Québec
Farewell Québec
1 September 2007
We had intended to use our last day in Québec to visit the French America Museum and perhaps the basilica of Notre-Dame, however we were already aware that the Maire of Québec: Andrée Boucher had died earlier in the week and that her funeral was taking place that morning.
The Basilica-Cathedral of Notre-Dame de Québec
We checked with the hotel about organising transport for the airport as I was worried that the entire town was going to be closed off, but we were assured that we were fortunate in being just outside the regulated area.
We didn't really think that the museum would be open as it was right next door to the basilica but we walked down anyway to find that a crowd was already beginning to gather and that the media were everywhere.
Talking to other people on our coach trip had made us realise that regardless of political affiliations Madame Boucher had been held in high esteem by the majority of the population. She had died quite unexpectedly and this had left the people in a state of shock.
Realising that in all probability a lot of the town was going to be closed we decided to wait on the funeral cortege and watch the events as the dignitaries arrived. Needless to say we knew nobody at all though we kept watching to see if anybody obviously from the French political scene turned up - if they did they went unremarked by us.
Immediately in front of us and opposite the doors of the basilica the TV commentators were out in force and after a while one of them came over in our direction. She explained to the crowd that she was going to ask for memories of Madame le Maire (and interestingly she kept saying Mairesse, which isn't the French way at all) and immediately went live to the world chatting to the elderly lady stood next to Jean-Jacques.
Well, it was obvious what was going to happen and it did. Moving swiftly on she turned to JJ and remarked how young he was and did he have anything to say ? Thankfully JJ kept his head and explained that in fact he was from France (and thus had very little to add to the proceedings). His interviewer didn't even need time to draw breath: there you see that even people from as far away as France have come to pay their respects.
The bearer party, made up of local policemen, arrived shortly afterwards from the Hôtel de Ville just to our right.
Once inside JJ and I decided that it was time to move on and make the most of our last sunny morning in this green and hilly paradise before turning towards the skyscrapers of the Metropolis of Toronto.
The Voltigeurs
We walked as far as the Observatoire and took the lift to the top for a final bird's eye view. I could see why JJ had been impressed on his first day. Down below in front of the Manège we could see that the Reserves from the Voltigeurs were out talking to the public so on leaving the tower we wandered over to have a look and give JJ the chance to talk to some Candian Reserves.
Statue to the Voltigeurs
The Voltigeurs are the oldest French speaking Regiment in Canada, but being reserves they seemed to have been left with some of the oldest equipment as well !
Formed in 1861 as a light infantry militia they served in France throughout the First World War and provided an armoured regiment during the second. Since then they have provided troops for a number of UN peace keeping forces.
The Manège serves as a home to their museum - which will just have to wait for another time, as by all accounts it is a good one.
There was also a small stand with engineers talking about their tasks and about mines in particular. Canada has lost a lot of soldiers in Afghanistan so the relevance of it all was not lost on the public.
We were talking to one young volunteer called Cote-Picard which seemed remarkably apt as that is exactly where we live. He seemed quite envious of the bits and pieces that JJ gets up to. The difference I suppose is that the Voltigeurs are their own unit within the Canadian Reserve whereas JJ's squadron is part of an active regiment.
Time pressed though and we had to say goodbye, though not before JJ had picked up a CD ROM and a free biro.
Whilst I checked out of the hotel and organised the taxi, JJ popped next door to Chez Ashton the Québec equivalent of Macdonald's for a meal to go (Take away in Canada suggests you want to steal it). Our guide book said that it was good quality and they were right.
Our taxi arrived and the driver gave us a detailed opinion of the departed Maire - all good - as well as a few home truths about visiting foreign countries (some places just don't know how to keep themselves clean - something that could not be levelled at her own town).
Our battered case was as well secured as it could be and we were soon in our small fifty seater jet winging our way to anglophone Canada.
Québec is going to be put down for a further visit on the long list of things to do. Now, if they could just do something about those hills before I get back - oh and get rid of all those dumper trucks and their infernal beeping in the background of my video.
See also