Québec

Within the embrace of our first stop, Old Quebec, a vestige of antiquity endures—an architectural testament to the fortitude of a bygone era. The ramparts, steadfast and resolute, stand as sentinels of a time when defences were paramount. They remain as the sole example of fortified city walls in the Americas north of Mexico, a relic of the past that defies the winds of change.

In the intricate labyrinth of old Québec City, a departure from the conventional grid-like patterns of modernity emerges. Streets and structures, like harmonious brushstrokes on a canvas, follow the undulations of the land, attuned to the rhythms of nature. The city, embracing the contours and curves, surrenders to the whispers of the landscape, as if acknowledging the earth’s own hand in shaping its destiny.

Imbued with the spirit of 18th-century French architectural grace, the stone buildings stand proud and resplendent. Their facades, crafted with meticulous artistry, pay homage to a time when aesthetics danced in harmony with practicality. Each edifice, a testament to human craftsmanship, beckons one to admire the elegance and permanence that time has failed to erode.

Amidst this historical tableau, the lilacs bloom, their delicate petals unfurling like fragments of poetry. Their colours, vibrant and enchanting, blend with the fabric of the city, infusing the air with the fragrance of memory. In their ephemeral beauty, they become living metaphors, whispering stories of past lives and bygone eras to those who care to listen.

As the sun casts its golden glow upon the ramparts, the canons monitor the river, their gaze veiled by a curtain of trees. Like silent sentinels, they stand watchful, their metal bodies a testament to the tumultuous history that unfolded along the water’s edge. Through their weathered lenses, they witness the ebb and flow of time, where the currents of life intertwine with the ever-changing tides of human existence.