"Helping all, especially the young, understand the world and its people through hostelling."
Private rooms feature a sink, a private shower stall and a toilet, and a single over a double bunk bed. At right, Jeremy is shown, climbing to his top bunk during his stay at the hostel in 1997.
We begin our journey through Quebec and Ontario in north-eastern Quebec, in Riviere-Du-Loup.
"The history, economy, and services of the municipality."
If you access this site through Google, it will translate it for you.
A highlight of our Spring visit to Riviere-Du-Loup was our visit to Parc des Chutes. The frozen waterfall was spectacular.
On November 8, nearing the end of his "March to Quebec" [September 13 - November 9, 1775], Benedict Arnold arrived at Point Levis on the St. Lawrence River, opposite of Quebec City.
Unbeknownst to me, Jeremy and I were taking a family heritage tour when we were in Quebec. Former vice-president Aaron Burr were among the notables who seved under Benedict Arnold, a former resident of Saint John, New Brunswick. Henry Clay was my 2nd cousin, six times removed. His most notable case was as counsel for fomer Vice President Aaron Burr in his trial for attempting to establish his own empire in the American Southwest.
You too can follow Benedict's footsteps. Stephen Clark is the author of the new book "Following Their Footsteps," a combined travel guide and expedition history. "As outlined in Clark's book, the trip includes car travel, five canoe trips, hikes through woods and towns, and visits to historic sites that date back to the colonial era. Much of the landscape is essentially unchanged from the way it looked when Arnold's men passed through."Today, Levis is a 25-minute drive from Ste-Foy, a suburb of Old Quebec.
While in Old Quebec, stop at Restaurant Aux Anciens Canadiens for an evening meal.
"The historic Maison Jacquet, one of the largest houses in upper-town in its day and the oldest in Quebec, was built in 1675-76. The site was granted to François Jacquet on November 30, 1674 by the nuns of the neighboring Ursuline Convent.
Its thick walls, solid joints, marvelous wainscoting and recessed cupboards are characteristic of the houses constructed during that period. The premises consist of two buildings, that on the westernmost side being the newest, and that on the east dating back to the French Regime.
...
Since 1966, the Maison Jacquet has housed the restaurant Aux Anciens Canadiens, internationally know for its fine cuisine and warm hospitality."
While in Old Quebec, the Chateau Frontenac cafe is our favourite place to go to to buy a cup of tea and a dessert.
At left, St. Nicholas is shown, with his helper, Peter, and his donkey walking the streets of Le Petit Champlain.
"The hostel is located in the heart of Québec's "Old City," the only fortified city north of Mexico and a World Heritage Site. The historic Plains of Abraham, where the battle between the English and French armies to conquer Québec, took place, surrounds the city walls. The hostel offers cultural and historic programs, guide walking tours and outdoor activities. Have a look to the web site www.cisq.org"
It has been said that coincidences are God's way of remaining annonymous. It also has been said that "most improbable coincidences likely result from play of random events. The very nature of randomness assures that combing random data will yield some pattern." My life has been full of the most improbable coincidences, but one of the strangest coincidences is the perveance of Sewall houses in it.
| John Adams | IN | Saint John | VIA | Jonathan Sewell |
| John Adams | IN | Saint John | VIA | William Paine |
| John Adams | IN | Saint John | VIA | James Putnam |
| Franklin D. Roosevelt | IN | Saint John | VIA | Gabriel George Ludlow |
| Dick Cheney | ON | Cheney Island | VIA | William Cheney |
No matter where I roam, I always seem to find myself roaming in front of a Sewell House.
There is a third Sewell House.
In the suburbs of the city is a mall worthing visiting that the children will love. A word of caution, though. It takes a long while to reach and it may be difficult to find someone who can converse with you in English.
While at "Les Galleries," Jeremy and I enjoyed a movie at the IMAX theatre and a ride on the train. We also played a round of miniature golf. There is also an ice skating rink in the mall beside the IMAX theatre.
At right, Jeremy plays in the snow in the streets of Old Quebec. This photo was taken near the post office.
Just outside the old gates is the Chocolate Museum that we always visit whenever we are in Quebec City.
"A chocolate shop and museum. Hand made chocolate for fine connoisseurs."
Their window displays of homemade chocolate make the trip well worthwhile.
Across the street from the Chocolate Museum is an old grocery store in operation since 1871 that we always visit whenever we are in Quebec City.
"If accordingly, Quebec city is a treasure in the culture of the World, JA Moisan a Gem of Quebec city, an unsurpassed return to the Good old Days."
At left, Jeremy is shown in front of a cannon inside the walls of Old Quebec.
Further down the St. Lawrence River, we stop in Montreal.
"Specialising in tourist lodging for 30 years, the Montreal Youth Hostel (shown above) welcomes visitors warmly 24 hours a day."
The Montreal Youth Hostel is within walking distance of the Montreal Children's Hospital and major malls and subway stops.d
In 1763, Franklin opened post offices in Quebec, Montreal, and Trois Rivieres.
In 1775, Benjamin Franklin traveled to Canada as a representative of the Congress to evaluate the military situation there.
"One of the side consequences of Benjamin Franklin's trip to Montreal was the establishment of the craft of printing in Montreal which eventually led to the founding of the Montreal Gazette.
When Franklin came to Montreal, a printer also accompanied him by the name of Fleury Mesplet. The idea was to establish a free press and perhaps publish articles, which would be favorable to the Americans.
