Clear Clouds Lightly Rippling – A Summer in Ottawa, Montreal, and Quebec City

Six years ago, I had never set foot outside China, not even in Southeast Asia (Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand), and Canada seemed even more out of reach. Unexpectedly, in the following years, thanks to my daughter's studies abroad, I set foot on the North American continent, and I have since visited places like Vancouver, Calgary, Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal, and Quebec. This second-largest country in the world by land area truly boasts vast territories, pleasant scenery, and captivating beauty in every season. Particularly, Canada's summer is short yet lovely, with cool and comfortable weather. Whether in the city or amidst nature, the scenery is picturesque and refreshing.

The days at home this year have passed slowly, so slowly that I often recall those carefree summers. In August 2017, I took a family of seven on a road trip from Vancouver to Banff National Park. In July 2018, I was in Ottawa during Canada Day, experiencing the French flair of Montreal and Quebec. Many scenes are still vivid and unforgettable. Let me first write about the wonderful memories in these three eastern Canadian cities.

On June 30, 2018, I flew from Beijing to Ottawa via Toronto. The next day was Canada Day. As the capital, Ottawa naturally had many celebrations. My daughter, excitedly, took me, still jet-lagged, to experience Canada's grandest National Day. On ordinary days, the streets near Parliament Hill have only a few scattered tourists, but on July 1, it was a sea of people. It felt like the entire population of Ottawa had turned out: old and young, families with children, all dressed in red and white, with Canadian flags of all sizes everywhere. Such a spectacle is rarely seen.

On Parliament Hill, there was a large outdoor concert featuring famous Canadian singers and performers. The audience was so huge that we couldn't squeeze in, so we watched on a big screen for a while to soak in the atmosphere. As night fell in a jubilant mood, crowds gathered on the streets in front of the Fairmont Hotel, waiting for the highlight of the celebration: the spectacular fireworks show for National Day! We secured a perfect viewing spot. Huge, colorful fireworks of various shapes burst continuously in the sky above our heads. For years, I hadn't heard firecrackers in Beijing, but this time I truly got my fill. Moreover, it was the first time in my life to see fireworks live, which was a totally different experience from watching them on TV—super exciting and thrilling! A video is shared below!

Because my daughter studies in Ottawa, I know the city quite well. I really love this charming city. Ottawa is far less famous than Toronto or Vancouver. As Canada's capital and political center, it has always maintained a low profile. This garden city with a population of one million is rich in culture and art, attracting over two million tourists each year. Its beautiful natural environment, combined with the advanced and complete facilities of a metropolis, exudes a sense of ease, grandeur, comfort, and refinement. Although I've visited Ottawa several times, there are still many places I haven't explored. The city has different charms in each season. If friends traveling here only arrange one or two days, it's probably not enough. Many online guides suggest a quick tour of Ottawa, which might be a misunderstanding of the city.

After happily spending National Day in Ottawa with my daughter, how could we waste such a beautiful summer? So, we rented a car, and my daughter drove me to the famous Montreal and Quebec City! I don't know why, but the word "Quebec" sounds very appealing. Our route was to go far first and then come back: first to Quebec City, and on the way back, we would stay in Montreal for a while.

The distance from Ottawa to Quebec City is 450 km, with an estimated driving time of 5 hours. We had a meal on the way, but it actually took us about 6 hours to reach Quebec City. The hotel we booked was a resort nestled in the mountains and by the water, a bit far from the city center. The scenery was beautiful and very quiet. After driving all the way, it was delightful to stroll around the courtyard and relax. In the evening, we drove back to the city to see the night view and have dinner. A big mistake: we didn't dress warmly enough. The temperature dropped sharply at night, so we could only briefly wander around the city center. Wearing thin windbreakers, we were freezing cold, learning the hard way about the temperature difference between day and night in Canadian summer.

