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Translated into English.

Original post

Mitch341

Regularst André de Sangonis · 487 posts

2024-11-04

Hi there, just back from a three-week round trip to Quebec and a side trip to New Brunswick. Departed from Montpellier, via CDG, then arrived in Montreal from July 31 to August 20, 2024. AF flights went smoothly.

The RT itinerary (without the visit details):

Arrival in Montreal; Trois-Rivières; Tadoussac; Matane; Gaspé; Campbellton; Trois-Pistoles; Quebec City; Montreal and return to France, AF to CDG then Hop! to Montpellier.

Observations:

Getting out of Montreal airport is a nightmare! Two hours at Avis Auto to pick up the car (nice ride, though—a WW SUV Atlas V6 for two). From what I’ve heard, Montreal Airport is a pain because it was initially under-dimensioned for its infrastructure, and it seems impossible to reorganize everything.

Quebecers: Wonderful people in terms of hospitality and behavior toward tourists—especially French ones. You can ask them for advice at the supermarket, for directions here and there, and those distant cousins are great! That said, I’d exclude Montreal, which, due to its size and perhaps its cosmopolitanism, can’t be considered as welcoming as the countryside and small towns we passed through. A bit like Paris, you could say.

Quebecers prefer Quebec City over Montreal, and I get it. On a positive note for the city, I left some money in the hotel at the end of my stay. Once back in France, I contacted the hotel (day before yesterday), and they confirmed the oversight and are taking steps to send the money back. A nice gesture. It’s the Nouvel Hôtel, 1740 Avenue René Lévesque. Well-located, too.

Tourists: Same as always!

Americans: Still lacking in culture and education, but we already knew that. Loud, intrusive, annoying, you could say. And I’ll skip the “Oh my God! Oh my God!” all day long. And always with a coffee cup in hand on the streets. Not just American tourists, actually. Coffee is either enjoyed at the counter of a café or at home in front of the day’s news. It must also be said that our cousins’ coffee is more like dishwater.

Tourists from the Middle Kingdom: No change there! Flagrant lack of European culture and respect. They can be quite annoying at times. Thankfully, they don’t like the countryside or small towns.

Tourists from the Land of the Rising Sun: As usual, impeccable behavior. Both in terms of dress and discretion.

The British: They feel at home. Well, they kind of are, actually. Distant, inaccessible—typical English folks.

South Americans: A lot of them in Montreal during my stay. Quite noisy, especially at breakfast. But deep down, they’re great and very polite. I really like them. Must be my 36.1% Iberian DNA from my ancestry test that makes me say that.

And the French? Always the same! Complainers, grumblers, never happy with the meal, always finding prices too high, cutting in line, sometimes with a Quechua backpack but not always. In short, we don’t change. That said, there were some really nice people and great encounters that will leave wonderful memories. Some folks from Marseille in Quebec City, Toulouse in Montreal, Perpignan... But not many Parisians. Or maybe they just don’t talk to outsiders. When I think that my wife is from the 14th arrondissement...

And lots of lovely young French people there on a Working Holiday Visa for two years.

Others? Italians? Didn’t run into many. Eastern Europeans? Didn’t see any, or they were super discreet.

The trip started on July 31. 2,000 photos to sort through. More to come later.

Evita Bella ! https://www.flickr.com/photos/201886709@N02/albums/

Mitch341 Regular ·2024-11-04

So, we finally made it out of Montreal airport with some difficulty, only to hit even more traffic on the way to Trois-Rivières. The drive out of Montreal was a slog, but then we hit the free highways along the left bank of the St. Lawrence.

The weather’s nice, the tunes are set, the iPhone GPS is up on the dashboard—let’s roll!

With the delay in Montreal, we got to Trois-Rivières too late to explore the city. We dropped our bags at the Comfort Inn in a commercial area and headed straight to Walmart for a backpack cooler, groceries for camping meals, and then back to the hotel for a pretty short night given how long the day had been.

As for Walmart in Quebec, there are better options. IGA and IGA Extra are great! You can find everything, often in bulk since families here tend to be large. They’ve got wine, sure, but it’s not amazing. For wine, you’ve got the SAQ! https://www.saq.com

It’s paradise for wine lovers!! You’ll find everything there! Anyway, so far so good.

First day of exploring La Mauricie Park. We stopped by the Visitor Center, paid our fee, and drove off to discover this stunning, ultra-protected park! It was a great find, but make sure you bring your own supplies!

Pictures?

Let’s go!

For more images, check out my Quebec site! It’s HERE

Evita Bella ! https://www.flickr.com/photos/201886709@N02/albums/

Dolma Globetrotter ·2024-11-09

Hi Mitch341,

A few of your observations really stood out to me:

les cousins éloignés sont supers !

Quebecers aren’t too fond of French people calling them "cousins."

Montreal not being welcoming: we clearly don’t share the same idea of hospitality (but I respect your opinion, of course!)

Les Québécois préfère Québec Ville à Montréal

Well, no, not all Quebecers prefer Quebec City (and it’s *Quebec City*, not *Québec ville*).

As for your description of tourists, I’d rather not comment.

