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“Mon pays, ce n’est pas un pays, c’est l‘hiver.”

ByThe Skeptical Traveler

“My country is not a country, it is winter.”  I read this quote at the Musée de la civilisation from Quebec City and I liked it. I was there at the beginning of April and it was cold (very by my standards). The image shows a display panel with text in both French and English. The French title at the top reads "Un territoire nordique," and the English title below it reads "A Nordic land." Below the French title, there is a quote in French: "Mon pays, ce n'est pas un pays, c'est l'hiver," attributed to Gilles Vigneault. Below the English title, the same quote is translated into English: "My country is not a country, it is winter," also attributed to Gilles Vigneault. The rest of the text appears to describe characteristics of the climate and seasons, particularly winter, in the region being discussed. The panel is part of an exhibit, possibly in a museum or cultural center.

The Basilica of Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré is situated 30 kilometres (19 mi) east of Quebec City.The image shows a large, ornate cathedral with two tall spires. The building is constructed in a Gothic architectural style, featuring intricate details and a large circular stained glass window above the main entrance. In front of the cathedral, there is a statue of a person standing on a pedestal. The sky is overcast, and the surrounding area includes a paved walkway and some grassy areas.
The image shows a large, historic church with two tall spires. The building is made of stone and has intricate architectural details. The sky above is overcast, and there are a few cars parked in the parking lot in front of the church. The surrounding area appears to be quiet and somewhat empty.
The image shows the interior of a richly decorated church or cathedral. The focal point is an ornate altar adorned with golden sculptures and intricate designs. Above the altar, there is a large, elaborate golden structure with angelic figures and decorative elements. The walls and ceiling are also intricately designed, with arches and detailed artwork. A painting or stained glass window depicting a religious figure is prominently displayed behind the altar. The overall atmosphere is grand and opulent, reflecting the architectural and artistic splendor of the space.

Photos from the Citadelle of Quebec.

The image shows a historical site with a cannon placed on a grassy hill. The sky is overcast, and there are leafless trees on either side of the hill. At the base of the hill, there is a sign with the text "Je Me Souviens," which is French for "I Remember." The overall atmosphere is somber and reflective.

The image shows an old, large cannon mounted on a platform overlooking a body of water. In the background, there is a cityscape with numerous buildings and a cloudy sky. The cannon appears to be part of a historical site or fortification.

The Citadelle is the home station of the Royal 22 Régiment of the Canadian Forces and the Governor General of Canada by tradition resides here for several weeks out of the year. Being a miltary base you can not just wander around and you have to visit it with a guide. The residence of the Governor General can be visited too, but our guide said that a different guide is needed for the residence. I tried to convince her that the guide might be inside due to the cold and we should just ring the bell and see who answers but she didn’t want to. The image shows the entrance to a building with a sign above the door that reads "Gouverneur Général." The entrance features a small portico with four white columns supporting a triangular pediment. There are two white doors beneath the sign, and the building's exterior is made of gray stone. Snow is visible on the ground on either side of the entrance, and there are two large planters flanking the walkway leading to the doors.

Changing the Guard takes place during summer. If I happen to be in Quebec City in the summer I will visit the Citadelle again to see the mascot, a goat.The image shows a museum display featuring a mannequin dressed in a traditional British guard uniform, complete with a red coat and tall black bearskin hat. Next to the mannequin is a taxidermy goat with large curved horns, adorned with a decorative headpiece. The background of the display includes an image of a historic building. There is also an informational plaque in front of the display.

Wolfe and Montcalm, the adversaries in the Battle of the Plains of Abraham, which took place on 13 September 1759 and with the British victory over France this decided the development of Canada.The image shows a statue of a historical figure dressed in a military uniform. The figure is wearing a tricorn hat, a long coat, and boots, and is holding a rifle in one hand while pointing forward with the other. The statue is mounted on a pedestal, and there is a plaque on the wall next to it. The lighting is dim, casting shadows on the wall behind the statue.

The image shows a statue of a historical figure dressed in period clothing. The figure is wearing a red coat, white shirt, and black boots, and is holding a sword in one hand and a hat in the other. The statue is mounted on a pedestal against a yellowish wall. The lighting is dim, casting shadows on the wall behind the statue.

The only place in Quebec City where I saw the STOP sign in both languages is the Battlefields Park (it includes the Plains of Abraham) managed by the National Battlefields Commission, a federal government agency. Usually it is only in French.A red octagonal stop sign with the words "ARRÊT STOP" in white letters. The sign is mounted on a green pole, and there are bare trees and a park area in the background. A tall building is visible in the distance.