The trip back to the hotel was quite scary. Cars whizzed past us, as if bullying us for being unfamiliar with the area. And the most terrifying part was yet to come! After leaving the city, there was no light at all along the road except for our car's headlights. It was pitch black all around. For the first time in my life, driving such a night road, I had to grip the steering wheel tightly and stare fixedly at the road illuminated by the headlights. I was so nervous my heart raced and my palms sweated. There was only our car on this road. The further we went, the more panicked I became. Fortunately, my daughter kept comforting and encouraging me. I deeply regretted why I had booked such a faraway hotel!

We drove at 30 km/h on the dark road for over ten minutes, almost hallucinating, until we finally saw a glimmer of light. Entering the resort and parking the car, I nearly collapsed. The journey was truly terrifying! Just as we were still shaken, we looked up, and oh my god, the sky was filled with bright, dense stars twinkling. It was because the resort was far from the city center with no light pollution that we were lucky to see such a pure starry sky. Truly, you lose something only to gain something else! My daughter is a hardcore star enthusiast, so she couldn't miss this opportunity. We put on all the clothes we had brought but still shivered. As we quietly admired the night sky, suddenly a long meteor streaked across. Before we could even gasp, another meteor followed. It was the first time my daughter had ever seen a meteor, and in great excitement, she quickly made a wish. Even today, recalling that night still stirs my emotions. That night sky, those stars—truly unforgettable...

The next day was clear, sunny, with azure blue lake water—so different from the previous day. But unfortunately, we could only briefly enjoy the beautiful resort scenery before heading to Old Quebec!

Summer is truly a season of celebration. That day, Quebec City was hosting a large event, with bustling streets crowded with tourists. Many roads were under traffic control. Unfamiliar with the roads, we almost entered a bus-only lane several times. While looking for a parking lot according to the map, we accidentally drove into a temporary restricted area. A handsome police officer on a motorcycle caught up and told us we couldn't park there. It was really embarrassing. Even more embarrassing, the road was a steep slope with no place to turn around, so I had no choice but to drive backward up the slope! Fortunately, the officer directed pedestrians out of the way. Quebec City's streets have many ups and downs, making both driving and walking quite troublesome.

After finally finding the parking lot, our sightseeing enthusiasm had diminished considerably. Fortunately, my daughter had visited Quebec a few times and knew the place well. She gave me a one-day tour of Quebec.

Understanding the history of Quebec City's founding explains the city's French flavor. Samuel de Champlain, a French explorer and geographer, discovered this area in 1608 and established a colony here, beginning French colonial rule in Canada. Therefore, Quebec City is a historically and culturally renowned city with a strong French atmosphere. It is the oldest city in North America, and 95% of its residents speak French.

We planned to arrive in Montreal by evening, a drive of over 250 km and about 3 hours. Our tour of Quebec City was just a brief glimpse. I hope to return for two days when the maple leaves turn red to savor it more deeply.

Like Quebec City, Montreal is in the province of Quebec and also speaks French, but it is more modern. As Canada's second-largest city by area, the name "Montreal" comes from the French "Mont Royal," meaning "Royal Mountain." The landmark in the center of Montreal, Mount Royal, is named after it. With a population of 4.2 million, Montreal is one of Canada's most important economic centers and the second-largest French-speaking city in the world after Paris.

Montreal feels more cosmopolitan than Toronto. Infused with a French ambiance, it is indeed different. Commerce is very developed, but we didn't come for shopping; two grand cathedrals were our targets. The first was the magnificent and solemn St. Joseph's Oratory, with a dome 97 meters high, the second-largest dome church in the world after St. Peter's Basilica in Rome. The other is the Notre-Dame Basilica, known as "Little Notre-Dame de Paris," where Celine Dion held her wedding—a breathtakingly beautiful church.

The Notre-Dame Basilica regularly has light shows, but unfortunately, there wasn't one on the day we visited. However, the light show at Parliament Hill in Ottawa later made up for it. After visiting these two powerful cathedrals, we just wanted to clear our minds. Mount Royal Park was our next destination, said to be the highest point in Montreal, offering a panoramic view of the city.

We drove back from Montreal to Ottawa in about two hours. This wonderful Quebec trip remains unforgettable to this day. I'll end this travelogue with a segment about the traditional light show at Parliament Hill in Ottawa.

Wind, soothing the heart; feelings, drifting into dreams.