbage, clean streets, incredibly well maintained sidewalks and buildings, no homeless people, tourist quality very high, sidewalk cafes, shopping, museums, it’s fabulous. It does feel very Disney being so clean, and well maintained but I like it. I did ask around a bit and the World Heritage designation is the hammer that keeps everything nice. No matter, love the place. May have to come back.
So we wandered. I found out later that crime is almost non existent here. A tour guide told me the crime rate is lower than Disneyland. But, feels nice, I like it and it’s fun.
By about seven we decided to get dinner. We took the advice of our concierge and walked down the to water front from the hotel. 288 steps. Downhill. Steep hill. The city down there was just as cool plus you got the waterfront views.
Sidewalk cafe, of course. Just as in La Belle France. Food here has a French tinge as well. All the people have that funky French canadien accent. Dinner was ok, nothing special, except Emily’s quiche. That was very nice. After dinner, it was getting late, we went for gelato. Wandered more. Went back to the hotel and went to bed.