It has been a while since i've posted in this blog here. I actually forgot I had this. I'll have to think of more stuff that I didn't do on my first trip to Quebec City that I did on my second trip in August 2008.

So, be on the look-out for more postings complete with pictures!!

Bar Chez Son Père

I discovered this bar on the first group outing I went on.  I had no idea where I was going.  I just tagged along with a friend who knew some other people that must have known the cool places to go.  The french or the french canadian (I'm not sure if it's québécois or not) call it a "boite aux chansons"  which I guess could translate to night club/bar that artists/musicians play at.  No matter when you go, this place is crowded, but never a dull moment.  Half the time you don't even care that you are getting squished or there is no place to sit down. 

I think the appeal is that it plays traditional Québec folk music. I know that might not sound like a whole lot of fun, but these artists make them a lot more contemporary and upbeat with chances for the audience to sing along as well.  Quebec french is still hard enough for me to understand, so I had NO idea what these singers were saying, but that didn't matter.  The music was so infectious that you couldn't help but dance anyways or at least clap along.

Sadly,  as of New Years Eve 2007 into 2008, the bar has been closed.  It rested on top of another store.  The store below, Crocs... the company who made those shoes that most people, including me, hate, bought out the building and closed down the bar.  

I wasn't going to post an entry regarding this place, only because I knew it had just recently closed, but i had to at least mention it.  I hope it will resurface someplace else in the city, but I doubt it.  Even if they did, it won't be the same.  The upstairs had such history and character to it that it would be impossible to recreate.

below is a video I found on Youtube of one of the singers that used to frequent and sing at the bar a lot.  In it you can get a feel for what the place looked like.  (the size of it, how it looks over from the second story onto the streets of Québec)  You can also get a feel for the type of music that used to play there as well as see the audience participation.  I'd translate what the singer is singing, but honestly, I have no idea.  haha.

paillard

pronounced "pie-yard". I discovered this place with a few friends. It is in the Old City on Rue. St-Jean. It's a bakery that produces fresh product every day. It is a relatively new business, opening in 2006.

If you go around Christmas time, and keep your eye out for it, you can had free tasting of their "buche de Noel", or Christmas logs. They are a pastry staple here. I've heard of them, but never have ever had one. Along with the free tasting, you can also have free coffee and a tour of the bakery (i think that can be done in french or in english). I know that a few people there do speak English. Along with those tastings, there are samplings of bread around too.

Here, to the right, is a picture of the sample sizes. You can purchase them in a log in that size diameter, which is the cheapest price, but they do come in other sizes and even more beautifully decorated. (as seen in the photo above) The picture on it is done in chocolate. (a dark chocolate background with a illustration in white chocolate).


Even if you don't go during the holiday season, it is still a place you should check out. Their pastries are well worth it.

Chez Dagobert

To continue the trend of dance related places, I'll add another club to the mix. It's called Chez Dagobert. It is one of the string of clubs you can find on Rue Allée Est. Though I wish I went to some of the other ones, this one I have been to quite a few times. Again, its free. Drinks are pretty reasonable as well. Coat check is $2, which is normal. You really don't it cheaper than that.

As you'll find in every club, the music is again techno. It s made up of three floors with different types of music to different floors. The bottom floor is hip-hop, and the rest has different forms of the techno. Every Thursday (unless it has since changed) there is a live band. I think the best part is the architecture. Since you are in the Old City, all the buildings really reflect that historic feel. You'll see it on the outside, but most of the insides are very modern.

You'll always have a good time here though, and if its not your style, you can check out some of the other clubs along the strip.

the Pub

It's hard to imagaine (for those in the States) to have a bar on campus, seeing how you have to be 21 in the States to drink and your average college student starts off at 18. Laval has one right in the student union building. It's called Le Pub.

Le Pub is a restaurant during the day, but most nights it turns into a night club, serving all kinds of liquors and beers. The music is mostly techno, or what ever is popular here set to a techno beat. I'm not the biggest fan of techo music, but it was still fun to dance to. Thursday and Friday nights are the most popular. The place gets packed to the point you can hardly move.

What's also nice about the student union building (which, by the way, is called Pavillon Desjardins, or just Desjardins)also has another area that turns into a dance club. This one serves basically just beer. A dj comes from one of the Quebec radio stations to supply the music.