That said, I’ll be happily following your travel journal! [:)]

un chemin et la caresse du vent, alors je pars en voyage...

Mitch341 Regular ·2024-11-09

Hi Mitch341

A few of your observations really stood out to me:

distant cousins are awesome!

Quebecers aren’t too fond of French people calling them "cousins"

Looks like we didn’t meet the same Quebecers, then.

Montreal not being welcoming: we clearly don’t share the same idea of hospitality (but I respect your opinion, of course!)

Indeed, we don’t share the same idea of hospitality.

Quebecers prefer Quebec City to Montreal

Well, not all Quebecers prefer Quebec City (and it’s *Quebec City*, not *Quebec ville*)

Once again, it seems we didn’t meet the same Quebecers.

As for your description of tourists, I’ll refrain from commenting

To your abstinence.

That said, I’ll be following your travel journal with pleasure [:)]

Alright.

Evita Bella ! https://www.flickr.com/photos/201886709@N02/albums/

Mitch341 Regular ·2024-11-09

After leaving La Mauricie Park (starting from Saint-Mathieu-du-Parc), hunger strikes. It's time to find a cozy spot to grab a bite. By some miracle, right at the park exit, we stumble upon a restaurant/inn that welcomes us with open arms. A quick stop to park, and we're seated at "Le 2800 du Parc." https://le2800duparc.ca/restaurant/

Now’s the perfect time to tell you about our experience with the local dish: Poutine!!

A dish considered THE Quebec classic! Fries, cheese, and a sauce that varies depending on the choice. Served with meat or fish. Basically, you can put whatever you want in it. Once seen as a very "working-class" dish with a somewhat negative connotation, it’s now an iconic meal. That said, in winter it’s hearty, and in summer it’s heavy on the digestion! Poutine is a bit like Quebec’s signature dish, just as haggis is to Scotland. Not exactly gourmet cuisine, but you’ve got to try it at least once.

For us, that meant twice—with another poutine featuring a tomato-based sauce like Bolognese. Also pretty heavy on the digestion. As for the rest of the local cuisine, you might ask? We had the best fish and chips of all our trips here and there! The Scots can step aside—it was amazing!

And the discovery of the trip? The excellent salmon and the equally delicious lobster, with prices low enough to enjoy them! The Guédille will charm you! https://betteravebrayonne.com/.../la-guenille-de-homard

Anyway, after this tasty break, we head back to the hotel to try and recover from the day’s hikes. 13 kilometers, 16,400 steps, and the equivalent of 9 flights of stairs according to the trusty app! !

Evita Bella ! https://www.flickr.com/photos/201886709@N02/albums/

Attila Globetrotter ·2024-11-09

I don’t know why, but I’d be more tempted by the salmon and lobster than the poutine...

Un si beau paysage : concours de photos amical de juin 2026 Rubrique Jeux Voyages C'est le moment de poster vos meilleurs clichés !

Mitch341 Regular ·2024-11-09

We're leaving Trois-Rivières (August 2nd) to head toward Tadoussac. I chose a route that takes us inland through Saguenay and then along the left bank of the Fjord to reach our hotel: HOTEL MOTEL LE BELUGA at 191 des Pionniers.

The drive is beautiful. We stop in Saguenay for some food and then cross the bridge to the left bank. About 5 hours later from departure, we drop off our things at the Beluga Hotel after picking up the tickets for tomorrow’s boat ride.

It’s a pretty old hotel, no elevator, and no breakfast. The room has a terrace, which is nice. Just a short walk away, there’s a French-style bakery that’s really handy, and a bit farther, a convenience store and an SAQ for groceries.

We take a stroll around town (not much to see), grab some beers at the pub, and eat in the room since we’re pretty tired, to be honest. Tomorrow, we’ve got to get up early to go see—or at least try to see—the whales.

Photos at HERE

Evita Bella ! https://www.flickr.com/photos/201886709@N02/albums/

Mitch341 Regular ·2024-11-10

I don’t know why, but I’d be more tempted by salmon and lobster than poutine...

Oh, absolutely! Except that Quebec salmon isn’t what it used to be. In Gaspésie, I had several conversations with locals who aren’t exactly fans of our Brigitte Bardot because of her defense of baby seals. In fact, seals are multiplying like crazy and, according to the locals, wreaking havoc on salmon populations. To the point that the government is considering reinstating the hunt for baby seals.

On another note, I saw salmon rivers with nice colonies, but—according to locals and the Matane fish ladder—there’s been a significant decline. Seals? Climate change? Overzealous ecology? I won’t weigh in.

For lobsters, no worries. [;]

Evita Bella ! https://www.flickr.com/photos/201886709@N02/albums/

MA Madonantes Regular ·2024-11-10

We tasted the best Fish and Chips of all our trips here and there! The Scots can eat their hats! Absolutely amazing!

I hope you all got to enjoy some fish and fries (chips) and not fish and ships ;). Just a little humorous wink! I’ll keep reading your travel journal—it’s bringing back some great memories

Mado https://madovoyages.com

Mitch341 Regular ·2024-11-11

We tasted the best Fish and Chips of our trips here and there! The Scots can eat their hats! Absolutely superb!

