This year we decided to leverage national and work holidays to the fullest extent possible, and we chose US independence day to hit Montreal and Quebec City, two of the cities on our shortlist. \u00a0We ended up spending 5 nights in Montreal and 3 in Quebec city (with a quick day-trip\u00a0to Ottawa in between). However, we could easily have enjoyed a full week in Montreal and perhaps a little less time in QC.<\/p>\n
Since our vacation did cross the 4th of July, it made for a strange visit at times. \u00a0For one thing, \u00a0I think that’s only happened once in my life before, and left me feeling somewhat deep down in my mind like\u00a0a traitor (however irrational that seems). \u00a0For two, since we were there for Canada’s independence day on July 1st, it was surreal watching celebrations that looked very much like our US celebrations but not. \u00a0Like being in a parallel universe.<\/p>\n
The good news was that I think we chose a wonderful time of year to visit, as Quebec\u00a0was seemingly non-stop festivals. \u00a0There was the week-long jazz festival, a circus festival, Canada\u00a0independence day celebrations, international fireworks competitions (! where countries compete to put on the best fireworks display choreographed to music), performing arts exhibits and a music festival, all but the last one were free (although some of the lesser-known bands were free even in that). \u00a0The weather was perfect in the low 70s and it only rained on us during the car ride from Montreal to Qc.<\/p>\n
I think we will have to return one year in the heart of winter. \u00a0Quebec has a fun looking carnival with ice skating, fishing, hotels, bars, fireworks, maple candy, sleigh rides etc., all in the quaint medieval town surroundings.<\/p>\n
My impression of the people in Quebec was that they were exceedingly friendly to tourists and non-francophones. \u00a0They’re a hardy sort and seem to take every advantage of nice weather to be outside (Montreal even has a man-made beach in its harbor – where else that far north can you think of that has the same?).<\/p>\n
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