Walking through Quebec City
A few years ago my son and his wife drove North to Montreal, the to Quebec City. When they returned, the raved about Quebec city saying that although it was much further than Montreal - it was well worth the extra time. They said being there was like being in a European city. French is the dominant language, the city is walled, the streets are narrow, etc. Their favorable review was all it took to convince my wife and I decided to take a drive.
We chose Columbus Day weekend to travel. This gave us an extra day at the risk of competing with other North bound travelers. To beat the traffic we left work early Friday afternoon. We arrived at our Hotel Friday night. Early Saturday morning we were ready for a walk. It was October and there was somewhat of a chill in the air. We dressed accordingly. From our hotel room we walked to the first intersection. To the left we could see a long string of outdoor cafes on both sides of the street. We took a right heading towards
the city walls. We walked through the entrance to a vary well decorated area. Most of the buildings were of brick construction and had window boxes. As you would expect, this was a commercial district with every thing from t-shirt shops to high end restaurants, yet the area had a great feel to it. We walked to the end of that street and over to another. And yes, we did stop a couple of times. (Did I forget to say my wife was with me?)
It seemed that the more distance we left behind us away from where we entered, the more the scenery improved. We just kept walking around. A little bit later the weather became much warmer. We were delighted that we picked such a perfect day to explore Quebec. We found ourselves removing our jackets as we watched a street performer. Next we saw that there was another lower section to the city. For couple of dollars we took a funicular - a glass elevator down. The short ride offered a view of Saint Lawrence River and the lower city.
Now it was lunchtime and the choices were overwhelming. Since the weather was warm enough we decided at a simple sidewalk cafe. The food was good and the atmosphere was very relaxing. Just about everyone around us spoke French. The wait staff spoke English, so ordering was easy. Since we had much more to see, we didn’t linger. Back to the walk.
We walked along the river for a while, then up the street. We spent the rest of the day and some of that night continuing this walk.
Filed under: Canada on March 4th, 2007 | No Comments »
Cape Cod is one of the most popular places to walk in Massachusetts. As a matter of fact you can’t go anywhere without seeing people walking. They go for the beach but walking gets equal time. They walk early in the morning, late at night, and all through the day. They walk in all seasons - in all weather. You will see casual and serious walkers of all ages. The walking seems to occur everywhere, but primarily at the beaches, parks, walking trails, and through the neighborhoods. OK, you r probably thinking, that’s about everywhere. But we have to ask, where is The Best Walk!
My son and his family live in the community of Calcinelli. The nearest larger city is my daughter in law’s home town of Fano on the Adriatic coast, then Ancona which is shown on the map to the left. This puts them on the eastern side of Italy roughly half way between Rome and Venice. Calcinelli is just far enough away from the coast enough to be part of the rolling landscape similar to what the Tuscan region is known for.
The walk started after finding a tall set of stairs near the main street. From the top stair I could see all of Calcinelli and a few other areas. From this point on, this was more like a country walk. From there I followed a road which continued to climb the hill. I followed that road noticing that farmland started appearing on my right. A few large homes appeared on my left.
snow still on it. Next there were open fields and wooded areas. I chose a road which took me downhill and seemed to follow the line of the hills on the right. At the bottom of the hill there was a house to my left, a very old yet well kept farm house. An aging man was tending to a small garden in his side yard. The right side of his house had a few rows of Olive trees and the remaining areas of the property were yielding wheat. Then for about a mile it was just open fields with hundreds of poppies in bloom.
After the fields, the next views were of a couple of farms, one of each side of the street. The one on the right seemed to have the most crops. Somewhat near the road was the owner’s house protected by a set of gates and a decorative cement and iron fence. Large trees shaded the house and there was a neatly planted set of Olive trees, then a variety of other crops - including grapes. I took another look at the house across the street. Then I realized that its setting was much grander. That house was high on a hill, near a vineyard. The Olive trees seemed to form a small forest, and his crops were changing the color and texture of the fields. I took another picture.
Between these two farms, I didn’t see anybody working. I didn’t even see or hear a dog or cat. All I could hear was a few birds and the breeze. The road turned and went through a patch of woods putting me in view of a sloping meadow and more hills. As you look at the hills from a distance, you see large sections of trees, surrounded by areas of different shades of green. Within the green areas there are tan, brown, yellow, and orange houses with dark red roofs. Around the house you can see more shades of green then a combination of other colors making up the garden. More photos.
The road finally ended in Lucrezia, the next town over. I took another road back to avoid repeating the same route. When I returned I gave the walk a great review. My daughter in law called it La Passeggiata Perfetta (The Perfect Walk). I’m inclined to agree because when an experience is really good you keep thinking about it. Well, I’m still thinking about it.
Last February we has the good fortune of vacationing in Hawaii. We flew to Honolulu where we would later board a cruise ship, but the next couple of days were spent at Waikiki Beach. From Waikiki Beach or anywhere near there you can’t miss Diamond Head - it is the most noticeable landmark in Hawaii. During the first day I learned there was a walking path would take you to Diamond Head. I was told that the trail leads you across a wooded area, a field, up a few hills, through a couple of tunnels, up some number of stairs, then at the top… spectacular views! Early the next morning I was on my way.
From our hotel I walked to street running along the beach. The were families arriving at the beach, surfers carrying their boards, and others out walking. But I felt like I was walking a bit faster than the others I saw. I probably was because I knew I had about a three mile walk before I could start the walk up Diamond Head.
