Monday, September 28, 2009

Vive le Québec (libre)!

Nicole and I were reunited in Montréal, and from there we travelled to Québec City and back on VIA Rail before heading south to the USA aboard Amtrak (but more on that later). Language aside, you could easily think you were in a different country compared to the rest of Canada, and especially compared to BC. Completely different landscapes, buildings, city layouts and of course (post-European) ages. It has been said so often that Montréal is a very European city, and Québec City rivals many of the finest examples of preserved Vieux Ville of old Europe. But then you come across a four-lane freeway running through the city or a giant SUV or pickup, just to remind you that you're still in North America.

To the photos!


Pondering the next move

Giant chess is a popular pastime in Place Émilie-Gamelin.


Bixi to infiniti

The Bixi bike sharing operation is both stylish and functional.


Photographer checking his work

This guy was very focused on his camera.


Québec City streetscape

Québec City streetscape with gloomy sky.


Visage

One of the many statues around Québec City.


Ode to blue

An ode to blue.


Veterans of unpopular wars

Statue commemorating the Boer War. The inscription reads: "To those sons of Quebec who gave their lives in South Africa while fighting for the Empire AD 1899-1902." The graffiti reads: "Québec libre" (see here for the history of the slogan).

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