Day 4 Tour 31/5/12

This morning we left our hotel early to participate in an optional tour of a "sugar shack". The Le Chemin du Roy Sugar Shack, was about a 20 min drive away tucked amongst 1000 maple trees which are used to produce maple syrup from their sap. It takes 40 litres of sap to produce 1 litre of maple syrup. Now we know why pure maple syrup is so expensive in the supermarkets. 90% of sap is water and 10
% sugar. The sap can only be drained from the tree during a 6 week period when the temperature ranges between -5 & 5 celcius. Quebec produces 90% of the worlds maple syrup.
The short tour concluded with a hearty breakfast of maple tasting everything and eggs!



We then enjoyed a 2 hr walking tour of upper and lower Quebec with local guide, Eric. Quebec is nth Americas only walled city nth of Mexico. Quebec means narrowing and is positioned at the narrowest part of the st Laurent river.
We visited the citadel, houses of Parliament, Chateau Fontenac and wandered the cobbled lanes and squares that are full of history and homes/buildings/statues of British or French influence. Since the mid 1980's Quebec has been designated an heritage site and no buildings can be pulled down that are of historic significance and any restoration done must be done to reproduce the buildings original design.So the town is very quaint and full of different architectural styles, mostly adapting to the cold and snow conditions.
The upper town is positioned on a cliff and the lower town beneath it can be accessed by either steps or funicular .
We enjoyed a latte at "Starbucks "( where we found some English speaking shop assistants), sitting on the cliff over looking the St Laurent river listening to an amazing street performer singing opera.
We then walked the old defense wall which is an historic site, and enjoyed the views of both towns. There were many talented street performers in the cobbled lane ways, singing or playing musical instruments.There is definitely a French feel as you walk the streets.



We lunched at a local cafe over looking the waterfront on French onion soup and baguettes- so French and so yummy. We have been advised to try a local favourite dish putine- hot French fries smothered in gravy and melted cheese, but I think our arteries would be happier if we gave that one a miss :(
Tonight drinks are at the luxury hotel Chateau Fontenac, built in 1893, the worlds most photographed hotel,followed by an evening meal at the Cafe de Paris.
The menu choice for the evening was snails/pate, soup, salmon/steak/fish vol u vent, followed by dessert,cheesecake/black forest cake/apple crumble. It was a very relaxed evening and a good chance to meet new people.

Cheers Leanne and Greg





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Location:Quebec