Je me souviens
September 2016
Saint-Daniel Sector locates in the northern Frontenac National Park, about 2 hours drive from Quebec City in Canada Quebec Province. From the visitor center, we drove 5 minutes to small dirt parking, from where we traverse on a small wooden footpath to get close and personal with one treasure the Frontenac has to offer; the carnivorous plants. These exotic purple pitcher plants have broad green leaves with purple veins and single tall flower in the middle when reaching maturity. Occasionally, we found a moth or a fly, fell into the pitcher and drown by the plant strategic reservoir of digestive enzyme. We later learned that the natives have been using these for pain relief and digestive tract disorder (Sarapin is an FDA approved prescription). But seeing the moth half-digested in the pitcher stubs our appetite for trying this medical wonder on our sore feet.
Wandering back into the city, we visited the famed Citadelle of Quebec. It is the oldest British walled fortification for a city in North America. The long wall forms star-shaped when viewing from the air. Old cannons and bust of various dignitaries include Gandhi, Garneau, La Fontaine, Louis-Joseph Papineau, Duplessis, etc. can be found along the footpath in this very shaded park.
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Flanked by Grand Allee Est and Boulevard Rene-Levesque, the national historical Quebec Parliament stands proudly nearby. Outside of Quebec’s Parliament building, one can find a bed of edible plants which have been used to prepare meals by the Parliament kitchen. If not for lingering urine smell, we would probably taste a few greeneries ourselves. Inside, we visited three large halls which holding current hot topics such as taxis/Uber and tax for school. Depending on the stage of the bill, the debate will be held in either blue or red room. The 2014 right-to-die bill was passed here in the blue room. The debate format is similar to England legislative process, but minus the strange outfit and the cursing.
The peculiar thing that we missed was the changing guard and its mascot Batisse the Goat while we were there.
Next morning, we went to Cochon Dingue (translate as Crazy Pig) in Place Royale region for brunch. Ordered Duo Campagnard and Gaufre Dingue and we were pleasantly surprised by the food quality and fresh taste.
Duo Campagnard is two small portioned dish as the name implies; small lightly sweet crepe wrap over cinnamon baked apple slides top with maple caramel sauce, and a wheat toast serves with scramble eggs top with bacon bits, mushroom, and tasty creamy cheese sauce.
Gaufre Dingue is golden waffle stuffed mushroom, bacon, ham, bell pepper, sausage, and green onion topped with sunny side egg cover in melted creamy cheese sauce. A small bowl of fruit wraps up this delightful dish. While sipping cafe au lait, we just hit by a realization; that great food and equally great service do not always need to accompany by an outrageous price.
After scrumptious brunch and a big smile on our faces, we strolled through Place Royale nearby. Its charm can be found with cobblestone streets, cute boutique shops, and picturesque restaurants, we felt like being transported back in 1608. The enormous mural tells the history of Quebec City. For one, it’s the birthplace of French America. It’s admirable to see the French-Canadian native pay homepage here were from all over Quebec Province.
However, this historical town has yet to unveil its many surprises; just down the street, half dozen boats seemingly floating in an alley, large and festive red and white balls string up in another alley, fresh flowering plants appears on every French colonial building windows sill. Now and then, few characters of the period show off their crafts to passerby. The Place Royale with its many fine restaurants and beautiful landmarks really deserve many visits to truly enjoy this historically rich place.
After paying $5CAD to park at a local tavern near Montmorency Falls, we walked down a long hanging bridge strung across the waterfalls and watching people far down below milling around like ants. Wishing to join the ant colony, we clamber down 487 panoramic stairs to the misted cement platform to view the falls from below in its full glory. The top of the falls is almost 99 feet taller than Niagara, the Montmorency Falls cataract form is a beautiful and impressively powerful with lots of smaller waterfalls pouring down the rocky cliff. There were zip-lining across the waterfalls, as well as the gondola to bring you back up to parking lot. Avoid the easy way, we proceed to go up 487 stairs all the while dreaming of the purple pitcher extract.
Follow an elderly Canadian lady helpful advice, we drop by Eggsquis in Levis for brunch. We ordered Norwegian and Country Styled Crepe accompany by two mugs of local coffee. The Norwegian came with two poached eggs on top of flavorful soft smoked salmon and toasted muffins, and all lightly covered in tasty hollandaise sauce. The fried potatoes slides have light flavored that we found endearing ever since we arrived in Quebec. However, we elect to skip over the lightly burnt toasts. The Country Style Crepe dressed the thinly sliced ham, asparagus and melted Swiss hit just the right taste buds as well as our pocket.
Still full of breakfast at Eggsquis, we drove about an hour to La Jacques-Cartier National Park. The picturesque lake and stream seemingly invite us for a nice stroll alongside then relax and soak in the calm and peaceful surrounding with birds chirping and the sound of water washes all worries and hectic at the office behind. Oh, we’ve forgotten… We no longer have to worry about that!
Many times, we have strayed far into Quebec urban and countryside to look for interesting sights, that the only language folks speaking here are Quebec French. Nonetheless, we love dearly the comical interaction when looking for campsites, a good local restaurant, menu in French, coin-op carwash, or finding grocery or hardware stores.
We were saddened when leaving Quebec Province behind but looking forward to seeing New Brunswick in all its autumn glory gets us all excited.
GPS Coordinates
- Saint-Daniel Sector/Frontenac National Park – 45°56’16.1″N 71°09’14.4″W
- Citadelle of Quebec – 46°48’28.1″N 71°12’24.9″W
- Quebec Parliament – 46°48’32.4″N 71°12’49.5″W
- Cochon Dingue Restaurant – 46°48’41.9″N 71°12’12.1″W
- Place Royale Historical Town – 46°48’45.8″N 71°12’08.1″W
- Montmorency Falls – 46°53’25.4″N 71°08’54.3″W, Parking – 46°53’30.5″N 71°08’58.5″W
- La Jacques-Cartier National Park – 47°10’29.3″N 71°22’11.2″W
References
- Destination details were extracted from respective literature, brochure, website, and Wikipedia
- Coordinates are from Google map in Degrees, Minutes, and Seconds (DMS)