There is no fee to get in, or fee to get there. Just a short walk from the dorms. Drinks will range depending on what you like. Beer is usually the cheapest and the mixed drinks (depending on whether you want top shelf or not) will be the most expensive.

Since the region is known for its extreme coldness and snow storms during the winter, its nice to have a place on campus to go and still have fun. Université Laval has underground tunnels to walk in that connect to every building on campus (its also guarded during the day and has security cameras located everywhere too). So, no matter how cold it is, you can take the tunnels.

dance, dance

For the most part, the clubs in Quebec aren't too much different than the ones I have gone to around RI. There is one that I have discovered that is way different from all the rest I've been to. It is called Le Palace. Now, the only downside, besides being a bit more expensive than the average clubs around the Old City, is the location. It isn't too easy to get to. You'll either have to get a taxi (which I recommend if you have a few people going, it ends up being about $5 per person) or take the bus (which can get confusing because you have to transfer buses in the process).

Now, when I say expensive, it is only because the night ends up costing a bit of money, but it isn't extraordinarily expensive. I have been twice. The first time there was a $10 cover charge and the second time there was a $5.50 charge. They were both on different nights and I can't remember what night was what. Both times there was an open bar until a certain time. (as to be expected, they drinks are a bit watered down, but if you get beer, it's a great deal since you get the beers bottled and there is no way for them to be any weaker.) Also, there is a coat check available(for $2.50)

The inside is HUGE. Besides it being a dance club, you can also play slot machines and pool. There are two floors. The main floor holds the dance floor as well as the casino part of it, the pool tables, and most of the bars. Upstairs there were a few more mini bars. Connecting the upstairs were these bridges that over looked the first floor, where you could dance or just stand and watch everyone. The ambiance is very upscale. The main feature is a sign with the name of the place that takes up about 10 ft of the wall with a waterfall that pours in front of it. I tried to take photos, but it wasn't allowed.

This place is definitely worth checking out if you get the chance and feel adventurous enough to explore outside of the Old City. But also, be prepared to stand out side for a bit. Each time the line has been a decent size, and in the winter, it's awful!

more good food

During my last days in Quebec, a few friends and I decided to go out for a really good meal. We wanted some better-than-average stuff. There was this place attached to one of the malls that were located pretty close to campus. There were three malls, Place Ste-Foy (the closest to campus), Place de la Cité (the mall in the middle of the others), and Place Laurier (the farthest from the campus). The restaurant we went to was called Au Petit Coin Breton, which was attached to the middle mall. Out of all the restaurants I went to, this was the most expensive, but we still managed to get away with out paying too too much. This place also liked to focus on using crêpes in there dishes.

The entrées alone were pretty expensive (ranging from $20 to $30 a plate). But, if you choose to do the Table d'Hôte menu, the prices aren't so bad. The great thing about the Table d'Hôte menu is that you could get an appetizer, entrée, and dessert all for the price of your entrée. Each portion was pretty generous, as well. On this particular day the appetizers to choose from were escargot (snails), lobster bisque (which was what I chose), and a crêpe version of bruschetta. These options alone would have cost quite a bit. If you look at other menus, these appetizers are usually the higher priced options (with the exception of the bruschetta).

The entrées are amazing as well. I chose to get the filet mignon. Along with your protein, you get a huge helping of smashed potatoes (with garlic flavoring) and some green beans and carrots. There are also pasta plates if your not a meat eater. I can't remember the other options for the entrées at this time, but there was a good variety to choose from.

The dessert was really good too. You had two choices of dessert crêpes. One with a dates and apples in a sauce, the other, which I chose was with black cherries with a chocolate sauce.

There wine list was pretty extensive (of course this will probably add a lot more to your bill) but you could experience ice wine (which is one of the native products that come out of Quebec).

I thought the atmosphere was quite nice. There dress was pretty casual, but the restaurant seemed to emit more of a nicer feel. The servers dress in traditional Breton costume. Which I guess could be sort of cheesy to some, but I thought was kind of nice. They didn't look costume-y at all. And I'm sure tourists would love it. (Breton being a region of France where most of the food served at the restaurant is native specialty to.) The women we had was really friendly. I'm not sure if it was because we chose to speak french with her, or if she just wanted a good tip. haha. But, through the dinner she continued to joke with us and talk to us often.