I hope for your sake you ate fish and fries (chips) and not fish and ships ;). Just a little humorous wink!!! I’ll keep reading your travel journal—it’s bringing back great memories

Oops!!! My bad!! ;) But they were really excellent!!

Evita Bella ! https://www.flickr.com/photos/201886709@N02/albums/

Mitch341 Regular ·2024-11-11

This Saturday, August 3rd, we had to head to the dock to take the boat that was supposed to let us discover the whales and other wildlife in the area. Why not take the zodiac, which gets closer to the mammals? Simply to avoid having my camera gear soaked by the sea spray. Been there, done that at Yellowstone in 2022. And then there’s the whole process of putting on a protective suit—no thanks.

Anyway, we took the big AML boat: https://www.croisieresaml.com/.../croisiere-aux-baleines... With the VIP Lodge option so we could relax. I can roam the whole boat for photos while my wife stays sheltered behind the lodge’s glass windows.

We were supposed to see some amazing things, for sure! Except for the weather… A lot of fog this morning, unfortunately.

And all the photos HERE, of course.

Evita Bella ! https://www.flickr.com/photos/201886709@N02/albums/

Mitch341 Regular ·2024-11-11

So here we are, aboard this beautiful naval vessel, exploring the St. Lawrence and beyond, if we feel like it. Unfortunately, as mentioned, the morning fog is playing tricks on us.

The St. Lawrence, then the Saguenay Fjord. A few encounters here and there, some beautiful images, ideas for an exhibit, and an all-inclusive experience in the VIP lounge! Evita Bella!

Alright, enough chatting—let’s get to these pictures.

The rest of the images HERE.

Evita Bella ! https://www.flickr.com/photos/201886709@N02/albums/

Mitch341 Regular ·2024-11-11

The whale-watching "cruise" is over, and we're heading back to grab a bite around 1:00 PM.

For the rest of the day, we're off to Escoumins to check out the departure point for the ferry that'll take us to Gaspésie, with Trois-Pistoles as our disembarkation point.

Once the planning’s done (I’m actually a big planner), we stop by the Marine Environment Discovery Center. Just enough time to snap a few photos and spot some marine mammals.

A nice spot where divers are plentiful—apparently, the seabeds are pretty great.

Evita Bella ! https://www.flickr.com/photos/201886709@N02/albums/

Mitch341 Regular ·2024-11-11

We cruised the area’s vast waterways on a big motorboat! Still haven’t spotted any humpback whales—just belugas in the distance, a few small minke whales, seals, and some gorgeous scenery.

Speaking of seals, turns out Quebecers aren’t exactly fans of our *Brigitte Nationale*! Her campaign against the seal pup slaughter led to a total ban on culling these animals.

The result? No more predators and an exponential boom in the population of these adorable little critters.

Our seal friends are now free to gobble up salmon and "cod" without limits, which is really hurting Quebec’s fishing industry.

I talked about this issue with not just one but several people, and they all agree: Brigitte really messed up—no two ways about it. And yet, you can tell our cousins are huge nature lovers. But when it comes to seals, they’re at their wits’ end! Rumor has it the government, under pressure from "lobbies," is even looking into bringing back targeted seal culls. Stay tuned.

Evita Bella ! https://www.flickr.com/photos/201886709@N02/albums/

Mitch341 Regular ·2024-11-12

What to do on this Sunday, August 4th? Well, why not a simple cruise in the Fjord? I booked with a smaller boat, and departure is set for 11:00 AM. https://navettesdufjord.com/.../croisiere-tadoussac-et...

This gives me time this morning to explore the area around the hotel.

I grab my walking stick and hat, not forgetting my small camera, and off I go wandering here and there. I discover a path leading to a trail around Lac de l'Anse à l'Eau (yes, there are quite a few here :joy:) to reach Anse à la Barque and return the same way. The weather is nice—cool without being cold—so let’s enjoy this enchanted morning.

I’ll tell you, there’s not a soul around. Just a few ducks on the lake and that’s it. It’s actually really nice! My walk will last about an hour and a half.

Photos of this lovely spot? Let’s go, as the neighbors say!

And more images HERE

Evita Bella ! https://www.flickr.com/photos/201886709@N02/albums/

Mitch341 Regular ·2024-11-12

The boat isn’t big for this cruise on the Fjord, but it’s fully glassed-in. There’ll only be two couples for the first part of the upstream journey.

Our stop will be Anse St-Jean for 1 hour 15 minutes with a light snack, then we’ll continue upstream to the Vierge du Fjord and head back to Tadoussac by 5:00 PM. There’ll be a few more people on board (hikers returning to Tadoussac), but nothing overwhelming.

We’ll definitely see seals—Brigitte’s favorites—along with minke whales and belugas.

I keep snapping photos between friendly chats with part of the crew.

This’ll help me continue my sociological take on this incredibly endearing crowd. One of the crew members was a skipper in the Caribbean for years! That gave us a chance to swap stories—his about sailing, mine about my stays in Guadeloupe.

Now it’s time to share a few photos.

