Ah, the smell of new crisp books! This is what greeted us as we climb up the stairs to the AirBnb rental we booked in Quebec City for two days.
Whenever we pass by these edgy neighborhoods in Montreal, I always wonder what it's like to live in those architecturally attractive Victorian-style houses, picture-perfect for Instagram that is, with steep winding outdoor stairs, located within the city.
The location is to crave for. It is buzzing with activities. All the things you ever need are within walking distance: the thriving food scene, cafes, mini-marts, drugstores, churches with bell towers that still peal, either calling out for worshippers to gather for church service or summoning the faithful to go down on their knees to pray.
Whenever you feel bored inside, you simply had to step out and make yourself available to the world. And then voila! You find yourself in the middle of scenarios and situations in an instant.
I never thought there would be such a neighborhood in Quebec City. Not until we arrived in Vieux Limoilou. Old Quebec can be reached 10 minutes drive from here, depending on traffic.
The rental property has one bedroom, however, the sofa is wide and comfortable enough to accommodate the husband. Well, we can't sleep together in the same room with the little boy because his daddy snores like the engine of a huge truck, loud. But unlike the truck, the hubby's has an intermittent annoying rhythm to it. Yes, it is disturbing enough to stir the little boy up and cry his protest in the middle of the night.
Our two-year-old hated it when his sleep is interrupted so he makes sure everyone in the house pays for the ugly deed by waking up the neighbors. Tsk. Tsk. So it's better to make the arrangements beforehand to assure everyone of a good night's rest. I hope.
It was already the end of winter when we took this trip. It was cold and wet. The snow and ice are melting on the surface of the roads. From the door access to the veranda, the little boy likes to watch the backhoe loader clearing up the snow and the flooding or the passersby who are out and about.
The AirBnB rental property we booked is newly renovated. The little boy is abundant with his compliments when we came in. He does this whenever he sees something praise-worthy, my momma heart is proud. He quickly loves the place which is a big deal if you're traveling with kids.
To prove his approval, he was able to sleep soundly for two nights straight. He doesn't even want to be waked in the morning we are about to go back home to Ottawa. Haha.
Below us is a bookstore. Ah, the smell of new crisp books! The wits and brilliance hidden on those pages are always inviting, luring one to get inside and be lost in them. Unfortunately, they're all in french language. Sadly, I wasn't able to bring home new ideas with me from this trip.
For this 3-day road trip to Quebec City, we visited The Hotel de Glace and Old Quebec's Petit Champlain to celebrate the husband's birthday. It was fun! I'm glad we did this before the government imposed lockdown was enforced.
If you're looking for an area to stay in Quebec City while on a DIY (do-it-yourself) tour, I highly recommend booking a property in Vieux-Limoilou through AirBnB. (Not now, of course. When life resumes back to normalcy once again.)
