Quebec City similar to European city

Story and pictures by Mansoor Ladha

“I feel as if I am in France,” I overheard a tourist telling his friend while walking on a street in Old Quebec. That is the type of testimonial that visitors to Quebec City have been giving. Quebec tourism officials also constantly trumpet it by using the slogan,” Quebec City: So, Europe. So, Close.”

Dubbed as the most European city outside Europe, tourists are pleasantly charmed by narrow streets, shops, sidewalk cafes and restaurants so familiar in Europe’s “old cities.”

Open air cafes dominate Quebec City’s streets.

 There are three additional remarkable characteristics of Quebec City that should make any ardent tourist to visit this Canadian city that feels like Europe. Quebec City is a historic capital city, a UNESCO world heritage site and the only fortified city north of Mexico.

 

A popular activity among tourists is to take a horse ride.

With a population of 800,296 people in the metropolitan area, Quebec City offers bustling streets, magnificent architecture, numerous festivals and plenty of nature, making it a desired tourist destination in both winter and summer.

A staunch guardian of French culture in North America, Quebec City proudly showcases the rich and unique French heritage in its history, museums, fine art, interpretation centres and walking tours. Quebec City’s, Quebec’s second largest city after Montreal, landmarks include the majestic Chateau Frontenac, which dominates the skyline and La Citadelle, an active military installation and official residence of the Governor General of Canada.

Like the Great Wall of China, the Leaning Tower of Pisa or the Eiffel Tower, the legendary Fairmont Le Chateau Frontenac has become a tourist destination of its own. It is the most photographed hotel in the world, with an imposing view of the mighty St. Lawrence River and designated a National Historic Site of Canada. There are estimated to be 37 National Historic Sites in Quebec City.

The most photographed hotel in the world, Quebec City’s Fairmont Le Cheat Frontenac, can be seen sitting majestically.

 The landmark hotel, which opened in 1893, has had the distinction of hosting many heads of state and VIPs including King George VI, Queen Elizabeth, Princess Grace of Monaco and many others. During World War II, Chateau Frontenac became famous for hosting the Allies’ Quebec Conferences attended by President Franklin Roosevelt, Prime Minister Winston Churchill and Canadian Prime Minister Mackenzie King.

It is also believed that Canada was born on the Plains of Abraham, outside the walls of the old city where a decisive battle between France and Britain was fought, influencing the creation of Canada.

An RCMP band entertain visitors.

With over 200 travel writers, public relations and tourism officials from all over Canada, I attended the Travel Media Association of Canada (TMAC) annual convention in Quebec City. We were pampered for five glorious days at the renowned Fairmont Hotel. Quebec tourism officials went all out to ensure red carpet treatment for the visiting media and tourism industry personnel.

On the first day, we were divided into smaller groups, each batch matched up with a chef to enjoy farm to table dining experience. I was grouped with Chef Simon Renaud of Hilton who bought all the necessary ingredients for cooking fresh from the market in front of us and the group then walked to the Hilton for a cooking class and instruction by the chef, enjoying a delicious meal prepared by the class. Cooking classes are becoming fashionable in many five-star hotels and hotel officials confirm that patrons are demanding such culinary experience from renowned chefs during their stay.

The music was too loud for some people.

Tourists are also given an opportunity to experience Quebec’s authentic aboriginal tradition and culture. Close to Quebec City is the Huron-Wendat reservation, Onhoua Chetek8e, offering a unique history, culture and traditions of Hurons.

Quebec City is renowned for its gourmet cuisine and restaurants which uses local products with creativity and finesse. It boasts world-class restaurants, bistros, inns and farms specializing in yielding local produce.

The mighty St. Lawrence River which begins from Lake Ontario, flows through historically rich cities of Montreal, Quebec City and Trois-Rivieres, which have capitalized and unveiled tourism initiatives increasing cruise travel along the waterway. Quebec City is a popular stopover of cruise ships, enroute to other destinations. Cruise passengers have stayed in Quebec City before or after their cruise to experience the unique character of the city.

Quebec City is a popular stopover for many cruise liners. 

 Tourists are also given an opportunity to experience Quebec’s authentic aboriginal tradition and culture. Close to Quebec City is the Huron-Wendat reservation, Onhoua Chetek8e, offering a unique history, culture and traditions of Hurons.