I managed to get of of there, with tip, for about $30 dollars. Even though that might seem expensive, the meal would have cost at least $50 for all that if ordered separately. I wish I knew about this place earlier in my trip, I would have frequented it more often.

Crêpes

Another food you can find pretty easily around Québec is the crêpe. Restaurants will work this pancake-like concoction into every meal. A lot of places will replace it instead of serving pancakes. It is much lighter. You'll find it with many different pairings. For example, during the morning, it is typically served with different fruits, such as strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, and bananas. (and i'm sure you an find more pairs of fruits as well).

For lunch, you can find sandwiches of them. There is one place in the old city that serves up all kinds of versions of it. To build your own, prices vary from how many ingredients you want to add. The one pictured contained cheese, asparagus and ham in a plain crêpe. The restaurant is called Le Casse-Crêpe Breton. (located 1136 rue St-Jean, Quebec City, QC, G1R 1S4) Prices are all under $10 Canadian and you get a lot for your money. The portions are pretty big. The only down fall is that the place is pretty small and you'll usually always have to wait for a table, but at the same time, the food is worth it. They have some of the best crêpes in town. The place also serves soups and salads at reasonable prices as well. The staff will most likely speak English as well as speaking French, seeing how they are in the middle of the city, so that means it's a bit more touristy than other parts of Québec. The dessert crêpes are filled with fruits, jams, or chocolate and are just as good as the other meals.

les tatouages

Les tatouages, or in English, tattoos. They might not be for everyone, but if you are interested I found a great tattoo shop near the campus of Université Laval. I have never thought of myself as the "tattoo-type" of girl, but then again, I've always wanted one. For years I've wanted to get a "fleur-de-lys" (which is what is on the Québec flag, pictured below)

Back at home, I'd always say I wanted one, but never went to get one. Particularly I didn't want to go alone. Even in Quebec, I almost chickened out and didn't get one. I figured, while I was here in Quebec, what better place to get a "fleur-de-lys" than in Québec? So I did. Well, not just the ""fleur-de-lys"", but also I wanted to add something synonymous to Canada as well (which was the red maple leaf as in the country's flag. (see below again)

I wanted something that would merge those two ideas. At first I wanted to use half of the leaf and half of the "fleur-de-lys" symbol. In theory, it sounds like a good idea, but when I saw the draw-up, I didn't like the symmetry of it. Instead, I thought it would look nice if the "fleur-de-lys" was put inside the leaf. So, it turned out like this: Yes, I am American. So, you might think it crazy that an American would get a very-Canadian tattoo, right? For me, it wasn't anything anti-American. I found out, just before heading to Quebec, that part of my heritage is French-Canadian. So, the "fleur-de-lys" symbolizes part of that. I also like that is shows my stay in Québec and Canada.

Now, it would help if I mentioned the name of the place. It is called Paradoxe. They are located about a 10 minute walk from the campus. (Address: 2383 Chemin Sainte Foy, G1V 1T1) They are very clean and also offer clothing product that feature their name. They are also good for piercing, from what I hear, although didn't get any. They have a few tattoo artists. The one who created my tattoo was named Philippe. He was pretty new and didn't have many clients. I liked that he spoke a little bit of English, so that made me feel a little more comfortable. At least I knew that he knew exactly what I wanted. The owner, Hugo, speaks English and French as well. So, if you don't speak French, at least he'll be able to translate what you want to the artist for you. The price was pretty reasonable (from what others who have had other tattoo's have told me). It was a hundred dollars an hour, or a $55 minumum. Mine took 20-25 minutes, so it cost the minimum. I also tipped, $10, as well. I'm not sure what the protocol on tipping tattoo artists, but I think he was happy with it.

Chez Victor

I was told of this place by a couple of friends. Unfortunately, I was told close to my return back home. If I would have known about it before that, I would have been there a lot more often.

If you like burgers, you'll love this place. Not only are they tasty, but huge too. This meal cost me about $10. That includes drink, too. For drinks you can get your typical sodas and juices. I opted for the "limonade de maison", or the house lemonade. It was a pink raspberry lemonade. It wasn't too sugary either, like some lemonades can tend to be. The french fries come with your choice of dipping sauce/mayonnaise. I recommend the curry and garlic (ail et curry) mayonnaise. Although they are all strong flavors on their own, they mix quite well together and you only get a subtle taste of each.

