Although we go to Quebec every year, this was the first time we went there with our friends. This trip was planned during an impromptu barbecue gathering at Mon’s place in late June.
We hear mass at the Basilica when we’re in Quebec City, but we never really explored the side of the compound where the human-sized Stations of the Cross are, among other things.
It was an experience to climb the stairs on your bare knees. Each step has a dedicated prayer. By the fourth step, I nearly lost my balance. The climb was hard and I could feel my feeble knees failing me. I still went on, determined, until I reached the top. Each step I offered to Christ for forgiveness and to keep us healthy and safe.
By 1:00pm, we were at the hotel to check in. This was the second time that this suite was assigned to us. I love the layout and the space.
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After our late lunch at Casse-Crepe (our order took a bit of time to arrive and was served past 3pm), we hurriedly walked to the Old Port to take a guided sightseeing cruise (our friends are savvy in looking for bargains — we got this cruise at 50% off). Our tickets advised that passengers should be there by 3:30pm as the boat will leave at 4:00pm. Based on the GPS, the walk to the Old Port will take roughly 20 minutes. Yeah right! We ended up walking the longer route following Raf’s quip, “Mom, I see the water view over there. Isn’t it just logical to walk towards there?” I was hesitant, but we followed his “logical” advise, although I could see on my map that we were walking away from the suggested path. True enough, we ended up circling the road. Wasted time and energy. Long story short, we made it just in time. We reached the dock at 3:45pm. We saw our friends, Grammy and Grampy too, lined up at the ticket center. We were just too glad to have made it after all.
We enjoyed the 90-minute cruise. Beautiful view and lots of sun!
The boys…
Then we got hungry. A walk-in in a restaurant at 6:15pm for a group of 13 people was a long shot. We chose Cochon Dingue, which was highly rated in restaurant reviews.
…except that the half-an-hour wait extended to one hour to two hours to two-and-a-half hour. Sure there were other restaurants, but none could accommodate our size without prior reservation. We were at their mercy. Summer + Saturday evening + high tourist traffic = full restaurants. Our fault.
After dinner, we explored the Upper Village. We thought night lights and the blue moon would be wonderful.
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The following morning, our friends invited us to their hotel where the boys could swim before they check out at noon.
We had a Chinese buffet lunch at Tang Dynasty across the street. After lunch, we went to Mega Parc, Quebec’s largest indoor amusement park. The boys felt they were too old for the rides so they went around the mall instead.
We stayed for another day and spent it with Grammy and Grampy.
We went back to Sainte-Anne the next day before driving home. We heard the Sunday mass and visited the the Scala Santa chapel again for Grammy to place family photos on the altar.
“The FIRST RELIC (a portion of the bone of Saint Anne’s finger) was obtained by the Carcassonne Chapter, and was brought to the Shrine on March 12, 1670 by Bishop François de Laval.
The first MAJOR RELIC arrived at the Shrine on July 26, 1892, as a gift from Pope Leo XIII. It is a 4-inch portion of the bone of Saint Anne’s forearm. It was obtained from the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls, in Rome, and was brought to Saint Anne de Beaupré by Bishop Joseph-Calixte Canac-Marquis (1821-1904).
Finally, on July 3, 1960, another MAJOR RELIC of Saint Anne (also from her forearm) was brought to the Shrine from The Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls, this time, as a gift from Blessed Pope John XXIII.”
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Here’s a link to our first visit to Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupre. https://sevendayweekend.wordpress.com/2010/09/14/sanctuaire-sainte-anne-de-beaupre/