comme un promeneur nocturne dans la ville de château, Upper Town Old Quebec Apr 23 2010

as a night walker, Old Quebec Apr 23 2010

night is a good escape from all the surroundings
which are usually too much, too detailed
and too obvious.. under the day light. :p

i really enjoy those unique & highlighted features
which start sprouting only as it comes to a night..


what a blessing that we can face a darkness in every 24 hours..

i had a short memory of experiencing white nights
in Sweden & Norway and i found no more fun..
other than satisfying my curiosity of the phenomenon..

a small tower on the gate.., Old Quebec Apr 23,24 2010

twilight was shedding its silky oblique lights over the brassy roof of green with such a nice breeze in the late evening..
i have no idea.. what others could be milder and warmer than this.. ?

how blue..incredibly blue..!
such a cool, transparent, moisturized, and lovely blue..

as night went deeper and deeper..

all the busy sounds and noise were drifting away

leaving the lovely old city in silence and in peace..

only the stars were vigilant.. all along the night..

diligent in chatting among themselves..

...

now.. there we go with every kind of light reaching everywhere..

white.. the most rich but simple & insipid color in the universe..

however most diligent.. the white wakes up everything to resume its role on earth.. whatever it is..

in the morning..

the tower was still there.. calmly.. proudly..

under the full fresh shower of sunlight

as it had been for last couple of hundreds years..

la Citadelle in the Twilight.., Old Quebec, Povince of Quebec Apr 23 2010

Old Quebec (French: Vieux-Québec) is a neighbourhood of Quebec City, the capital of the province of Quebec in Canada. Generally speaking 'Old Quebec' refers to the part of the city within the walls. Other parts of the city have structures as old but the term generally refers to "within the walls".

By 1750, Quebec had grown to be the largest town in New France, with a population of about 8,000. It was the center of French power in North America. In a way, Quebec was two towns. The upper town was a walled fortress located high above the river, atop an imposing cliff. It included the Governor's mansion and the homes of the wealthy. The lower town was the port, huddled between the river and the cliff.

it was almost a 10 hours coach drive

all the way up to Quebec city from my place in Toronto.. wow..

i've ever never tried this kind of package tour by bus.

it was not bad at all.. though it was bit uncomforable sitting all time long.

The Old City dates back from the early 17th century, when in 1620 Samuel de Champlain chose the strategic location of Cap Diamant as the site for the Chateau St. Louis. As a result, Old Quebec maintained a strong military and administrative presence from the very beginning. While the Lower City was populated with merchants and craftsmen, the Upper Town was inhabited by military officials and members of the clergy.

This military presence long limited the city's expansion. At the end of 19th century, many wanted to demolish the fortifications, judging them to be unnecessary and a hindrance to urban development. However, Governor Dufferin successfully managed to preserve the character of the walled city, while adapting the further expansion of the modern city.

Despite having undergone some degradation in the 1950s, the Old City has been subject to somewhat of a renaissance period since the 1970s.

The rich historic nature of Old Quebec is marked by the city's ramparts, fortifications, and many houses and buildings from past centuries. The legacy of previous generations and the beauty of the district make it particularly unique. In 1985, it was recognized as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.

The majority of buildings in the neighborhood date from 19th century, although the construction of some date back to 17th and 18th centuries. It also is home to several commercial streets, including Rue Saint-Jean, Rue Sainte-Anne and Rue De Buade. Many institutions are still housed in the heart of the city, such as the Quebec City Council, the Séminaire de Québec, the Ursulines Convent, and the Augustinian monastery. Since Old Quebec is a popular tourist destination, there are also several inns, including the famous Chateau Frontenac. Guided ghosts tours are also of interest to its residents and visitors.

Spring in Heidelberg, Heidelberg Baden Germany Apr 1 1990

복사꽃 흐드러지게 핀 4월의 하이델베르그는
더 아름다울 수 없었다.
프랑크프르트에 사는 사촌 동조와 함께 한 여행이었다.
숙부께서 모는 작은 메르세데스는 아우토반을 아주 빠른 속도로 질주했었었다.

이곳은 꼭 다시 들러 일주일 정도 머물며 아침엔 산책, 오후엔 독서 글고 저녁엔 맥주를 마시며 왁자지껄 저곳 주민들과 이야기 하고 싶은 곳이다.

砦 Too Proud Cubicle - CITY IMAGE Series, RBC Center King Toronto 25 Oct 2008