It is interesting that the French are mentioned as the enemy when various battles are described, and I have seen this in many places, federal places all of them I think. Here, someone managed to erase the word ‘l’enemi’ in “Les Anglais occupent une redoute que  l`ènemi“, but it is strange that the English version was neutral and just said the English and the French, no mention of the word ‘enemy’ (I thought I took a photo of the English version too, but I cannot seem  to find it). I would have expected the other way round: the French version not to have the vord ‘enemy’ and the English version to be clear who the enemy was :).The image shows a red informational plaque with French text. The text describes a historical event that took place on the morning of July 31, 1759, involving Wolfe and the landing of grenadiers on the beach of Beauport under the protection of the cannons of the HMS Centurion. The English occupied a redoubt that was abandoned, and Wolfe ordered his men to attack the entrenchments on the heights.

Face to faceThe image shows a street scene with a mix of modern and older architecture. On the right side, there is a stone building with a green roof, which appears to be a church. In the background, there is a tall, modern building. The street is lined with bare trees, indicating it might be winter or early spring. There is a sidewalk with a few people walking and a small market or shop with a colorful awning on the left side. The overall atmosphere is overcast and somewhat gloomy.

I stayed at Fairmont Le Château Frontenac. The suite with a very small bathroom was good but I did not like the slippers were not wrapped (when this happens I assume they re-use them so I have an uneasy feeling). Also the shower head was very simple, could not adjust the flow so it sprayed everywhere.The image shows a cloudy day with a view of a large, historic building with a steep, green roof, likely a castle or a grand hotel, situated near a body of water. The building is surrounded by other smaller buildings and there are mountains visible in the background across the water. The overall atmosphere is overcast and somewhat gloomy.

The image shows a large, historic building with a castle-like appearance, featuring multiple turrets and a central tower. The building is made of brick and has a green roof. In the foreground, there is a flagpole with a Canadian flag flying. The sky is overcast, giving the scene a somewhat gloomy atmosphere. The building is situated on a grassy area with a few patches of snow.

Life is simple: Eat. Sleep. Surf the internet. / Eat. Sleep. Surf internet. / Eat. Sleep. Speak French. / Eat. Sleep. Drink bier. / Eat. Sleep. Play soccer. / Eat. Sleep. Drink wine.The image shows a display of five white t-shirts hanging vertically. Each t-shirt has the phrase "La vie est simple." printed on it, which translates to "Life is simple." in English. Below this phrase, each shirt has additional text in French, which varies slightly between the shirts. The t-shirts are displayed against a stone wall.

End of World bier, I suppose we will see more and more of these products.The image shows a bottle of beer labeled "La Fin Du Monde" placed on a speckled granite table. The bottle has a silver cap and a label featuring an image of a fiery map. In the background, there are white plastic chairs and a glass door with posters on it.

Other photos from Quebec CityThe image shows a bust statue of a person on a pedestal. The statue is located outdoors, with a cloudy sky in the background. There are trees and a few people walking in the distance. The pedestal has an inscription, but the text is not clearly readable in the image. The surrounding area appears to be a park or a campus with paved walkways and grassy areas.
The image shows a bronze statue of a man standing on top of several cylindrical logs. The man is depicted in a working pose, holding a long pole with one hand and shielding his eyes with the other, as if looking into the distance. The statue is situated against a concrete wall, and there is a metal gate and some stairs in the background.
The image shows a narrow, cobblestone street in a quaint town, lined with historic buildings. The street is illuminated by street lamps and shop lights, creating a warm and inviting atmosphere. People are walking along the street, and there are various shops and cafes visible. A sign for a store or restaurant named "Cache" is prominently displayed on the right side of the image. The scene appears to be taken from an elevated position, possibly from a staircase or balcony, providing a view down the street. The overall ambiance suggests a charming, possibly European, town.
The image shows a row of buildings with multiple flags hanging from poles attached to the facade. The flags include the Canadian flag, the Quebec flag, the United States flag, the Mexican flag, and several others. The buildings have a historic architectural style, with stone walls and multiple windows. The street appears to be in an older part of a city, possibly a tourist area.
The image shows a graphic of a smartphone with a humorous twist, labeled "Canadian Apps." The phone screen displays various app icons with Canadian themes, such as "Wilderness," "Maple Leaf," "Eh!," "Polar Bear," "Hockey," "Moose," and "Snow." Each icon has a corresponding image, like a maple leaf, a polar bear, and a hockey stick. The words "Québec" and "Canadian Apps" are written above and below the phone graphic, respectively.

The image shows several freshly baked baguettes arranged on cooling racks in a bakery. There are multiple rows of baguettes, and in the background, there are more baked goods on shelves. The setting appears to be a bakery or a bread shop.

4 Comments

  1. It’s a quote from Gilles Vigneault’s “Mon pays”:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AimhTD5oMEY

    Also not that in your title you’re missing a “l”, should be: “c’est l’hiver” 🙂

    It’s not uncommon to see Unibroue’s beer here in SF, and it tastes just like home. I hope you got a poutine with that.

  3. Pingback: Quebec City, Canada’s ‘most interesting town’ in Reader’s Digest contest - The Skeptical Traveler
  4. Pingback: Top 15 Cities to Live In - The Skeptical Traveler

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