Quebec City – So Europe. So close.
Quebec City – a city that seemed created for holidays. Everything looks elegant and fabulous. European architecture, countless sculptures and monuments, the house windows decorated with the flowers; the street performers and artists, lots of cafes and restaurants create a sense of festival. The small size of the city and the lack of hustle as in the most megacities, give to visitors the feeling of peace and calmness. However, despite its small size Quebec City filled with lots of amazing historical, cultural and sports facilities. Apparently, this is the basic requirements for a tourist town.
There is not even a thought to move around on some public transportation because everything is within walking distance. Is that for fun, you can ride horses in harness, so use the Funiculair de Vieux to move from the lower to the upper town.
The main pedestrian area and the most attractive place for the tourists, of course, the street Petit-Champlain, where plenty of the art galleries, boutiques, restaurants and cafes as well as it is a popular place for the street musicians and artists. And of course, the Terrace Dufferin, located in front of the Château Frontenac, with beautiful view of the St. Lawrence River, the Old Port and the lower town.
However, there is little inconvenience. Even in the summer here on the mountain can be cool and windy, while in Montreal it will be sunny and warm. Firstly, the city is located on a very high ground above the St. Lawrence River. Secondly, it is more northerly, thus the difference in the weather.
Nevertheless, all these inconveniences have no influence on the mood of the tourists. Just planning a trip to the beautiful City of Quebec, we must not forget a light jacket :-). Enjoy your trip!
In the photo gallery you can read a brief description of some of the places captured on the photo. And also you can see perfectly organized Quebec City web-site.
One Day in Montreal
Only five hours driving separate Toronto from Montreal. It is close enough to visit this lovely Quebec’s city often, but not so to visit it just for the weekend. Anyway if there is a chance to come to Montreal late Friday afternoon and stay for couple nights we take it and never regret. French Canada is totally different and have its own charm.
The last visit was right by the time of Just For Laugh Festival that many people familiar with because of the TV Show with the same name. It is funny and exiting event which brings and attracts many of tourists from different countries.We came with our friends who have never been to Montreal before and were glad they got a lot of fun, impressions and delight.
Shakespeare and Company
Shakespeare and Company is the name of two independent bookstores on Paris’s Left Bank. The first was opened by Sylvia Beach on 19 November 1919 at 8 rue Dupuytren, before moving to larger premises at 12 rue de l’Odéon in the 6th arrondissement in 1922. During the 1920s, it was a gathering place for writers such as Ezra Pound, Ernest Hemingway, James Joyce and Ford Madox Ford. It closed in 1940 during the German occupation of Paris and never re-opened.
The second is situated at 37 rue de la Bûcherie, in the 5th arrondissement. Opened in 1951 by George Whitman, it was originally named “Le Mistral” but renamed to “Shakespeare and Company” in 1964 in tribute to Sylvia Beach’s bookstore. Today, it serves both as a regular bookstore, a second-hand books store and as a reading library, specializing in English-language literature. The shop has become a popular tourist attraction,[4][5] and was featured in the Richard Linklater film Before Sunset and in the Woody Allen film Midnight in Paris.
Parisians (Music on the Streets)
Paris street singer
Trumpet players
Trombone player on Seine bank
Dancer
Dance preparation
Accordionist
Dance on cobblestone
Introducing to the Dance
Lost in Paris
Our trip to Paris did not have any special goals to see most important tourist attractions because the compulsory visits significant places in a hurry makes the journey tedious and annoying.
The plan was to watch the Parisians’ life, enjoy strolls around the city, and have fun. Walking without any special directions we’ve been just lost in numerous Paris streets, boulevards, gardens and parks.
Anyway, whether you want it or not all that routes leads you to all of these famous and beautiful places. It is impossible to resist and do not visit them. This is why the most remarkable landmarks appeared in our week trip to Paris. We used that visits only to refresh our memory and knowledge about some special things, which we most like in all these museums, palaces and other places.
Lately in our trips we do not staying in hotels but rented entire apartments. This kind of accommodation makes our stay more comfortable and gives the feeling of being part of the local community. You can go to the street markets, buy some food and cook it, enjoy sitting with a cup of coffee in one of numerous cafes, have a good lunch or dinner there, and adopt the local people life rhythm.
Apartment we chose was in Latin Quarter right beside Pantheon, near Luxembourg Garden, Sorbonne University and absolutely amazing market on Rue Mouffetard. There are only 15 minutes walk to Notre Dame Cathedral and all the beauties of Seine islands. There you can take the Seine River Cruise to see the city from the water. In your journey by the river you see Notre Dame, Louvre, Museum D ‘Orsay, Les Invalides, and of course the Eiffel Tower. In the night-lights it looks amazing.
Full weeklong we just walked around the city and only place where we used the transportation to go was Versailles. The walking was not boring and tedious at all because the eyes did not get tired to watch beautiful architecture, sculptures, fountains, and wide and green boulevards.
Lunchtime was a good chance to relax and get some energy with the glass of wine, delicious food followed by dessert and coffee. French people have their own wine traditions and it is not a big deal and something wrong to have a glass of wine for lunch. You can even buy the bottle of wine, go to the park, sit on the bench and enjoy you wine. A lot of young people do it on the bank of Seine River at evening time. There are a lot of options to celebrate the life in Paris.
Evening time fills up streets and boulevards by people. It looks like all of Parisians spend evening for dinner, glass of wine, beer or coffee and enjoying talking with friends. All street cafes, restaurants and bars are full of people. It is absolutely safe and enjoyable.
This is a brief glance on Life of Paris.
The longer you stay in Paris the more you fall in love with this great city.
Morning Star Mill
There are a lot of beautiful hidden places in Niagara region where the environment is very quiet and calm. One of them is Morning Star Mill. It is located on the small creek. On the top there is a nice pond with mirror surface and pleasant landscape around. In the lazy summer afternoon when sun is high and hot the deep forest shade and cool water breeze are good things for refreshment.
But right after Mill the water falls down and from the top it is impossible to see where it goes. To see this waterfall from the bottom takes one hour walking down to the river. The trail is pretty rough and steep. Not many people take this journey to the Twelve Mile Creek to enjoy the waterfall in full its beauty.
Some nature sculptures in the forest on the Twelve Mile Creek banks.
World in your eyes 