The first part of the trail is paved. Some of the path is surrounded by small trees and fields. The sun had now moved into a position to better provide direct warmth. This combined with the breezes coming off the ocean to make the walk incredibly comfortable. The paving ended and was replaced by a dirt trail as it should have. The paving seem a but unnatural for this area. Up ahead I could see the rise of Diamond Head.
The trail weaved sharply to the left, up a small hill, the sharply to the right and across a steep decline. Railings along the way keep this area safe for walkers of all skills. The trail wound around another hill before another climb started. This one involved a series of left and right bound trails scaling the next hill. At the top a long trail lead to set of stairs 0 ninety nine to be exact. You then enter a tunnel and climb for a bit more. There’s another tunnel and another smaller set of stairs and a small exit area.
This exit takes you outside to some great scenery. You can now see the ocean and a lighthouse, but it gets better. I followed the trail around a bend and in front of me was the last set of stairs which take you to the summit. From there You can see all of Honolulu, the mountains, the ocean, and everything in between. As you would expect from Hawaii - all of it is beautiful and very photogenic. I spent some time looking around and out at the views. I walked down the stairs and around the other side at the other views.
It was a cruise that brought us to Alaska. As we planned the trip we talked about whale watching, seeing glaciers and the fun offered by a cruise ship. We didn’t talk about walking. Yet when I look through the photos from that trip and reflect back on that vacation, the best memories are from the walks we took. As the cruise line moved from port to port it served the important role of delivering us to new walking areas. Well, almost. We often had to take a second form of transportation such as a bus, smaller boat, canoe, or even a helicopter. But most destinations eventually involved taking a walk. And, the walks in Alaska have a lot to offer. The picture to the left was taken in Skagway shortly after arrival. The main street area is small and the mountains are in constant view. While walking in this area it doesn’t take long to realize that nearly every other person walking arrived by cruise ship. It’s also clear that you are very close to some great natural scenery.
One walk started after we traveled by bus, then by a boat to a nearby island. From there we split into small groups and walked along the coast for a while. Following our guide, we turned onto a trail and proceeded into the woods. The area became hilly but not challenging. We were ascending and it wasn’t long before scenery appeared. It started with a mountain view with a river below. Our trail followed the river. The trail then began a slow decline.
From the bottom of the hill we could see much more of the river. Mountains were now in sight in front of us and across the river. The river seemed to be flowing into the mountains. Not far from this spot we were led into a small lodge where we were issued a paddle and a life jacket. Our plan was to then take a Kayak to a glacier at the end of the walk. As we arrived at the bottom edge of river, we could see our kayaks waiting. We could also see part of the glacier. We were able to see the rest of it by kayak. Once we were satisfied with our glacier view, we returned to the river bank and turned in our gear. It was time to get back to the walk.
Before we decide if walking at lunch is a good idea or not we have to look at the other possibilities - and there are many. As a matter of fact there are so many that we will have to narrow this to a “typical” work situation. Let’s say you work from 8:30am to 5:30pm or later. Many of your days are stressful and most of your time is spent at your desk.
The Freedom Trail in Boston, Massachusetts is a 2.5 mile red-brick walking trail that leads you to 16 nationally significant historic sites, every one an authentic American treasure. Preserved and dedicated by the citizens of Boston in 1958, when the wrecking ball threatened, the Freedom Trail today is a unique collection of museums, churches, meeting houses, burying grounds, parks, a ship, and historic markers. The Freedom Trail was conceived by local journalist William Schofield who had the idea that the historic sites of Boston could be made more accessible to residents and visitors. The trail begins at the Boston Common and winds its way through downtown Boston, the North End and Charlestown ending at the Bunker Hill Monument. It tells the story of America’s first patriots as they fought for freedom against the royal army.
Due to business travel, I often find myself in Rapid City, South Dakota. During each stay work pressure competes for all of my time making walking a challenge. This is a shame because this state is nothing less than a paradise for walkers who enjoy great natural scenery. And I have taken some great walks here. However, most of my walks are at a Canyon Lake Park out of convenience. It’s a good park with walk ways and plenty of parking. The scenery is pretty good too, but it’s a distant second place to the beauty of the Bad Lands and the Black Hills. So when I leave work with an hour or two of spare time, Canyon Lake Park works just fine.
Rapid City is a very walker friendly place. There are paved and natural walkways all over the city. Most are in parks and offer good scenery, parking, picnic areas, and restrooms. Many of the parks connect through walk ways to other parks. Because Rapid City sits in the foothills of the Black Hills, the most of the scenery is inherent, but it is not without a few man made enhancements such as gardens and bridges.
Canyon Lake Park is easy to drive to. Just pull in and start walking. The Lake is in view as are the ducks in abundant supply. The area’s around the lake are well kept. You’ll find gardens, various recreation areas, streams, and woods. At the center of the lake is a gazebo reachable by causeway. General there aren’t any boats in the lake other than an occasional paddle boat. The walkways do not go completely around the lake. On the far side of the Lake there is a campground and a residential community. So it’s best to park at one end, walk to the other, then walk back.
This post is being written from Rapid City. So far I’ve been one walk at Canyon Lake, and have another planned after work tomorrow. It’s a good walk, but not the best. The Best Walk in South Dakota will be written about in another post. Please stay tuned.
