Laowai

So I finally got our vacation photos off Brian’s computer. Here’s my report on our first vacation with Bea.

We went to Quebec City and had a wonderful time. We basically walked around all day everyday and stopped now and then to eat. Quebec City is perched on the side of a big hill so we had good excercise pushing the stroller up and down and up and down…. We ate maple cake and maple fudge and way too many other desserts. Our best meal also featured the worst service from a moustached frenchy who was probably offended by anyone who didn’t speak fluent French. Oh well – it didn’t stop us from having fun. Bea was really good. I think she likes it when we are all together. She seemed to be smiling and giggling all the time. We only had a couple stressful moments when it was late in the evening and we probably asked a bit too much of her. She seemed to make friends everywhere we went by catching the eyes of people walking by and then giving them one of her big grins. And everyone who learned her name was pleased because of its Frenchness.

So here are a bunch of our photos – starting with Bea and her Daddy all around town.

There was lots of military stuff – control of Quebec seemed to go back and fourth between the French and English a bunch of times. The city was protected by a big wall and the Citidelle perched above the city. We toured the Citidelle and it was pretty interesting. They called the big cannon below Rachel.

Here’s Bea and me sitting at a restaurant. We got in the habit of letting her gum a spoon or a butter knife before our meals came. It’s amazing how long a simple piece of silverware can entertain her.

Here are a bunch of architecture shots. It’s strange seeing such old buildings in America. It feels like going to Europe without the long plane ride. The streets were filled with beautiful buildings. All over the city there was construction going on to prepare for next year’s 400th anniversary of the founding of Quebec.

There was a lot of beautiful really animated sculpture throughout the city. I wish I had taken a few more photos. Here’s a shot of a very French looking man. And then an interesting bunch of bird houses that we saw on a walk through the less touristy area of town.

One last photo of all of us. We had a great time and now can look forward to more travel with Bea. She got her passport in the mail the day after we got home so she’s ready for some real international travel now.