The Last Walk

I'm a great one for "last walks," it seems. I've gotten in the habit of praying while I walk or run, and now I feel I can't face any big event or important change without having a good long walk and talk with the Lord about it. I feel downright unsettled until He and I have had our time together and I've poured out to Him all the things I'm feeling—doubly so when there's a lot of uncertainty or fear or sadness mixed in. Before we came to Québec, after we came to Québec, when we moved from our old house, before each baby was born, during miscarriages, whenever I get a new calling—whatever it is, you can bet I will be out walking or running to try and make sense of it all.

Of course I say plenty of prayers on just regular old everyday walks too—but I become very sentimental and especially remember these significant "last" or "first" ones! This walk was beautiful; such a gift on the last morning in Quebec. There was new snow and the sky was clear and brittle, and the sun rose and turned everything a cold pink and blue. Oh, I miss this city.

Eglise St. Matthew

Looking back down the hill on Rue Honoré-Mercier. The wind is always bitter on this street—I'm not sure why; maybe the tall buildings make a sort of tunnel for it?

The fountain in front of the Assemblée Nationale all wrapped up in plastic for the winter. The lighted trees help it look somewhat prettier :)

Up onto the plains of Abraham, chasing the sunrise

Lamps still lit

Looking back sideways across the parc

Up onto the walls of the citadelle

Lots of spires visible here—the tall elegant one is the Wesleyan church ("Chalmers-Wesley United Church," I see upon looking it up), with the Price Building (art deco-ish skyscraper) near it, and down below you can see the Cathedral of the Holy Trinity (tall and green) and Notre-Dame-de-Québec (hollow and octagonal). The two little twin lit steeples near the Wesleyan church are the tiny Sacré Cœur Chapel-that's-not-a-chapel-anymore across the street from it.

Château Frontenac peeking out

Avenue Saint-Denis

Saint Lawrence River reflecting the sky

I tried to get a picture of me in my big puffy coat but I couldn't stretch my arm far enough. But rest assured I am as warm as a little pig in a blanket.

You can see the toboggan slide down there through the trees

Steps covered in snow

And the little Terasse Pierre-Dugua-de-Mons (whoever that is)

The river was icy! But not frozen solid. It usually doesn't freeze all the way across, people told us.

Avenue Saint-Denis, closer now

Looking down into Quartier Petit-Champlain

It looks like such a jumble of roofs! But half of those are the Château.

Another steep set of stairs. You can't escape them in Old Quebec.

Down to Terasse Dufferin

And the sun finally peeked out, behind Lévis

You can see the exact point when the sun rays finally crossed the river. From this—

to this!

I was watching with considerable interest as this snowplow plowed the Terrace. There was a turning screw (?) (kind of an auger, I guess?) that churned up the snow between the tractor's wheels and funneled it into a long chute to blow out the side. That is possibly how all snowplows work? I haven't watched them much before. But it was different than the push-plows I see on our roads, anyway.

This toboggan slide didn't open till a few days after we left, and the kids were sad about it. We watched them constructing the track and railing all through the beginning of December.

Big pile of snow from the plow

Such beautiful golden light reflecting off the windows!

You can see both Notre-Dames from here: "de Québec" on the left and "des Victoires" on the right. And between them, the Samuel Champlain statue and that big clock building that just says "Post Office" on one side but I KNOW it has to be something else too.

Bishop Laval statue. And Parc Montmorency in front of him.

I could hear the bells ringing time for Mass at Notre-Dame-de-Quebec.

So I went in to warm up and listen to Mass. The priests (monks? from the Séminaire de Quebec? I never figured out if there are still monks there) were singing Matins when I went in. I was delighted to see the huge Advent wreath in the front, with two candles lit!

Petit Séminaire

Looking back at Notre Dame

St. Andrew's church

Maison de la Litterature

Looking down Rue St-Stanislas

Looking up Rue St-Ursule

Parc de l'Esplanade

Up on the city walls and across Porte Kent

There are often people sleeping under these little archways, and it always startles me! This day was no exception, even though it was so cold.

Looking down from the top of Porte Saint-Jean. The ice skating rink looks so smooth and shiny!

Off the other direction, up Rue Saint-Jean

And looking back up at Porte Kent

Down the stairs and back through the gate

And back along Rue Saint-Jean toward home!