The rest is still HERE

Evita Bella ! https://www.flickr.com/photos/201886709@N02/albums/

Mitch341 Regular ·2024-11-13

Monday, August 5th. It's very early when I get up to explore a seaside path and try to spot more marine mammals. To be honest, it's quite chilly in Tadoussac.

This peninsula loop takes about an hour, which is more than enough before leaving Tadoussac to catch the ferry.

The area is nice, the walk is pretty easy. Not many people around. There are wooden structures to help with sightseeing—it’s a walk I’d definitely recommend. I should mention that during the day, it gets crowded. It’s best to go early.

Instead of talking more, let’s look at some pictures of this place. To keep it focused, I’ll only post the seaside shots. The forest section would just repeat other images.

The other photos are HERE.

Evita Bella ! https://www.flickr.com/photos/201886709@N02/albums/

Mitch341 Regular ·2024-11-13

After finishing the walk in Tadoussac, I head back to the hotel, making sure to grab some pains au chocolat and croissants from the nearby bakery. There are already people there for the morning coffee. The service isn’t the fastest, but hey, we’re on vacation.

Time to pack up, double-check everything, load the car, and return the key to the staff who’ve been invisible for the past three days. Then we drive toward Les Escoumins, stopping at the local pharmacy for my wife, who caught a cold.

Once we arrive at the dock, it’s around 11:30 AM. Departure is scheduled for 12:15 PM. We’re among the first, and next to us is a car with four very respectable-looking elderly people. One of them opens the trunk of their SUV, and I see three boxes of white and red wine.

I walk over and ask, "Is that Quebec Limonade?" They burst out laughing, and we start a lively conversation about this beautiful country. I must have a pretty strong Provençal accent, which the locals love—it helps break the ice.

The wait drags on, and my wife stays in the car to keep warm. It’s chilly by the St. Lawrence. There are quite a few people on the dock, and in the distance, you can see whale-watching Zodiacs and a humpback whale spouting.

My camera captures it, but from pretty far away. Too bad. A Quebec couple explains that after the whale spouts, if you see its back arching more, it’s about to lift its tail and dive. You have to wait 15 to 20 minutes for it to resurface.

The weather’s gloomy—photos won’t turn out great.

Evita Bella ! https://www.flickr.com/photos/201886709@N02/albums/

Mitch341 Regular ·2024-11-13

It takes 1h30 to cross the St. Lawrence and arrive at the village of Trois-Pistoles. So we disembark around 2:00 PM at the dock, and we still have to drive another 1h30 to reach our next stop: Matane.

A quick stop for gas, snacks, and bathroom breaks, and the afternoon is shot for sightseeing. I’d planned to stop at Le Parc du Bic, but the timing just doesn’t work out.

We’ll arrive at the Hôtel de Matane, RIOTEL MATANE, 250 Avenue de Phare Est, G4W 3N4 Matane, settle in for two nights, and enjoy a relaxing dinner out.

The fresh air from the crossing really tired us out. Off to bed.

Evita Bella ! https://www.flickr.com/photos/201886709@N02/albums/

Mitch341 Regular ·2024-11-14

The night was restful. No noise in this Matane hotel despite it being quite busy. There’s an indoor pool, but the kids’ shouts are a deal-breaker for me.

This Tuesday, August 6th, I was up at dawn. Time to get dressed, grab a camera, and here I am on the beach. Well, it’s the St. Lawrence. Let’s not ask for the moon, after all.

The sun is out, the walk will be pleasant, then a stroll through town before heading back to the hotel for breakfast with my wife. The day’s going to be pretty long.

More photos are HERE.

Evita Bella ! https://www.flickr.com/photos/201886709@N02/albums/

Mitch341 Regular ·2024-11-14

On this Tuesday, August 6th, the day was going to be long and refreshing. I had planned to visit Parc du Bic and Parc Faunique de Matane during the day. The distances and timing convinced me to skip the Parc du Bic option.

So, after breakfast, we set off for the Matane reserve.

A 30-minute drive and we arrived.

We stopped by the Visitor Center to pay the entrance fee, the day’s parking, buy a moose plush for my car (Yes, I know it’s weird, but I love plushies!), grab a map of the area, and listen carefully to the tips from the lovely person at the front desk.

The wildlife park is huge—lakes, hiking trails, various accommodations—it’s a stunning place. The only downside is that it’s also a hunting territory where bear drives are organized. I’m told it’s to regulate the species. Fair enough.

Time passes, the sun rises, and we choose the trail along the river under the trees. A 2.5-hour round trip plus photo stops, making it about 3 hours of walking. It’s a great tip.

We didn’t see any land animals, but luckily, we spotted wild salmon swimming upstream. At one spot, there were more than 50 or 60 waiting for the water level to rise because it wasn’t high enough for them.

Pictures from the walk and the rest HERE.

Evita Bella ! https://www.flickr.com/photos/201886709@N02/albums/

Mitch341 Regular ·2024-11-15

After the walk at Parc Faunique, we head back to Matane for a stop at the salmon run viewing facility (obviously because of the dam).

Unfortunately, the low water levels this hot month aren’t great for spotting these beautiful fish.

According to the authorities’ count, there hasn’t been any salmon run since mid-July. Rumor has it that if no one’s fishing before the facility, it’s because there’s nothing to catch.

