A Day of Congruence

Today seemed to be one of fortuitousness. When we got up, we packed our stuff as we moved hotels to the Chateau Frontenac today. The Hotel Manoir Victoria was awesome, no doubt, we had just planned to experience a couple of places and today was the day to move! We thought we’d take a walk through the old city again looking for some play daggers for Morgan (can a ten year old boy have too many?). We were surprised that there is no where that sells little plastic dagger or axes or anything. Especially given the history of this area, we were indeed surprised. While we were passing by, we stopped to ask what time check in was at the Chateau and the lovely lady at the front desk, checked us in four hours early with a free upgrade to a river view room. Yay! The room has a great view:

Now officially checked into two hotels, we continued down the funiculaire to more souvenir shops. One woman did send us back down to past our original hotel to a medieval shop, so, we went up the funiculaire, and hiked our way downhill again. Wow – I only wish I was able to take photos, but they wouldn’t let me. What a fabulous place. It makes medieval inspired clothing but appropriate for modern wear, along with of course swords, axes, muskets, armour, jewellery, and in general really cool stuff. The woman we spoke with does LARP and also D&D and was very interesting to speak with. Morgan was enthralled. He bought a dagger that is made in Quebec using a formulation similar to the Nerf swords, but handpainted/coloured and with flexible handles. He’s been flipping it around in his hands ever since.

Then we picked up our bags at the old hotel and checked out. When the bellman heard we were going to the Chateau, he asked us with a grin to tell Sandra at the front desk of the Chateau that supper would be ready when she got home J  We grabbed a taxi, and for seven dollars the taxi hauled us and our stuff up the hills to the Chateau, and since we were already checked in, we just waltzed up and dumped our stuff. I never did see Sandra, but I assume she got supper.

Having eaten nothing and it now being after 1:30, and having been up and down the hills of Old Quebec on foot about four times, we were recommended a hotel that was a fair hike from the Chateau. We started off. It was cold, snowy, windy, slushy, and generally unpleasant, but as we went along, we kept getting distracted. First we found the ice palace for Carnavale; it wasn’t what we expected. Basically, it was a twenty second tour through it with some displays set up, but you couldn’t really get in it, or anything at all. There is a stage out front so I expect it’s a backdrop to late night concerts etc. It’s too bad, as we got excited to get inside of it when we saw it, but....disappointment. It happens! Here is what it looked like in part:

After the ice palace we discovered we were back at the main site for Carnavale. Reluctant to walk still farther to the restaurant, we simply ate at the Metro at the main site. Morgan had pizza and I had tourtiere – very tasty! We went tubing...yes I went myself and had a blast...Morgan explored some games in the kids area, and he took a chance on this giant ice slide. He only went down once because you have to haul the sled uphill the entire length of it – these photos show the top and the middle, but not yet the bottom! He said it was very bumpy and no matter what he did to try to steer or slow it down, it just kept going faster, and he only hoped it wouldn’t crash.

Believe it or not, today was only our second chance to partake in the fun of Carnavale. We were only there for about an hour, but will go again maybe tomorrow evening.

Oh yeah, then Morgan vented all his week long "I have to spend too much time with my Mom" frustration on me while we battled here:

On our way back to the hotel, we of course had to pass through the fortifications. We spied this little walking tunnel, and right after I snapped this photo, Morgan fell on his butt and slid about four or five feet into it. Happily he went first, or it would have been me unaware of the ice buildup!

Back at the hotel, we treated ourselves to room service – Morgan was pretty excited. Except he didn’t like his pizza, though it looked great. I enjoyed the nachos; it was weird to be served nachos and pizza on a cart with linen ha ha! Then we went for a swim at the pool, which is very nice.

So today was less a history lesson and more a relaxing and physical exertion day. Those poor ten year old prairie legs don’t know what hit them.

Until tomorrow,

Carol-Lynne