Quebec City is renowned for its gourmet cuisine and restaurants which uses local products with creativity and finesse. It boasts world-class restaurants, bistros, inns and farms specializing in yielding local produce.

The mighty St. Lawrence River which begins from Lake Ontario, flows through historically rich cities of Montreal, Quebec City and Trois-Rivieres, which have capitalized and unveiled tourism initiatives increasing cruise travel along the waterway. Quebec City is a popular stopover of cruise ships, enroute to other destinations. Cruise passengers have stayed in Quebec City before or after their cruise to experience the unique character of the city.

 Quebec City’s famous Ensemble de Quebec, a group of 20 singers, entertain tourists.

However, one doesn’t have to be a cruise passenger to enjoy the St. Lawrence River. There are plenty of local cruises available, among them is Croisieres AML, a leading cruise company offering various cruise packages on AML Louis Jolliet.

The boat, which can carry up to 1000 passengers, passes through points of interest of Quebec City, allowing passengers to enjoy panoramic views in the comfort of its glass-in dining rooms. The boat has three distinctive terraces, where entertainment and dancing is provided and served meals entirely cooked on board.

The last day in Quebec City for us was a memorable one. Escorted by a full RCMP band, the whole entourage walked through the streets of the city to a culinary experience of a life time. We had delicious dinner at La Chapelle du Seminaire, which has been deconsecrated since 1992 and is available for private parties and fund-raising events.  The seminaire provides a unique setting and magical atmosphere for the event, with entertainment offered by the Ensemble de Quebec, a dynamic group of 20 singers and four musicians, playing and singing universal gospel music. The group comprises of experienced performers who regularly participate for special public, corporate and fund-raising events. As gospel music pioneers, the Ensemble, which was established in 1995, has performed to sold-out shows and has also released their first album.

** Mansoor Ladha is a Calgary-based travel writer, journalist and author of

A Portrait in Pluralism: Aga Khan’s Shia Ismaili Muslims and Memoirs of a Muhindi.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

No wonder it’s called Incredible India!

By Mansoor Ladha

A huge pot of chai being prepared before it’s sent to consumers.
“Chai! Chai Chai! Garma garam chai!” (Tea! Tea! Piping hot tea!)
The young lad was going up and down the corridor at a bus rest stop between Ahmedabad and Nagpur, selling piping hot tea – the most popular drink in India, which is needed to start the day.

It is estimated that India consumes 837,000 tonnes of tea every year. The ritual of drinking chai transcends all boundaries, status and people. Chai wallahs are found everywhere you go – from office towers to roadside stops to railway stations – serving tea with masala (spices), sugar and milk. The thick sweet drink is the integral part of life in India.

Most Indians drink tea, like the British, at least twice a day – once at breakfast and again in the afternoon. It is considered a perfect drink for the country’s hot weather as it helps to trigger the body’s natural cooling reflexes.

Originally introduced by the British in India, chai has now become the national drink of the country, easily available on every street corner and on crowded train stations. At home, Indians serve chai to visitors and guests, becoming the second largest producer of tea, 70 percent of which is consumed at home.

During my travels to India, I have always enjoyed and loved to drink chai, especially masala tea. Even five-star hotels serve them. Apart from the Indians’ craze for chai, another thing that is typical in India is their street food. Although I have been warned several times against it, I have broken the rule and devoured delicious street food without any problem. There is something magical about street food in India as it tastes 1000 times better than regular food.

Street foods are very common on every corner.

India’s roads and through fares are crowded with vehicles, animals and people. The most convenient way to travel in India is by three-wheeled rickshaw, commonly called tuk tuk. The tuk tuk drivers are professionals who can maneuver through the traffic and ensure that you reach your destination on time while cars, buses, taxis and other vehicles remain caught up in traffic. On the weekend, whole families travel via tuk tuk for a Sunday drive or to attend a festival.

Cows seem to have right of way even on busy streets.

The tuk tuks are now widely used in Bangkok and the U.K. so much so that the largest importer, Tuk Tuk U.K., says the craze is spreading so quickly that it can’t get enough of them. Those seeking comfort and convenience can easily book a reasonably-priced private car with a driver in India. During one trip, I stood outside the hotel and summoned one of the taxis waiting outside and struck a deal whereby we were charged so much per day. The driver, who stayed with us for four days, gave me his card on the last day to pass on to friends and relatives coming to India.