We take a quick tour of the town, then head to IGA and SAQ to grab some supplies before resting in our room—our legs are really feeling it. And we’ll end the day with an apéro dinner.

Evita Bella ! https://www.flickr.com/photos/201886709@N02/albums/

Mitch341 Regular ·2024-11-15

It's time this Wednesday, August 7th, to leave the north shore of the St. Lawrence River and dive into the Gaspésie forest to reach Gaspé. A 300 km journey through a magnificent landscape with hardly any traffic on the roads.

Before arriving in Gaspé and the hotel chosen for three nights, HOTEL BAKER, 178 rue de la Reine, Gaspé, I push on to Percé to check out the discovery possibilities of Bonaventure Island. There’s no way to book the crossing online.

There are a lot of people in Percé! In the middle of the afternoon, it's packed. I'm a bit hesitant seeing all these people. The person selling the boat tickets reassures me: come early in the morning, otherwise, it’s too crowded! And not tomorrow, Thursday, because we have tourist buses! Yikes!!

Alright, I book for Friday. We’re fifty minutes from the hotel, so we’ll have to get up early. There are really a lot of people. Once these arrangements are made, we head to the hotel, and after stopping by IGA, we can finally drop off our suitcases. Then, a stroll through town. And in two days, the music festival begins! Big fiesta ahead!

Evita Bella ! https://www.flickr.com/photos/201886709@N02/albums/

Mitch341 Regular ·2024-11-15

And on Thursday, August 8, Forillon Park is on the agenda.

On the other side of the bay, it’s—finally—a beautiful hike!

Same advice as always: get there early enough for both parking and the heat. There are quite a few mountain bikers, but plenty of side pedestrian trails to keep everyone happy.

The entrance is paid, sure, but very affordable. Backpack, water in reusable bottles, map in hand, and off you go. First part of the photos from the parking lot to the lighthouse at the end of the trail.

The pictures are HERE.

Evita Bella ! https://www.flickr.com/photos/201886709@N02/albums/

Mitch341 Regular ·2024-11-15

Once we arrived at the tip of the land and its lighthouse, the scenery was pretty nice. There were quite a few people. On the left side of the point, there’s a path that’ll take you "To the End of the World." You have to go down 387 steps, and according to my math, just as many to climb back up. Ugh!!

I think about my abilities and, given my totally accepted extra weight, I hesitate.

I chat with some people coming back up. "It’s doable—it stings on the way up, but you’ll make it!" I decide to go down, and my wife will wait for me at the top. Off I go, down we go. My knees are suffering, but what can you do?

Once I reached the bottom, the view was nice. Not breathtaking, but still pretty. Photos, selfies, chatting with the people there—we had a good laugh—and then it was time to think about the climb back up. After a short break halfway, I managed to make it to the top! I was actually pretty pleased with myself. I gave some advice and info to people who were hesitating to go down, and then my wife and I headed back to the car.

We went to another viewpoint along the coast, with enough people around to convince me not to stay too long.

In the late afternoon, we returned to the hotel for a bit of rest, and tonight we’re eating at the SeaFlower restaurant. It was good. Make sure to book ahead—it’s not very big. The bill stings a little, but hey, it’s vacation time.

Evita Bella ! https://www.flickr.com/photos/201886709@N02/albums/

Mitch341 Regular ·2024-11-16

On this Friday, August 9th, another beautiful day is shaping up. Busy but beautiful!

Left the hotel fairly early, a 55-minute drive, parked in the village of Percé, and headed to the dock where there were already people. It's only 8:45 AM! Long live vacation! Just tourists, of course, since no one's talking to each other! RER Line C?

No need to argue on this chilly morning. We boarded among the first and were lucky to find seats on the upper deck, which allows for photos and, most importantly, fresh air to avoid any possible "seasickness" from the pitching and rolling.

I chose the mini-cruise that visits Percé Rock, then circles the island to finally dock where it should. It's nice and quite calm sailing. However, the weather isn't great, and the rain jackets are out.

Let's see some images from this first part of the crossing. The rest is HERE.

Evita Bella ! https://www.flickr.com/photos/201886709@N02/albums/

Mitch341 Regular ·2024-11-16

Once we docked, we were given a short welcome speech reminding us that we’re on a protected site and shouldn’t do just anything.

To see the Northern Gannets, you have to take the trails. About an hour’s walk, and there are three options: Left Trail, Central Trail (the easiest), and the Kings’ Trail (Island Tour), which we’ll take on the way back to the dock.

The middle one is set up with activities for kids, so we’ll avoid it. After some thought and analysis, I go for the left trail. There’ll be fewer people. It’s a bit tough but doable, and the photo spots are nice.

Evita Bella ! https://www.flickr.com/photos/201886709@N02/albums/

Mitch341 Regular ·2024-11-16

And here we are, arriving at the Gannet Colony!

Noise from the gannets' cries, smells from the droppings, and not too many people since we chose the first crossing of the morning.

Tourists with iPhones and well-equipped photographers! The flight of these birds is stunning. You can even see some in the distance doing the big plunge for lunch.

