Petit Champlain's streets are empty, save for several locals who brave the city despite the threat of a contagious virus spreading fast around the globe.
We took a 3-day excursion to Quebec a few days before the call for the national quarantine is imposed. We were there to celebrate hubby's birthday.
Many shops were closed, only a handful remained open. A busker, who sounded like the radio, was still performing on the street. Buses laden with tourists are but a few.
Wait, did we go to the right place? The city's vibe is a far cry from what it has been a few months back. See last fall's here.
Finding parking inside Old Quebec used to be an impossibility, but it was a breeze during our visit. Parking costs around $13 CAD for 4 hours.
On our first visit last year, we missed checking out Petit Champlain's shopping district. We would have wanted to but time was limited. Because I wanted to see the boutiques, shops, restos, and bistros shown on the world wide web I thought, Why not go there to find a dessert shop and eat cake? After all, we have a reason to, it's the hubby's birthday!
Well, that didn't happen. I was a little disappointed we haven't found the place in my imagination. Thankfully, we found a shop that serves Beaver's Tail.
No, not an animal's tail. It's a well-known pastry brand here in Canada that resembles like yes, a beaver's tail. The sweet delicacy is a hand-stretched dough fried to golden crispiness perfection. One side is spread with your topping of choice: banana slices, crumbled oreos, hazelnut chocolate, cinnamon... Too sweet for me to finish one but our little boy loves it.
After our order was taken, a long queue formed. It reached to the shop's entrance. Some customers were wary to be sitting or standing next to others. The once friendly and pleasant atmosphere we witnessed last fall is no longer there. How moods easily shift like clouds in the skies!
But it's totally understandable. Better cautious than compromise. We decided to enjoy our snacks nonetheless and tarry not.
Of course, I would have wanted to stay longer but not inside walls, out there in the open, away from anxious eyes. We could have climb up the stairs to get to Terrasse Dufferin, saunter around the premises of Fairmont Le Château Frontenac or check out the new artwork displays at Rue du Tresor. But the husband is tired. Our two-year-old wouldn't walk.
All the time we were there, the hubby carried him except at the pastry shop where his muscles got a moment of release. This is evidenced in the photos below. lol.
But we've already paid 4 hours of parking and only spend half an hour here! I didn't win this time. So we drove back to our AirBnB rental after stopping by the grocery store to buy food and drinks for our long journey back to Ottawa the next day.
Expect travel plans to change with kids! Yes, I have long since accepted that.
Anyway, here's a photo tour of Quartier Petit Champlain...
Which do you prefer?