When Franklin left Montreal, Mesplet stayed on and eventually published the first newspaper in 1778 called "La Gazette du commerce et littéraire". However, this newspaper proved to be very abusive of the judges and M. Mesplet found himself in jail for a period of time. After being released from jail Mesplet revived the newspaper and called it The Montreal Gazette which still exists today."
The Montreal Gazette is the newspaper that Rexanna read when she and Jeremy lived there and a newspaper that she still misses.
Trivia: Montreal was an American city for eight months during the American Revolution. I was astonished to learn this while reading the Montreal Gazette.
The Montreal Youth Hostel is also within walking distance of this festival, one of the highlights of the 2002-2003 that we spent in Montreal. The block of Ste. Catherine St. between Complexe Desjardins and Place des Arts closes down to become the site of fireworks, weiner and marshmallow roasts, warming tents, slides, and outdoor performances.
The perfect way to travel to the Festival and explore the city of Montreal is by the Metro and the connecting buses. (The Festival is at the Place des Arts Metro stop.) They are cheap, clean, convenient, and the staff are friendly.
At right, is shown, a street off of Henri-Bourassa Blvd. in the Fall of 2002. The tree-lined streets are prefect for walking on crisp, Autumn days. This street is nearby the Henri-Bourassa Metro.
Jeremy's favourite stops were Cote-Vertu and Villa-Maria. The Villa-Maria stop is in the heart of the fashionable Cote-des-Neiges neighbourhood where you can find Jeremy's favourite ice cream shop, Ben & Jerry's.
A major attraction in Montreal is Notre-Dame Basilica. My favourite cathederal in Montreal Is Mary, Queen of the World.
"Famous for its neo-Gothic architectuure and fine stained-glass windows; noteworthy concerts held throughout the year."
"The church of Notre-Dame was raised to the status of minor basilica by Pope John-Paul II, when he came to Montréal, on 21 April 1982."
Perhaps, it is more famous as the church that Celine Dion was married in and the church that the largest state funeral in Canadian history, for Pierre Elliott Trudeau, was held in. For whatever reason, it is a major attraction and, as such, it was not my favourite church in Montreal to get away from the city for a few minutes to meditate.
Mary Queen of the World Cathederal, a small-scale version of St. Peter's Basilica in Rome is large, bright, and airy. Unklike the church of Notre-Dame, Mary Queen of the World invites you to wander and it lifts both your spirit and your eyes upward, without the distraction of tour guides.
Mary Queen of the World also has the advantage of being in a more convenient location that the church of Notre-Dame. It is steps away from Place Ville-Marie and Place Bonaventure and underground Montreal.
At left, Jeremy is shown, enjoying the Christmas decorations at Complex Desjardins in 1997.
Depart from underground Montreal for Parc des Iles, also known as Parc Jean Drapeau.
Former site of Expo '67; here are La Ronde amusement park, beautiful gardens and worldwide floral displays and the Casino de Montreal. Jeremy and I visited the park to watch the spectacular Montreal International Fireworks Competition, the most prestigious festival of pyrotechnic arts on the planet. A shuttle bus takes you from the metro stop on the island to outside the gates of La Ronde where you can watch the fireworks from the hillside.
One of our favourite places in Montreal is Complexe Desjardins.
"Complexe Desjardins is the largest building in the metropolitan area. It includes: office towers, parking, commercial gallery, public plaza, etc."
Jeremy and I both love the fountain that shoots straight up three stories.
Within walking distance of Complexe Desjardins is St. James United Church. I attended a 9/11 first anniversary service there in 2002.
At left, Jeremy is shown, enjoying a picnic in a park on the main street in Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue on his birthday in 2003. The train station is just a 5 minute walk from the main street.
"Situated on the western tip of Montréal Island, Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue is at the confluence point of the Lake of Two Mountains and of Lake St.Louis."
Jeremy spent his 8th birthday in Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue on and around the locks. We ended our day with an ice cream at the McDonald's on the locks. It is the cutest McDonald's in Canada! The whole town of Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue is enchanting!
We returned home via a shuttle bus that goes through Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue. We took either the 211 or the 221 bus that leaves from the John Abbott CEGEP campus and takes you to the Lionel Groulx metro. The bus takes a long and leisurely route along Montreal's beautiful lake shore, with detours into many of Montreal's delightful burroughs.
Before we return to Quebec, we intend to check out this Web site.
A couple of hours drive west of Montreal is Ottawa, the capital of Canada.
Ottawa is famous for its tulips. Canada Post's web site explains their history.
While in Ottawa, my favourite shopping mall is Rideau Centre, across the street from the Ottata Youth Hostel. It has my favourite store, Chapters, movie theatres, a great food hall, Shoppers Drug Mart, and a dollar store, all I need under one attractive, spacious, air-conditioned roof.
In recent years, I travelled to Ottawa when the Supreme Court of Canada was considering my case.
I first visited Ottawa when I attended the 1985 Canada-Wide Science Fair in Cornwall, Ontario. While there, I visited this excellent museum.
One of my favourite things in Ottawa is Sparks Street, Canada’s first pedestrian mall.
When I last visited Ottawa, I was there for the Canadians Against Same-Sex Marriages rally on Parliament Hill.
Send Jeremy or Rexanna an e-mail!
Last Updated June 11, 2003.
Copyright Rexanna M. Keats 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, and 2003. All Rights Reserved.