Photos are being taken left and right. I’m a bit limited because I only brought the Tamron 70/200, and the weather isn’t the sunniest. Too bad, but we still manage to get some good shots.

At this site, there’s a snack bar with sandwiches and drinks. There’s also an activity led by a young park staff member. The spot is definitely worth it. I don’t regret the walk to get here. Now, it’s time to head back—I chose the 2:00 PM return. So, I need to take the right path. I opt for the one that goes around the island, Chemin du Roy. And then—disaster! A scheduling nightmare!

I’ll spare you the details, but basically, there seems to be a time zone change—or something’s off. Halfway through the route, I check my phone and see I’ll be late for the boat, but my (analog) watch still shows the usual time. We trust the phone, which we shouldn’t have done because later, the time readjusts! Thanks to some tourists who pointed out the correct time!

Once at the dock, lots of people. Since I have a good memory, I position myself in the right spot and board among the first. Lucky to be out in the open air.

In summary? A fantastic day. Then back to Gaspé, hotel rest, and later, out for the first evening of the music festival, where we meet two young French people on a Working Holiday Visa selling churros from a mini food truck!

And we try, for the first time (but not the last), the *La Guédille au Homard et Crabe* sandwich! So good!

Photos of the gannets. And HERE

Evita Bella ! https://www.flickr.com/photos/201886709@N02/albums/

Mitch341 Regular ·2024-11-17

Saturday, August 10th, it's time to hit the road. We'll take the East Coast route toward the city of Campbellton in New Brunswick. It's not an exceptional or very attractive city, but it's a good stopover with opportunities for some nice walks.

I've planned a stop along the coast at the historic site of Paspébiac. The Cod Museum is calling our name.

It's a cool spot with staff who speak perfect Québécois. Here, we'll learn that back in the day, there were several grades of salted cod. The lower-quality or hit-or-miss batches were used to feed some locals and, especially, slaves in the Caribbean. The rest was shipped to Italy, the West Indies, France, and of course, Portugal. But not just there.

The operation was under the control of a Jersey-based company (a bank), more English folks, who ruthlessly exploited the local population starting at age 14. When this bank-owner went bankrupt, you can imagine the tragedies that unfolded here.

Let's check out the cod processing site. The images HERE.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=azW0bzj7CVo&t=25s

Evita Bella ! https://www.flickr.com/photos/201886709@N02/albums/

Mitch341 Regular ·2024-11-17

As planned, we arrived in Campbellton, New Brunswick. Drove through a deserted town and stopped at a basic hotel. The only upside was that we were on the ground floor—handy for the luggage. COMFORT INN, 111 Val d'Amour Road, E3N 5B9 Campbellton. Evening spent with a stroll around town and along the estuary, dinner at a pizzeria with Italo-Canadian fusion, a stop at the IGA, and back to the hotel.

On Sunday, August 11th, I’d planned a trip to the Miscou Lighthouse. A 3-hour round trip just to see the ocean seemed a bit much, so we changed plans and headed to Sugarloaf Provincial Park, just a stone’s throw from the hotel. It’s a small ski resort with various facilities. In the summer, it’s a paradise for ATVs and hikers.

We bought tickets for the chairlift, and the attendant suggested we check in with the rescue team since the map we were given wasn’t very clear. The rescuer on duty grabbed his bike and rode up with us on the chairlift to show us the right path once we reached the top.

One perk of the area is that the ATV trails are dedicated, and hiking trails are mostly (95%) off-limits to ATVs since they’re often impassable for bikes.

Once at the top, our rescuer continued explaining things, then left us to our hike. I took a wrong turn due to poor signage and a useless map, but we managed to get back on track with a bit of help from the iPhone GPS and some athletic detours.

We’d opted for the three-lake loop, but we only ended up seeing two. Still, the hike was really nice, and we didn’t see a single person on the trail.

Back at the base, we had fish and chips at the station’s restaurant—seriously, they were amazing and better than any I’ve had elsewhere (Scotland included).

On the way back, we stopped at Walmart, took a nap at the hotel, and then went for another stroll around town before a light dinner with drinks. If you’ve got another stopover option, don’t hesitate—this town is pretty dull. Not much to do here.

Photos HERE

Evita Bella ! https://www.flickr.com/photos/201886709@N02/albums/

Mitch341 Regular ·2024-11-17

We left Campbellton without regret to head toward Rivière-du-Loup and see the St. Lawrence River again. We passed through the small town of Témiscouata-sur-le-Lac and had a second poutine (with bolognese sauce) to keep us going.

Two nights in a decent hotel in Rivière-du-Loup, nothing more. There was a really fun atmosphere with the breakfast staff and the French locals who’ve settled in Québec. DAYS INN by Wyndham, 82 rue Fraser, G5R 1C8 Rivière-du-Loup.

In the evening, after checking out a few shops and a really nice IGA, we went to dinner at the restaurant La Griffe de l’Hôtel Levesque. My wife wanted lobster. $42 for 300/350 grams—it wasn’t expensive at all. The next day, we left early for the Canyon des Portes de l’Enfer near Rimouski. A 1.5-hour drive through the Québec countryside on some pretty fun roads.