It is really easy to get to. It's a short walk from the Université Laval campus (towards the PEPs, or Sports facility, centre). There is also another one on Rue St.Jean in Vieux Québec as well.

Ice skating

Right in there center (or just about the center) is a place called "Place D'Youville". During the warmer months, you can find skateboarders and roller bladers. But during the winter, it turns into an ice skating rink. And it's FREE! Well, free provided you bring your own ice skates. If not, there is a little office right next to the rink where you can rent skates for a mere $6. There is really no time limit on how long you want to skate. They keep it well maintaned too. Every half hour or so a zamboni comes out and cleans the ice.
And after a day outdoors, there are a bunch of bars and restaurants to warm up in and get some hot drinks, such as cider, coffee, or hot chocolate. One place I enjoyed was Pub St.Alexandre, which, is about a 5 minutes walking distance from the rink. It's main claim is an international beer pub, carrying beers from all over the world. I like my occasional beer, but on after a cold day ice skating, you'll want something that will really warm you up. I noticed on the menu they served some dessert coffee's with liquor. So, instead of getting thier "café avec Baileys" (coffee with Baileys), I asked the waitress if she'd substitute the coffee with hot chocolate. It was perfect and just what I needed. The drink also came with (optional) whipped cream (crème fouetté) and a sugar coated rim.


Although it was a bit more that I had liked to have spent, it was really worth it. It ran me $7 canadian. (which, at the moment, is probably about the same in US dollars as well).

Poutine anyone?

Any Quebecois will tell you, you HAVE to try the poutine. I guess you could call it a type of initiation rite. This food is a huge thing here. And only Québec serves it the right way. You can find similar versions other places, but Québec has the true poutine. It looks and sounds disgusting, but in my opinion, it is unbelieveably good. It's definitely a comfort food and fills you up on a cold day. I can see why the Québécois fill up on this during their winters. It's made up of french fries and cheddar cheese curds, topped with brown gravy. It isn't the healthiest of foods. I once heard it described as a "heart attack waiting to happen". But, if you don't eat it all the time, there is no harm in having it. Almost every restaurant you will find will serve this traditional plate. Chez Ashton (sorry, the only link I could find was in french) was a favorite of mine. It is a simple fast food restaurant. The dish came in many sizes and you could also have the option of different toppings, such as sausage or peas, or onions. I liked the original the best. Whether you like it or not, when in Quebec, it is something you just have to try. Now, of course, I'm addicted to it. It is hard to come by in the States. I can't even find cheddar cheese curds to make it on my own!

Arrival

My first days in Québec were terrifying. I didn't think there would be any language barrier. I have taken french for over 10 years. (since middle school) I thought I was well prepared. I was wrong. I'm sure nerves played a big part of it too. This is my first time truly away from home for a long period of time. To make matters worse, I didn't have internet! I wasn't allowed to sign up until I had enough classes to qualify me for a full-time student and the library on campus only had limited hours. So, that meant I didn't have much contact with my friends and family. I had my cell phone, but I knew that would get expensive if i would have used it too much.

I remembered seeing a "free Wi-Fi" sign at a little coffee place near the hotel we stayed at the first time my mom and I got there. It was called Presse Café. I also knew they spoke at least a little english seeing how they were right next to a hotel. The shop was only about a 20 minute walk from campus.

They served great sandwiches. My favorite had to have been the goat cheese and sautéed mushrooms. Also, since I couldn't find my normal iced coffees, I settled with an iced cappucino, which was wonderful. The cost wasn't too bad. It would probably be what you'd pay at your average Starbucks, but get a much better food selection.

So, for the first week or so, (until I was able to get internet on campus) I'd walk to this little coffee shop, with my laptop, and talk with friends and family.


Presse Café homepage

Flag of Québec.

I took this picture within the first few days in Quebec. I decided to go out and explore some of the area around the school. I was walking outside one of the malls and just thought I'd like to have a photo of the flag. It's not the best photo in the world, but at that point, I just wanted to start taking as many pictures as I could so when I returned back home I'd have lots of memories (whether big or small).