Quebec - Canada Trip (Part I)

We went to Canada from 18th to 27th October.

Brief Summary
Place : Quebec,Montreal,Toronto,Ottawa.
Location : Canada
Distance : 2900 km in Canada.
Group:  Me and my wife.
Transport : Nissan sentra.
Duration: 9 days.

We reached Ottawa from IAD around 6:30 pm on 10/18(Thursday). We flew through United, very small aircraft with 2*2 seats.
we have taken hotel at Byward Blue Inn for that night. Reached hotel around 7:10 pm. In the room, hotel gave us a pamphlet about the tourist places and restaurants nearby. In that, there is one Indian Restaurant Shafali which is walkable distance from the hotel. We decided to try that. It was very cold and windy. We put on our jackets and set out to have our dinner. We reached the place which was an Indian store with only option of to-go and it was closed. The owner of the store, who was about to leave for that day, guided us to another Shafali restaurant which is two streets away from the current store. Hands are getting frozen in the cold climate. We finally reached the restaurant around 8:30 pm. The food was very delicious. we walked back to the hotel and as we headed back we got used to the street names, sign boards and shop names. Reached our hotel room around 9:45 pm. we fell asleep. All is Well.

We started around 10:40 am to Quebec. We checked out at the hotel and set out. It was a 4 and half hour drive from Ottawa to Quebec city where we have booked room at Holiday Inn. We had our lunch around 12:15 pm in the car itself. We drove on one of the highways of Canada from Ottawa to Quebec. We saw vegetation lands on both sides of the highway and huge trees with spectacular fall colors. With bright Sun above, the drive was good and comfortable. we tried to listen some songs, but since the car was moving we could not use the bluetooth and we don't have aux cable. We spend time in vain to find ways to play music from phone with feeble network and soon we reached the hotel around 3:40 pm. We felt temperatures were lower in Quebec than Ottawa. Checked in the hotel. We took the pamphlet from the hotel about nearby tourist attractions and decided to go for Montmorency falls.

We got freshened up and quickly started around 4:37 pm hoping to see the falls before the entrance is closed. We reached near the entrance(base of the falls) around 5:15 pm. There were wagons(rope way) taking the tourists to the top of the falls. we had only 30 mins before the last wagon from top to the base. we quickly boarded the wagon to the top. The view of the falls through the wagon is amazing. We could see the water splashing, the bank of the river and beautiful Lawrence River passing through the Quebec city. We reached the top of the falls. we were told to be back in 20 mins. It was very cold out there with freezing temperatures and chill wind. We rushed to see the falls very close. As we were reaching near the falls we could feel slight water drops on us of the falls. There were wooden stairs and bridge that led us near the falls. There were couple of view points where we could get good view of the falls. The view points are in front of the falls. The sound of the falls was echoing all over the place and it was loud thunder of water splashing on the rocks. There are road and rail routes as well to reach the top of the falls. The train route is a long distance and has already been full (booked in advance). we then went on top of the falls. There is a wooden bridge on the falls. we were standing above the falls and could see how the water was flowing down with great speed. It was a great experience. First time watching the such great falls vertical above it. we spent some time enjoying the flow of water, water splashing, sound and got used to the cold climate. Then we went to wagon to get back to the base. we were the only ones in the wagon, we sat and wagon started. Suddenly it stopped and was pulled back to the top. There was some technical problem in the wagon and we were taken to the base by the security team.

We then started to Old Quebec City around 6:15 pm. Quebec was a french province, so we found more of French than English. We had some tough time in understanding the sign boards, dinner menus etc. Old Quebec city is the place where the Quebec government buildings are located and also it looks like a two level area with full of old fashioned buildings, hotels, gift shops and some Halloween decorations. We reached there around 7:00 pm. We went into one of the coffee shop as we couldn't find an open Starbucks to have hot chocolate in that chilling weather. We could not walk continuously much longer and wanted to take some break before we explore the city shops. It was great relief after having the hot chocolate. Then we saw various decorations for Halloween, dazzling lights on the street, great government buildings all built in old fort styles. The streets are crowded and was very lively with people standing on the street inviting to their shops and some playing live music on the streets. Old Quebec City is on the hill and on the banks of the Lawrence River. It was a great place to spend the evening with some pleasant river views except for the freezing cold temperatures. we then left to Indian restaurant cari de l'inde around 8:05 pm. The menu was in French. we hardly could understand. We showed some signs, images from Google but not much successful. Finally much to our relief there was one waiter who speaks Hindi and able to order the food we want. The food was delicious. we then left to our hotel and reached around 10:15 pm.
We woke up around 7:00 am next day and then got freshened up had our breakfast by 8:30 am. We were exploring the options to cover the tourist spots in efficient way. We decided to go to Aquarium du Quebec which is very near to our hotel. We reached there by 9:30 am. It opens at 10:00 am. We went to the gift shop to pass the time until 10. Finally we got the tickets and entered the aquarium.

It was medium size aquarium with sand sculptures of various sea animals at the entrance and they have different buildings for various enclosures and attractions. It was very cold and windy and barely able to stand at one place. We then saw large seals floating in water. Wondered how they are able to be in water in such freezing cold temperatures. The seals were moving fast in the water. Then we saw two huge gigantic Walruses(they generally live in arctic regions). They are moving in the water pool swiftly turning their massive bodies upside down. they were making some strange noise. We then saw one huge Polar Bear which is relaxing on the grass. It was very cute. Then we saw two huge owls in different cages. There are two different species of owls and had never seen owl of this big and felt like the owls staring angrily at us. We couldn't bear the cold and so decide to watch the animals which are inside the buildings. There is a hurricane simulator booth. We experienced it. It was fun. They just blow air and increase the speed of air along with crackling sound of wood to give the feeling of house tops were blown during the hurricane. We saw piranhas, small cute little fishes. Then we went to see arctic foxes. We saw them live for first time. They were so cute. One of them came very to close to the glass of the enclosure. They almost looked like a cute Dog except they have thick fur. Next we saw sting rays and giant octopus moving in its tank. Then we saw some jellies. We then came out of aquarium around 11:25 am.

We then went to Citadell de Quebec (also known as La Citadelle). Reached around 12:10 pm. It is an old Royal Military installation which now used as museum to display the old styles. It has a huge plain grassland and has many trails in it. We can see the Lawrence river from one side of the Citadelle. It was a pretty lengthy walk along the corners of the fort. Being spring season about to end, we saw spectacular fall colors along the path. There were some guided tours as well which explains about the history of the fort and land. We were not much into the history so left from there around 1:30 pm. We then went to have our lunch at Taco Bell and then had delicious ice creams at Chocolate room around 3:00 pm. There are couple of amazing bridges in the Quebec city and we decided to go over the bridges to get the experience. We just traveled from one side to another side of the bridge and then finally reached our hotel around 5:30 pm. Took some rest and then around 7:15 pm went to Indian Restaurant Bombay Express. It was the only 5 star rated Indian restaurant in Quebec among what we searched. The food was very tasty. The best food we had so far in Canada. We reached home around 9:25 pm and then off to sleep around 10:20 pm. All is Well.
Photos