A few random observations from our recent vacation to Montreal and Quebec City:
The official language of the province of Quebec, where both cities are located, is French.
Quebec City, especially, is a very French city. Children are only instructed in the French language.
Nevertheless, we had no issues with speaking English in either city, though the road signage in Quebec City and the surrounding region is entirely in French, and English is spoken decidedly less there.
But we were able to communicate quite well with people in both cities. Only once did we encounter someone who spoke almost no English, but even then, things worked out well.
Despite being in Canada and in a province where French is the official language, about 98% of the music we heard — and we heard a lot — was American, primarily from the 1970s through the 1990s.
I heard Rick Springfield’s “Jessie’s Girl” four times in three different cities.
I heard a string of 1950s doo-wop songs in a Montreal pharmacy.
I heard “Welcome to the Jungle” and “Take On Me” at least three times each.
We ate three meals a day in restaurants for seven straight days and heard music playing in every restaurant, but I can count the number of French songs I heard playing on one hand.
American music seems to be everywhere.
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Payment in every restaurant in Canada was completed at the table via an identical device, which I liked a lot. The consistency of the process was appreciated, and the speed and ease of payment were outstanding. I preferred this approach over the numerous methods used to present, pay, and process checks in the US.
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Many of the restrooms in Canadian restaurants are small, single, unisex rooms with a toilet only and a communal sink outside. This makes a lot of sense—no need for a restroom for each sex.
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Breakfast in Quebec, and perhaps in most of Canada, is annoying. Most restaurants open later in the morning than in the United States, and few serve the kind of eggs, bacon, and toast breakfast I’m looking for. Instead, breakfast often consisted of breads and pastries, fruit, and salad.
So much salad.
But on a few occasions, we found ourselves in restaurants that included baked beans and meat pie as part of the breakfast, which I loved. Being French Canadian, my family grew up eating lots of baked beans, and my mother often made meat pies. Having both for breakfast was like a nostalgic return to my childhood.
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I saw many older Canadians walking around with ski poles for support in lieu of canes. It was an interesting choice. I suspect it makes more sense in January than it does in August, but either way, it worked.
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We walked five to seven miles every day of vacation, including five days in Quebec City, which is comprised of steep hills and many sets of stairs. My shoes — Nike’s Air VaporMax Flyknit sneakers — are the best, and my feet did not hurt once on the trip.
I’m on my feet for much of the day when teaching, so I spent a great deal of time choosing a sneakers that would make my feet feel good by the end of the day, and since donning these sneakers two years ago, I can’t believe how comfortable they are/
In the rare instances that I am required to wear something other than these sneakers, it feels as if I’ve stepped back into the Stone Age.
I can’t recommend them enough.
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Our only disappointment was our first Airbnb in Montreal. It was centrally located and clean, and it overlooked a train station, which for Charlie was a joy. Charlie is a railfanner, and his YouTube channel features train videos, so he managed to record a great deal of train footage.
But our bed was the least comfortable Elysha and I have ever slept in, and the apartment wasn’t large enough for us to spend any time relaxing. This forced us to see more of the city and stay out later than we might have otherwise, but the awfulness of that bed cannot be underestimated.
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Our original vacation plans were to visit London and Paris, but Elysha decided to pivot as the time to our vacation grew near and planned a vacation to Montreal and Quebec City instead.
I was a little dumbfounded.
Canada instead of Europe?
Quebec City instead of Paris?
We will make our way to London and Paris someday soon, but Elysha was right about how much we would enjoy this trip. Montreal was a majestic city, full of beauty, history, great food, and seemingly endless adventures.
After three days in Montreal, we drove to Quebec City, stopping in lovely Trois-Rivières along the way, and the beauty of this place blew me away. One of only two remaining walled cities in North America, Quebec City does not feel like a North American city. Every home, shop, museum, street, fountain, statue, and staircase is something to behold. We spent four or five days in Quebec City, and I could’ve easily spent another four or five days and still found things to do.
The city is also surrounded by beauty. Fifteen minutes north are the Montmercy Falls, which are taller than Niagara.
We took a scenic train ride north to a small Canadian town, where we wandered the streets, visiting galleries and shops,
The food was excellent. The people were lovely. The sites were spectacular. The history was never-ending.
I cannot recommend this city enough. Go to Quebec City. You will not be disappointed.
