Memorable Hikes – Québec City, Canada 2016

Continuing my Friday series on memorable hikes…

In 2016 my husband and I took a road trip and met up with friends in Québec, Canada. We spent our time in Old Québec, a quaint section of the city with a European flair and a lot of history. French is the primary language spoken in all of Québec, and the signs, including road signs, are in French.

Looking out from Old Québec…the trail went along the top of the walls surrounding the city.

According to Wikepedia, Québec City is one of the oldest cities in North America. “The ramparts surrounding Old Québec are the only fortified city walls remaining in the Americas north of Mexico, and were declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1985 as the ‘Historic District of Old Québec’.”

The front doors of our B&B.

We spent a few nights in a B&B in Old Québec. Because of the narrow streets with a lot of traffic and limited parking, it was suggested we park outside the walled city in a parking ramp, which we did. We had to travel by foot to visit what we wanted to see in this historic town; Château Frontenac Hotel, wonderful restaurants, outdoor markets, sea vistas.

Château Frontenac

The memorable hike was our walking on the city wall. The circumference of the fortified wall that surrounds Québec City is 2.8 miles. It was a leisurely hike. We stopped to enjoy sights seen from on top of the wall. It was a unique hike and a fun memory from our time in Québec.

Ava Maria

IMG_1589The sun was shining and the sky was  blue the day we went on a three hour boat cruise through the Fjord-du-Saguenay.  Hills with lush shades of greens and rocky cliffs met the Saguenay River forming the lovely fjord.

We voyaged up the river and then turned around. On the way back the boat slowed down and the tour guide pointed out a statue of Mary (35 feet high) on the side of a cliff. The story is this: In the winter of 1878 a salesman who traveled the roads in and around Quebec was crossing the Saguenay when the ice broke and he and his horse and sleigh were pulled beneath the icy water. He was alone and helpless. Knowing he was dying he prayed to the Blessed Virgin Mary to save him. He miraculously survived and knew the Virgin Mary had assisted him. He commissioned this statue to be built to honor her.

The boat idled along  and the song Ava Maria resounded over the loud speaker. It was an unexpected but holy moment.

Here’s the English translation of the Latin prayer Ava Maria:

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee.
Blessed art thou among women,
and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
Holy Mary, Mother of God,
pray for us sinners,
now and in the hour of our death. Amen.

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