Once at the canyon, we stopped at the Visitor Center to pay the fee and then parked at a site ready for hiking. The place is amazing. It’s partially under construction, but it was fine for my old legs. On the way back, we stopped to buy hot- and cold-smoked salmon and enjoyed it in our room!

Photos HERE.

Evita Bella ! https://www.flickr.com/photos/201886709@N02/albums/

Mitch341 Regular ·2024-11-17

Wednesday, August 14th, it's time to head back and make our way (and our suitcases) toward Quebec City.

Before that, I decided to take a stroll in the Rivière-du-Loup Community Park. A pleasant spot by the river with a few amenities for kids. The weather isn't exceptional, and the city noises are starting to pick up. Let's go.

Images HERE.

Evita Bella ! https://www.flickr.com/photos/201886709@N02/albums/

Mitch341 Regular ·2024-11-18

On the road again! Yep, it's time to head to Quebec, the beautiful sleeping beauty. The drive is gorgeous, and we arrive at the hotel pretty early. Well located, maybe a bit large, with lots of tourists from all over and very helpful, super-friendly staff. Parking at the hotel’s garage costs 25 € for 3 days, and the room is amazing—30 m²!

Château Laurier 1220 Place George V, G1R 5B8 Quebec City, Canada

After unpacking, we start exploring the city, which is right nearby.

As mentioned earlier, Quebec is the beautiful sleeping beauty—a very clean, calm, and upscale city.

Tonight, we’re heading to the upper part of Old Quebec. We’ll stop at a fantastic pub/restaurant—I highly recommend it! Once you’re inside, ask for a spot at the bar counter. With a bit of luck, you’ll have Line serving you. A truly relaxing moment, and the bill isn’t too steep.

Le Dorsay: https://www.dorsayrestaurant.com/

Let’s explore this city with quite a few tourists around.

Photos HERE.

Evita Bella ! https://www.flickr.com/photos/201886709@N02/albums/

Mitch341 Regular ·2024-11-18

Thursday, August 15th! Montmorency Falls on the agenda!

Free bus/metro tickets for 3 days at the hotel desk! Nice, right? We’ll have about a 50-minute ride on an articulated bus to reach the falls’ terminus. Just enough time to find the entrance, the ticket booth—whose computer just crashed—and here we are, wandering around this beautiful park. The waterfall is truly impressive, despite the pretty warm weather causing a slight lack of water.

The funicular is out of order, and the only way to get down to the base of the falls is to take the 487-step staircase!! Oh yeah! And then we’ll have to climb back up. I’ll only do a third of it for the photos.

The place is quite nice, except—yep, there’s an "except." Right across the falls, there’s a tourist zipline! A long line (and we won’t even talk about the price) and then a 30-second max "slide" on the cable. I’ll spare you the "Oh my God" from the made-in-USA tourists and other screams from around the world. What’s that zipline doing here? Apparently, it’s not bothersome. Okay, I’ll take their word for it.

Let’s focus on the falls instead.

Photos HERE.

Evita Bella ! https://www.flickr.com/photos/201886709@N02/albums/

Mitch341 Regular ·2024-11-18

Back by bus again, refreshment at the hotel, laundry at the "laundromat" downtown, found a store online, and then a stroll around the city. A tightly packed schedule for this afternoon and evening. Still just as many people. Makes sense—it’s a pretty nice city.

Evita Bella ! https://www.flickr.com/photos/201886709@N02/albums/

Mitch341 Regular ·2024-11-20

Friday, August 16, 2024.

The plan for the day is simple. Visit the Citadelle with the outdoor concert by the Regiment’s brass band, followed by the Champlain district, which I’ve heard great things about.

The Citadelle, built on the Plains of Abraham, is in the Vauban style. It has everything needed to defend against any attack.

These days, it’s occupied by a Regiment where the official—and only—language allowed is French. For the tour (available in French or English), don’t hesitate to book for the first slot at 10:00 AM. After that, it gets crowded. After the short visit, you’ll get to enjoy (from June 26 to September 1) the brass band’s morning concert on Place d’Armes.

Once that’s done, we head into town.

Photos HERE.

Evita Bella ! https://www.flickr.com/photos/201886709@N02/albums/

Mitch341 Regular ·2024-11-20

After our escapade at the Citadel, we walked down to the Champlain district. We’ll head back up via the funicular.

So, Champlain—what can I say? At the risk of making enemies (and I already have a few), Champlain is nice, but it’s basically just a big souvenir shop for tourists, with (sometimes luxury) products that are pretty expensive and restaurants that are more or less local.

The giant Michelin Man decorations were designed by the same artist behind the opening ceremony of the Paris Olympics. It’s fun to see. Anyway, the buildings are very old, the alleys too. Everyone will find something they like here.

Photos HERE.

Evita Bella ! https://www.flickr.com/photos/201886709@N02/albums/

Mitch341 Regular ·2024-11-20

Last night in Quebec City. Still at Pub Dorsay for dinner and some night shots of the city. Quick and dirty photos—there’s some grain.

