Thought he was back in the sleeper on the train - just the second bedroom in #The Loft
SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 16
Nothing to it. We are smooth operators when it comes to packing up and catching a train. A leisurely start a redistribution of the luggage contents so we come in under the weight allowance for the train and we are off.
Have even got some snacks on board to supplement our beverage stop at the station. A VIA official informed us there were 103 passengers on the train to #Quebec City this morning and we were a little surprised that there was no check in luggage.
Lined up early in station
Settled into our comfortable seats, with plenty of legroom and fabulous outside views of the world whizzing by. Fold down tray and offers of tea and coffee and food from the #Service Cart and we were settled for the 3 hour transit to #Quebec City.
@Mac dutitfully tracked our journey on #Google Maps and snapped every river crossing and identified each lake, named every town we passed and was playing "name that crop" as the endless production of food passed by. On the other hand, as the poster girl for "the gentle rocking of the train will put you to sleep," I wasn't quite as dedicated in watching the real world - preferring la la land and pleasant dreams for some (maybe that should be "multiple") stretches of the journey.
Unique perspectives of the train journey
There were a few passengers on board who were taking "alternative" methods to their destinations as their flights were cancelled due to #Hurricane Lee. Flights to #Halifax had been cancelled so a group of 4 were making two train trips to get there and other passengers were enroute to join the #Viking cruise ship. Guess we should check the weather forecast as we are due to fly out of #Halifax back to #Vancouver. Fingers crossed it is all over by then.
Meeting up with the #St Lawrence again
We caught glimpses of the @St Lawrence as we arrived - again, a massive wide stretch of the river spanned by bridges that seem to stretch endlessly in the distance. The train stopped at #Sainte Foy our departure point for the #Halifax leg of the journey before taking a snaking and slow route through to #Gare du Palais. And once outside you can understand the significance of the name of the station - it looks like a "castle."
True to form, our accommodation was within walking and dragging-your-luggage distance of the train. In fact, with a single traverse of a road and a park we were on #Boulevard Charest Est and only had 1.2 kms over broken and uneven pavements to get to #Les Lofts. It sounds simple, but it is always a marathon because of the rough surface, the roadway crossings and the many people who are travelling in the opposite direction. Plenty to look at though on this main thoroughfare - lots of street art on the pylons of the freeway, lots of shop fronts, bars and pubs, streets signs and intersections to navigate and everything around us written in #French and we heard absolutely no #English from fellow walkers as we made our way, haltingly, along the street.
As a "relieved" point of observation - just want to comment that #Charest Est is flat. That is the relieved observation bit. But at every intersection we came to and when we glanced left - everything from #Charest Est was UP and I mean UP UP. That is the "nervous anticipation" bit.
Comfy at "home" with the church of St Roch just around the corner
Of course, we zeroed in on it like an arrow because of @Mac's ever present map and were pleasantly surprised at our trendy loft. Although @Mac did veer right once inside and the first bedroom was a pair of bunks with a ladder - for a moment, he thought we were back on the #Canadian and he was going to get a good night's sleep in his single top bunk. Not the case, a massive king size bed (complete with decorative oars above the pillows - what is that about) was waiting just behind the next curtain. "Curtain," - yes, that's right. This is really a large single "loft space" with open plan kitchen, dining, lounge and then two bedrooms with curtained entrances - and of course a bathroom. Even has a "mud room" entrance to accommodate the winter conditions. All very modern, trendy wooden interior, shiny and sparkling new fittings. Very nice.
Time to unpack and get out the shopping bag and head back to the #MetroPlus for the essentials. Opted to follow the sound of the "noise" and the trail of "outside dining umbrellas" and just one street back landed in #Rue St Joseph a very trendy bar/club/restaurant area in our suburb of #Nouve La Roche. Did a little spin of the wheel and settled on #Table as our venue of choice. Honeslty, we ruled out a few - a bikie group in the corner restaurant, a limo filled with bride to be and bridesmaids outside another, absolutely blaring live music in a third - we were sort of drawn to the calmness of #Table.
Yum, yum, yum. We decided to concoct a banquet for ourselves - a little sharing selection on our table. Soup of the day, oysters (we will be back on Tuesday for their "oyster night"), pork ribs and lobster poutine washed down with some local beer and spirits.
Again, no hint of any "grumpiness" because we don't speak #French. The most accommodating and helpful wait staff. Here, #French is the first language and the #English is not quite as fluent - but the efforts to make sure we understand everything is just as enthusiastic and generous.
Had a bit of a dash to get to the #MetroPlus before their closing - but we did manage to load up and find our way to the comfort of #Les Lofts.
This city is a bucket list stop for @Mac. Will wake up to a surprise itinerary tomorrow. A little wary - this is the first tourist map I have seen, that has a special icon on it for "stairs" - and they seem to be EVERYWHERE. Thinking this is another city where "downtown" is UPtown!
Meanwhile in Europe with @M&I
Not much communication today on the train ride - but we know that they are surviving - had another shot of @Ian eating! Enjoying the fun of his gastronomical journey around Europe.
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