Musée and then off to Montreal

Saturday 2nd May 2009

After our last breakfast we headed out to the remaining museums which we was part of the packaged deal together with the Museé de la Civilisation. Musée de l'amérique Française is at the heart of old quebec, and because of its unassuming entrance, we would probably not have thought to visit this museum. Pictured below is the front entrance and because the door was locked, we entered the gate on the left to begin our visit at the Museum Main Exhibition Pavilion- a four storey high complex filled with stories of the heroes and the life of French Canada.

The stories mostly centering around the first Bishop of New France- François de Laval. He was appointed in 1659 by King Louis XIV of France to handle church matters in New France. He also founded the Séminaire de Québec in 1663 which then established Université Laval in 1852, becoming the first French Language University. Adjacent to the Museum, the Seminairé remains part of this legacy and houses Architectural School, Le Vieux Séminairé. There is also a Museum Chapel with interior in modern architecture. The tomb of Laval was here before being moved to Québec Cathedral in 1993. By now, I was not easily impressed by these chapels and churches and was only looking forward to visiting the Notre Dame Basilica in Montreal pictured down below.

In front of the Notre Dame Basilica, is thisCentre d'interpretation de Place Royale. It has particular reasons for the economic growth of Quebec City's Place Royale which is sandwhiched between Cape Diamond and the St Lawrence River. Safe for the dress-up exhibit at the basement and the Facing Champlain movie, I was not interested in the artifacts from the past such as tea sets, cosmetics, etc.

Andrew the B&B owner was so nice and he drove us to the bus interchange where we continue our adventures in Montreal. It was almost night time but we took a walk through the highly linked underground shopping centre. Most of the shops were closed already and it was only past 6pm. We continued overhead towards Old Montreal. First stop the Notre Dame Basilica. We couldn't go in because the concert had started and I was abit disappointed because of the missed opportunity to hear an orchestra play in the gothic revival architecture of the basilica.

We continued walking around Old Montreal and I liked the park by the side of the waterfront. I could guess that the Winter Festival must have been held here and it would be so impressive. I wanted to stay and take more pictures of the Old Montreal light up particularly because I had just discovered the capability of my Fujifilm camera's night mode. (see my post titled Nightshots)

Cirque du Soleil tentage and the music could be heard from outside. No, I did not catch it. I should have because (and I just found this out from a wikipedia page) it is after all a Canadian Entertainment Company based in Montreal. Its history dates back to its predecessor Lés Échassiers in 1980.

First two photos of the two museums are stock photos found from the Internet. Unfortunately, I think usage of cameras were frowned upon in the Museum itself.