Wednesday, July 31, 2013

I think we are in Saint Andre, Quebec

This morning, after a continental breakfast, we packed up and left Woodstock, NB    My tour guide wanted to show me the covered bridge at  Hartland, NB


This is the world's longest covered bridge at 1,282 feet


Here's a side view where you are able to see how long it it.    It was designed for one lane traffic so you have to wait your turn


We took a rest break here and even my Pink Crocs are enjoying time in the warm sunshine.   Much better weather today than the past few

Not many photos today as our goal was to get out of New Brunswick and into Quebec


We crossed another time zone so we gaineed an hour, which meant that we arrived in plenty of time to relax and wash up before dinner.   That is the St Lawrence river in the background


As soon as you cross the border into Quebec, all english signs disappear and I have no idea what the warning signs say.  I thought that this country was supposed to be bilingual.   I must say that our waitresses have been struggling to speak english while we try to order our food.   Everyone one I meet has been saying "bon jour" and I just learned that I should return with a "'bien"

short post today as I am struggling to maintain my internet connection.  Most times I get the wifi signal but says "no internet connection".  I have no idea why, but I must thank my tour guide for getting me on-line.  My windows explorer just froze and I had to resort to google chrome.  Earlier Google chrome didn't work either.

tonight we are in Saint Andre (I think)  .   Tomorrow we should be in Quebec City


25 comments:

  1. Is that a lighthouse in the background? And that covered bridge is pretty impressive. Why is the length listed in feet? I thought Canada was all metric these days...

    Thanks for the post even with spotty Internet.

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  2. Is that a lighthouse in the background along the river? The covered bridge is pretty impressive though why is the sign in feet? I thought Canada went all metric decades ago.

    Thank you for continuing to post in spite of marginal Wi-Fi. I'm not sure if this comment is a duplicate, if so, please delete.

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    1. Richard, they probably put that sign on the bridge when it was built (circa 1901). We hadn't seen the (metric) light back then!

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    2. Richard:

      I am having wifi issues but Karen is not. I cannot even send emails and without her help, I couldn't have published this post

      it was my plan to post daily, but hasn't worked out this way

      Delete
  3. Bob ... all you need to know is "Prudence" is not the name of the moose in the picture on the sign!

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    1. Karen:

      I wished I had a photo of "Prudence". There were so many moose warning signs too

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  4. Bob ...

    You are now in "La belle province" ("the beautiful province"), a nickname for Quebec. Truly, it is one of Canada's most beautiful! You will leave "La belle province" and say to yourself "Je me souviens" ("I remember"). The historic "Old Quebec" is a UNESCO world heritage city.

    Enjoy!

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    1. Robert:

      I'm not so good with French but I like Montreal. Had Montreal smoked beef today, delicious and also fresh Montreal Bagels

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    2. If you're still in Quebec, watch for tortiere (meat pie) & sugar pie. Both are delicious. For the most part, the french are a warm loving people who understand the joie de vivre (joy of living). Soak it up!

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  5. Looks like the weather sorted itself out. Still not sure about those funny bridges...

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    1. Andrew:

      Covered Bridges are neat. Saw a couple in Oregon last year. You're jealous that you don't have any down under

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  6. Bob - Quebec is a beautiful province even if it is a basket case politically. But once you're in Quebec City or Montreal English won't be much of a problem, although all the signs will still be in French.

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    1. Canajun:

      The signs are making more sense every day. Noticed the sign "barree", and every time the lane ends. same with FIN

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  7. Bob, in Montreal you'll have a capable guide, including excellent translation services, which you aren't likely to need.

    By the way, the correct response to "Bonjour!", is "Bonjour!". Just don't say it too confidently, they'll think you speak the language, and you won't understand a thing they'll say next.

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    1. David:

      I'm loving my tour guide . . . good cook too

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  8. Bob - Repeat after me: Bonjour! Parlez vous Anglais? You need to know this phrase if you are in Quebec.

    And listen to David. We spoke a smattering of French in Montreal back in 2001 and they assumed we spoke the language better than we did. True to David's advice we didn't understand half of what they were saying after the Bonjour.

    This reminds me i need to go back to Montreal in the summer, not when it is -40 in January. Brrrr.

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    1. Trobairitz:

      come on over ! David would be very happy to show you around. we had an action packed day today. weather was nearly perfect. not too hot, nor too cold

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  9. The picture right above your words, "We crossed another time zone..." is the kind that I want to be able to climb into and spend the rest of my life there. Few pictures grab me that way, but this one did. Just beautiful!

    - Joe at Scootin' da Valley

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    1. Joe:

      sorry we missed. we rode right past Wilkes-Barr ? area. was thinking of you but you don't have an email link on your blog

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  10. Fascinating and hauntingly beautiful area. Nice post!

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    1. Deb:

      hard to see everything. we are just skimming the highlights. So much to see in this world and so little time

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  11. The first shot of the white and red . . . church? . . . is terrific. Very wise to overload the grassland in the foreground rather than make it 50-50 with the sky.

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    1. Banjo:

      that's what I thought. I thought about the barren feel with a lonely lighthouse on the horizon

      thank you for visiting and following along

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  12. French would make faces if they would hear how Quebecois mutilate the language...

    Most people I have met in and around Montreal where bilingual indeed but as you are going North and/or countryside, it is strictly French, or better Franglais, with that strong accent they produce.

    French however is a beautiful language and worth learning, even if it is just a few words like bonjour, merci or a à bientôt (Good day, thanks, see you soon).

    The food you'll get is likely to be best of the country though, even if you don't understand what you're eating ;-)

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    1. Sonja:

      I'm not here long enough but to sample just a fraction of what is available. Had a very good smoked beef sandwich at a #3 deli. The lines at the #1 place, Swartz was too long for us to wait. Also went to a 24 hour bagel factory where they were hand making bagels.

      Your Vespa would be right at home here.

      OH, also rode the Montreal Grand Prix curcuit on our bikes, except at a nominal speed

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