Evita Bella ! https://www.flickr.com/photos/201886709@N02/albums/

Mitch341 Regular ·2024-11-20

Saturday, August 17th, my wife's birthday and our departure for Montreal, where we'll be staying for three days.

The hotel is great. Mostly frequented by Hispanic tourists. Good vibe.

Le Nouvel Hôtel, 1740 Boulevard René Lévesque West, Montreal

Before arriving in Montreal, we stopped in Trois-Rivières for a quick visit and a decent pizza at a small restaurant.

Evita Bella ! https://www.flickr.com/photos/201886709@N02/albums/

Mitch341 Regular ·2024-11-21

Settling into the hotel and heading out for a quick exploration of Montreal and its downtown core. It almost feels like we're in the Big Apple!

Photos HERE.

Evita Bella ! https://www.flickr.com/photos/201886709@N02/albums/

Mitch341 Regular ·2024-11-21

On Saturday night, we’ll have a meal to celebrate the birthday, and we’ll head back to the hotel later that night. I love cities at night.

Evita Bella ! https://www.flickr.com/photos/201886709@N02/albums/

Mitch341 Regular ·2024-11-21

Sunday, August 18th is dedicated to visiting my friend Serge. We take the Métro and arrive at his place pretty quickly. We spend an excellent time with him and his wife Sol. Serge is an artist—a theater director, writer, and painter.

No need to say more. He, along with Professor Marc Ichou from the Val d’Aurelle Cancer Institute in Montpellier, originated the "Theater and Medicine" concept to teach oncology students and graduates (though not exclusively now) how to announce an illness or impending end to patients. This is all in collaboration with the Montpellier School of Dramatic Art, where my wife works as the secretary.

Serge and his paintings. They’re countless, and each one speaks in its own way about a moment in life and the human soul.

Back when Serge lived in Qalya, Israel, right next to the Qumran caves, I’d spend a day at his place every year just listening to him.

Here are a few of his works.

Evita Bella ! https://www.flickr.com/photos/201886709@N02/albums/

Mitch341 Regular ·2024-11-22

Monday, August 19th was the last day before heading back. We had planned to explore Old Montreal. Unfortunately, the weather ruined the day. By the end of the day, a little walk lifted our spirits.

And here are some random shots of this city. Which I didn’t like, by the way. Not at all.

Evita Bella ! https://www.flickr.com/photos/201886709@N02/albums/

Mitch341 Regular ·2024-11-22

Tuesday, August 20th. We had dropped off the car three days earlier at Montréal Airport with quite a hassle, just like when we picked it up. Taxi between the hotel and the airport.

Quick check-in at the AF kiosk (thanks to the AF staff) with an extra bag paid for online, and we rush to the Duty-Free for a few gifts. What a crowd in that Duty-Free!!!

Overall impression of the trip? More than positive!! Beautiful landscapes, wonderful people we met, and the incredible kindness of Quebecers.

Total cost? Hmm. Actually, it was a private trip. So no numbers.

Only downside: Montreal. I really didn’t connect with it at all—like, not at all. Cosmopolitanism, like all words ending in "-ism," has taken its toll. Montreal has lost its soul. Like big U.S. cities—NYC, San Francisco, or Las Vegas—it’s become a refuge for the homeless. We have the right to be progressive (I’m talking about Montreal here), sure, but we could at least take care of the people sleeping on the streets. It’s easier to protest regularly for a distant cause than to look at what’s happening right under our feet. Community divisions must play a part in this. And it’s really too bad. Maybe I’ll go back to Montreal someday to truly appreciate it...

Where will we go next year? For this winter, it’s Italy as usual for New Year’s on the Ligurian Coast (oh, the childish joy of setting off firecrackers!). And for summer 2025, who knows? With the way things are going… It won’t be America—the budget isn’t exactly overflowing. Maybe Austria, with a stopover in northern Italy. Or perhaps a Middle Eastern country, if the war finally ends for everyone’s sake.

Thanks for reading. And for your insightful comments.

Evita Bella ! https://www.flickr.com/photos/201886709@N02/albums/

YO Yodabee ·2025-02-14

Quebecers really don’t like it when the French call them "cousins"

Honestly, that’s not true. I myself call the French "cousins", it’s an affectionate term.

YO Yodabee ·2025-02-14

Some wine, sure, but not great[:(] Still, we drink more French and Italian wine than Quebec wine. That said, Quebec wine has improved a lot over the years. The winemakers are often French people who came to build their lives in Quebec, far from the turmoil of France.

Dolma Globetrotter ·2025-02-15

Seriously, that’s not true.

And so you prove it with

I myself call the French "cousins"

Did you know there’s always the exception that proves the rule ;)

un chemin et la caresse du vent, alors je pars en voyage...

Mitch341 Regular ·2025-02-15

What’s your issue with this topic, Dolma?

Evita Bella ! https://www.flickr.com/photos/201886709@N02/albums/

YO Yodabee ·2025-02-15

Looks like Dolma has an issue.[;)]

Mitch341 Regular ·2025-02-15

Indeed, Dolma has an issue.[;)]

[;)

Evita Bella ! https://www.flickr.com/photos/201886709@N02/albums/

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Back from 3 weeks in Quebec

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