India is really a photographer’s paradise where one can take pictures of smiling people, crowds, dances, festivals, shops in the bazaar and busy streets.

Visitors to India have to be prepared for the extraordinary adventures that the country has to offer – the sights, the smells and the snapshots of life in India. India, the immensely populated country with more than 1.2 billion people, provides excitement, sprinkled with aromas of food and spices, and providing glimpses of everyday life. It’s a photographer’s paradise, enabling you to record people’s everyday activities.A crowded vehicle transports people to various places.

An unusual sight in India’s main streets is the freedom given to the cows. Considered to be a sacred animal by majority of Hindus, they wander freely, unmolested in traffic-choked streets. Vehicles will wait to allow cows to cross the street in preference to pedestrians who have to take a chance on their own, even if they are at a zebra-crossings. During festivals, the animal is worshipped and decorated.

The cow frenzy has extended to such an extent that most Indian states forbid cow slaughter. Opponents of cow slaughter ban have argued that cow meat is cheaper than chicken or fish and it’s a staple for the poorer Muslim, tribal and dalit (ex-untouchable) communities. Hence, cows are India’s most political and polarising animal, sparking clashes and religious tensions. Cows are greatly respected in Nepal and Burma too.

As an Indian friend pointed out, cows for Indians are like pets in western countries. “You don’t see dog meat, or cat meat or horse meat in the U.S. as they are animals found in people’s homes. Humans form a special bonding with such animals.”

A cook prepares appetizing paratha for hungry customers.

Office workers residing in cities like Mumbai have the luxury of having a healthy, home-cooked meal, still warm from the stove, courtesy of a service provided by dabbawalas. The word “dabbawala” in Hindi means “one who carries a box,” usually a cylindrical tin or aluminium container. Rain, storm flood, dabbawalas will deliver on time.or Dabbawallas  out to make rounds supplying home-cooked lunches for Mumbai’s office workers.

The system functions on precise timing, coinciding with train and bus schedules. Dabbawalas collect hot food from residences of workers in the morning and deliver to workplaces by bicycles and railway trains and return the empty boxes by the afternoon. Meal suppliers in Mumbai also use dabbawals from centrally located kitchens to the customers and back. Some work-from-home women also supply home-cooked meals through the dabbawala network.

Colourful necklaces and beads sold at a stall in the bazaar.

Dabbawalas are a common sight in Mumbai, easily identified. They are men clad in white kurtas, weaving their bikes through impossible traffic and swarming throngs, juggling multiple tiffins — circular silver tins with four to five compartments, each packed with food — that are destined for office buildings and school yards. Approximately 5,000 distribute over 200,000 meals a day, picking up the tiffins in the morning from women, who have packed steaming, spicy dishes into each compartment: a curry, vegetables, dal (lentils), and flatbread (with some variations).
This is the only and best way to lunch for many Mumbai residents — on a feast, made with the love of a mother or wife. It’s no wonder that majority of Mumbai’s office workers prefer to eat home-cooked food rather than eat outside at a food stand or at a local restaurant.

 India’s residents are heavily dependent on using mobile phones information, education, business and shopping.

A recent trend among Indians is their high dependency on mobile phones. A common sight in India today is seeing someone talking on the mobile phone. Phone companies have excitedly reported that last year, India crossed one billion mark in mobile phone ownership. China is the only other country crossing the one billion mobile users landmark in 2012. The user base in India has climbed dramatically due to the affordability of the devices and cheapest tariffs in the world.

“The little device in Indians’ pocket or purse has become their window to a world of information, education, livelihood, employment and even shopping,” according to a local phone official.

India’s mobile revolution is just beginning. Research firm eMarketer has predicted that India will become the world’s second largest market for smartphones and overtake U.S., exceeding 200 million smartphone users.

No doubt, there is more to Incredible India than meets the eye. Visitors just have to choose what fascinates them to enjoy its rich culture, classical dances, colourful festivals and exquisite cuisine.

* Mansoor Ladha is a Calgary-based travel writer, columnist and author of Portrait in Pluralism: Aga Khan’s Shia Ismaili Muslims. His second book, Memoirs of a Muhindi is scheduled to be published by Regina University Press in in April 2017.