On Thursday night, Nicholas said he would love to have authentic croissants, so on Friday morning, Nick and I, being the early risers in our family, set out to get some. We wore our rain jackets, which were useful in the light drizzle, but it would have been better if we had taken our walking sticks, because our walk required us to go up and down  many steep  hills. We came upon a local woman, and I asked her where to get authentic croissants. She replied, “France.” That was intended to be a joke. Then she indicated a street where we could find a shop that sells them.  After walking up  many more steep hills, and consulting another local,  we found the right shop, Chez Smith. We had walked 2,200 steps to get there and would walk another 2,200 to get back to our suite!

By the time we returned, Nicholas and Carla were awake, and we all enjoyed our light and flaky croissants. After breakfast, I reminded Nick that our guide in Lago Maggiore had been so informative, and I suggested that we get a guided tour  here in Quebec City.  It wasn’t easy, because most of them were already booked. Finally, we found one that was available at 5 pm, and we booked it.

We were almost at the end of our trip, and we had yet to  follow the suggestion of our niece, Debbie, to be sure to try poutine. Poutine is  considered to be  the signature regional dish of Quebec. It consists of fries topped by  hot brown gravy and cheese curds. It’s surprising that we hadn’t seen a restaurant that offered them before, but we found a recommended cafe and ordered it. We thought the first few bites were tasty, but I can’t say that any of us wanted more.

After lunch we did more exploring. Nicholas saw a local shop that might have a pin for my hat. It did, and I immediately bought one and added it to my collection. Then we tried to get tickets to La Citadelle, an active military base, but it had already closed to visitors for the day. Next we went back to the boardwalk for another maple gelato. Afterwards, we walked  up a high hill, where the battle on the Plaines de’Abraham between the British and the French, took place in 1759.

Just before 5 pm, we met our tour guide, who was in costume as a young woman named Jeanne from the 17th century. During our two hours with her, we learned about the history of Quebec City  as  she took us to parts of the city that are visited by tourists as well as  sights we would never had seen on our own, all while answering our questions.

Our first site was the oldest surviving house in Quebec City, built in 1675. We saw the Ursuline Convent that is now a school, but originally it was staffed by nuns to teach  girls and women. Thhe Séminaire de Québec, founded in 1663, like the convent, helped establish the religious and educational life of New France as well as preparing hundreds of young men for the priesthood. Last year it took in twelve. We saw part of the original walls of Quebec City and also some of the original cannons.

Our guide told us about how the city emulates a European winter village at Christmastime.  Like a  German market,  it is a feast for the senses, that includes lots of  music, lights,  hundreds of trees and  the aroma of pine. There are German and Québécois food specialties, and many unique items available in the shops.

Carla was surprised that I was speaking some French and she asked me how I knew the language. When I a was a senior in high school, I took an accelerated two year French course in one year. That was many decades ago, but I tend to remember languages.

After the tour, we tried to find a place for dinner, but as  it was the dinner hour and we didn’t have reservations, we weren’t having  having much luck. Eventually we found an Italian restaurant that said they could seat us in 15 minutes.  Va Bene! That means “Okay”, and it was also the name of the restaurant.

Nicholas and Carla  ordered Pasta Bolognese.  Nicholas ate every single bit of it on his plate, saying, “Your Mom would be proud of me!” Yes, she would be proud of him and his sister,  but not only for their culinary preferences! Nick and I shared a lamb shank  with risotto that was prepared with saffron, just as my mother used to make it. I loved it as a child, and I loved it that night!

19,668 steps, a record!