The first thing I did, once the congress had ended, was to go to the Montmorency falls. Just a few minutes away from Québec city (hmm, it took me a little bit longer, because I went there by public transportation... but even so it's rather easy to get there), you'll not only find one of the more splendid demonstrations of natures power, but also yet another important site in Québec's history.

Driving up to the falls, the bus took the old "Avenue Royale", showing me a glimpse of real Québequois life. If you're ever in the neighbourhood you should really take a trip along this road, also called the "Route de la Nouvelle France".

The firs thing that caught my eye when I got of the bus and started walking towards the entrance of the park, was this rather calm river. There was nothing here that could prepare me for the overwhelming natural power I was going to witness a little bit later on - only a danger sign warning you not to go swimming in the river...

And then I turned around, and I saw this huge amount of water disappear! Even though I couldn't see the actual waterfall from this point, I already heared a tremendous continuous roar. I was close by...

In this picture you also have a view on the suspended bridge over the fall. This was the moment I had feared, I'm going to have to cross that bridge (and it doesn't really help when you're not all that fond of heights...).

But nevertheless, I slowly made my way towards the falls. And all of a sudden, there it was! It's hard to believe right now, but when I was standing there, my knees were actually shaking (might have had something to do with the bridge that was in front of me...).

At this point the water of the Montmorency river splashes down a height claimed to be 83 meters, just about 30 meters higher than Niagara falls. In wintertime, the water vapors surounding the base of the fall freezes to what has been called a "sugar loaf". It must really be something to see this great force of nature completely frozen...

When you're standing on top of the suspended bridge, you'll see a impressive cliff on your left. This was actually where the falls used to be. Gradually the river has changed its course.

Against this cliff a panoramic wooden stairway has been built. It takes you all the way down, with several platforms where you can enjoy the view. Maybe this is the right time for a little warning. If you somehow need to get back to the top of the falls, let's say because you parked your car there or you have to take the bus there, keep in mind that this stairway is just about 487 steps... You can always take the cable lift, but if your afraid of heights, I wouldn't recommend it...

When I got to the base of the falls, this was one of the views there to enjoy: a small rainbow crossed the basin. You probably know the proverb that there is a pot of gold at the end of a rainbow. Well, this is the place to check it out...

And believe it or not, there was someone fishing here! At first I found it hard to believe he would ever catch something, but when I looked in the water, I could see the fish happily swimming around...

Nowadays, the site of the falls has been converted to an entire park, the main attraction of course being the falls. Another eye catcher is the manor on top of the rock. It actually was the estate of Sir Frederick Haldimand, and was built in 1780. Sir Frederick Haldimand was at the time the governor of the province of Québec.
Today, the manor serves as a restaurant. Furthermore, there are a number of boutiques here, next to the interpretation center to the falls.

Starting at the manor, there are two ways to get to the falls. One of them is called "Le Sentier du Cottage", a long tree bordered lane that takes you away from the roaring noise of the falls for a couple of moments.

If you don't mind the continuous roar, you should really take the "Promenade de la falaise". This boardwalk takes you all the way along the cliff towards the "Belvédère de la Baronne", one of the most gorguois views of the falls. But whatever your choice, you end up at the suspended bridge. And surprise, suprise... Just before you set foot on this bridge there's a sign to tell you about the times the bridge collapsed... Don't worry, those days have long gone!

I personally prefered the Promenade. With the cliff on your left, the falls somewhere in front of you, you have the most amazing views you can think of.

It takes you from one lovely display of natural beauty to another. Just have a look at these trees. Set on an almost vertical surface, they batlle their way through life. It's amazing how they can hang on.

But they sometimes lose, and men interferes. So, now the artistic part of me takes over, and decides this would make a nice picture...

Maybe this is the right place to tell you a little but more about the historic importance of this place. When you enter the park near Boischâtel, you come across the remains of one of Québecs redoubts. This place is where the British first tried to scale the cliff. Once on top of this cliff, they wouldn't have to face Cap Diamant, where Québec was built on. They failed.

Unfortunately, there is not much left over of this redoubt. But a number of explanatory signs guide you, step by step, through the history of this place.

So, back to the falls. In this picture, taken from the Promenade, you get a nice view of l'Ile d'Orléans, a 30 kilometers long green island. This is Québec's back garden. It is a rural region, mainly focused on fruits.

It's a big contrast with Québec city driving through this area. In fact, people try to keep the rural aspect of this place intact, as a number of regulations constrain the expansion of the villages, some over 300 years old. Right now there are still plenty examples of woorden or stone houses and cottages in Normandy style.

Maybe that's why so many Québequois have their home away from home here. If your looking for the Canadian countryside, or should I say the Québecan countryside, this is the place to be!

So, that's all folks, at least for this fall. To conclude, maybe a little word on some other falls. If you leave the park at the base and start heading back for Québec, you immediatly come across two smaller falls, one of which is known as "La voile de la mariée".

You want more falls! Suspension bridges (real ones, the wooden kind ones) don't frighten you! Then you should go to Canyon Saint-Anne, about 6 kilometers east of Beaupré. The Saint-Anne waterfalls are 74 meters high, splashing down in a deep chasm.

And than there is also the site of the "Sept Chutes", but in this case you'll have to tolerate the presence of a hydroelectric station and a dam. So plenty of falls around Québec city!