Oh Canada: Quebec - Part Deux

Here comes the second round of Quebec pictures, which includes some of my favorites from the entire trip. Enjoy!

{Tiny feet, begging to be tickled .}

{Nutcracker army.}

Christmas is serious business in Quebec. The Old City transforms into a magical village before the holidays. The strings of lights reflecting on the shimmering snow make the city look truly enchanting. I'd love to visit Quebec in wintertime, and wander through a Christmas wonderland. 

This winter holiday is loved so much in the city that some stores sell Christmas ornaments all year long. La Boutique de Noel is a place where you can experience the magic of Christmas in the midst of summer, and that's exactly what we did.

{Rain, rain go away!}

{ The art alley }

{ A quick gelato stop at Maple Delights. }

I stayed clear from most desserts during our trip, as I was trying very hard to overcome my sugar addiction - no pain au chocolat for me. It's a bit of a shame I didn't get to try some of the local favorites. On the other hand, I felt quite proud of myself for being able to walk past bakeries and ignore the dessert section on restaurant menus. The only slip up I had was at Maple Delights, where I indulged in a cup of delicious ice cream while we stopped to rest and dry off a bit.

{ Artillery Park }

{ What's around the corner? }

{ A seriously impressive mural. }

{ How fun are these art installations? }

{ Antiques in an antique building. }

{ These window boxes took my breath away. }

{ Rue de Petit Champlain }

By the end of the day we were soaked, cold and completely exhausted, but even our wet, pruned feet and runny noses wouldn't stop us from continuing our journey. In the evening, when the sun started to set, the streets lit up in strings of lights making this part of the city look even more cozy and inviting.

{I heard they cook a fantastic rabbit in here.}

{ Dinner at Cochon Dingue }

On our way back we took a country highway for a change of scenery. It's such a shame we were pressed for time, and couldn't stop along the way to take pictures of the beautiful country side of Quebec. It's worth spending the whole day driving around, admiring the charming old country homes and farmhouses.

Au revoir Quebec!