July 14 Quebec

Amazing! Simply Amazing! We arrived at the Hop-On Hop-Off station where we had agreed to meet at 9:55. Rita stayed and talked to the tour guide from the bus while I went inside the tourist office to buy the tickets. In Toronto I had paid $35 for a three day pass. In Quebec it's $41 for one day. I paid for the tickets, which is also amazing, but what I was amazed about is that the Lauzes were there at 10:05.

As you can see from the picture, Dean was also amazed they had made it by 10.

Hanna and Rita stayed on the bottom level while the rest of us went to the top deck.

Didn't get off the bus took the whole tour. Old Quebec is picturesque and charming. The rest is like any other North American city.

Got off the bus at the Chateau and went for lunch at _______ . I have never seen Black Pudding on the menu in any restaurant. But there it was. I asked asked the waitress if that is exactly what it said it was. Sure enough, blood sausages. Very tasty, but unlike Hungarian blood sausage which has rice in it to give it texture, this was, like it said it was, pudding.

Agreed to split the bill with Dean, and the waitress brought me the bill which had $125 written  at the top of it. After Dean paid his share, it was my turn to pay. I expected to see half of $125 on the machine. My share was $125. $250 dollar lunch. Decided we would go to the market, and Tina would cook diner.

Tina and the kids had left to go back to their place while we paid the bill. As we were coming out of the restaurant there was a downpour like I've never seen. Dean decided to ask the Hop-on bus driver if he could drop us off close to their place. The bus driver told him the bus was full, but after Dean explained that it was just a few blocks that we were going, he agreed, and let us stand by the front doors of the bus.

Went to the Lauzes and while we were there there was another downpour.

Went to the market after the rain had subsided. Rita bought a little barrel of Maple Syrup.

Tina bought duck breasts and duck sausages.

We decided to walk back instead of taking the bus like we had planed. We let Tina Dean and Rachel go ahead since they walk faster. Noticed they took a different route back and decided to follow them. Lost sight of them behind some construction scaffolding. After we went around the scaffolding, they were nowhere to be seen. Walked along looking for a road to the right that we could take back to their place. The only road was a switchback on the hill. After walking all that way, we weren't about to loose any ground we had gained. Walked and walked. Finally there was a road to the right. After climbing the hill we ended up at Notre Dame. Walked downhill to their place.

They said we should have taken the switchback, it comes out close to their place.

We had a feast. Tina, being Tina, kept apologizing that the duck was tough and not crispy. It was delicious. Said our goodbyes and left around 8PM. They were heading out to a concert at 9.

Tomorrow Washington.