Chateau Frontenac

Someone once said...

...beauty comes from within. I don't know why but while I was posting these photo's that's what was going through my mind. It is true. I know it is usually said when we talk about people and not things but this city's beauty comes from within as well. Québecs beauty comes from the heart of its city, its center, even on a rainy day like this one.

Québec City, day 1

Why is it no matter where you are in the world you can spot an American a mile off? These two ladies and gent crossed the road before I could get my camera out and take a pic of them. They were identical in so many ways they were like peas in a pod, same hair, same rain poncho, same accent and mannerisms and they looked similar when they waddled across the street to that lovely looking restaurant.

Saint-Jean-Port-Joli

On the road to Québec once more. As we left the beautiful New Brunswick we were soon driving along the fleuve Saint-Laurent. I can't describe just how beautiful it is. Even on a day like this one, grey, cloudy, rain pouring down, there is something so magical about it and I wish I could have stopped the car more often to take more photo's but as we all know stopping every hundred meters or so doesn't get you anywhere in the end (well not to Québec City). By the way, that seagull was our new best friend while we sat in the car taking shelter from the downpour. Did you know that seagulls eat apples?

Edmundston

I suppose that anyone from Edmundston will be angry when they read this but there isn't much that is positive to say about the town. It stinks! No wonder with 4 papermills that give the place a certain odour of je ne sais quoi. People were noisy driving up and down the streets in their cars, honking their horns, proclaiming their presence, lots of drunk people sitting in shop entrances or just generally hanging around, a feeling of agression somehow seemed to pervade the place. On the bright side the food was good, the waitress was really nice and very friendly (no wonder - she was part Irish) and we did get some sleep even if the motel did feel like it was where prostitutes entertained their tricks. Well, anyway enjoy the pics...

View of the Sugarloaf

View of Sugarloaf Mountain.
On the way to Edmundston we stopped just outside of Campbellton to take in the view and have a break. Looking back I wish we had stopped before or in Campbellton. The views as we drove down through the hills and mounts were sublime.

Miles and miles of road...

Miles and miles of quiet roads and highways stretch across the Apalachian Mountains as we weave our way towards Edmundston...

Maybe not La Vache qui Rit

cute cows nevertheless! If only they could have posed for the camera a bit better...

I wonder if these birds survived

I can't help but wonder if any of them survived Thanksgiving or Christmas. Such fine actors as these that also play their part in the Acadian Village sure deserve better fates than ending up on a dinner table at the hotel in the park.

More historical village

L'Acadie

Not far from the wonderful town of Caraquet lies the Acadian Historical Village where you get an idea of what life might have been like through the past centuries. One of the great things about it is the love of the actors who play the parts of the villagers. The weaver, the farmer, the teacher, pub owner and other players will tell you what life was like in either English or French, while they weave, farm, serve and teach and do many of the other things people did to make a living in the 17th, 18th, 19th and early 20th century.