twentytwoandahalf: Quebec City

Last weekend I went to Quebec City. The goal was to surprise my mom! My dad went to Quebec for business and brought my mom along with him. It was his idea for my to pop up to Canada and surprise her. Since I love surprises and surprising people…of course I said yes! (plus I could claim I was in 3 countries last week)

I left bright and early to head north, grabbed necessary fuel: gas, oil, a sesame bagel and an iced coffee. As I was adding some oil to the ‘ole saturn I noticed a crack in what I found out later was a “breather hose”. I stopped at AutoZone to see if it was a critical, found out it wasn’t, so I kept on my journey.

I crossed into Canada with no problem, and approached Montreal. I knew there was an Ikea near Montreal, and had a sketchy map of the area. I circled Montreal a few times before I found the big blue and yellow building that was my destination. I wasn’t going with the goal to buy anything ..yet I knew I would. I didn’t need anything, but for some reason I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to go. I spent about an hour there. Purchases include: a tote bag (beach bag), stationary, and a wine bottle opener. (all of life’s necessities) By the way, everything that wasn’t written in Swedish, was in French…..

I continued on and on and finally got to Quebec City- my destination and goal was to be in the lobby of my parent’s hotel when they got there. As I arrived into the city, I was suddenly thrown off the course my trusty map quest directions were leading me as the road I needed to be on was closed (for a huge summer music festival).

I figured, how had can it be to find a Courtyard-Marriott in a downtown? Well I didn’t take into account the “round-about/one way street/closed road factor”. After driving in a few circles, I thought it would be good to park in a garage, and just walk and find the hotel (I knew I was close). Somehow or another (maybe because I’m me) I parked in a garage of a posh hotel…but the hotel wasn’t even open for business yet..I don’t know…

After wandering around town a while, I sucked it up and asked for directions, and moments later found the hotel. I sat in the lobby and had a book in hand but didn’t really read it, as I was listening to bits and pieces of French conversations, and loving the fact I felt like I was in Europe! Out of the corner of my eye, I saw my dad and mom walk in. My dad was first (he knew I was coming…) he winked at me, and nonchalantly walked by me, so my mom would be surprised. She looked at me for a good five seconds before she realized it was really me. Then began the “American freak out session between mother and daughter” in the lobby!

We spent the evening wandering the picturesque streets of Quebec City and ducked out of the rain into a restaurant called Europe Café. It was a perfect blend of French Canadian food. When the waiter found out we could each speak a bit of French, he made us order “en francais!” (in French). I felt like I was in school again! Perhaps how would be a good time to mention one of my favorite French Class experiences…I took three and a half years, and on top of one of my papers from French III, I received a poor grade, as well as an illustration of a sinking ship, I think this was supposed to be how I was doing in the class. I am proud to say that when I ordered “en francais” it was successful! (I didn’t say it was smooth…but the ship didn’t sink!)

Sunday, we spent the day seeing the rest of the city. I spend the day falling in love all over again with the European windows and doors (I think I took a few hundred photos). I will also note here, I got more sun on my face and shoulders Sunday than the whole week I spent in California.

Quebec city was awesome; it’s a land not too far away that instantly transports you across the ocean. It’s a land where boys aren’t afraid to wear a pink, or capris (only some can actually pull this off, though). It’s a land where they serve baked beans at breakfast, and strong strong coffee. Needless to say, I’ll be going back (sometime).