Have you ever arrived somewhere and instantly felt like the vibe was completely different?
When we got to Quebec City, that was exactly how it felt. And I think what made it even more noticeable was the contrast. Just a few days before, it was around 20 degrees in Toronto, and then suddenly we’re stepping into a full-on snowstorm. It felt like we had travelled way further than we actually did.
The city itself felt different too. There’s something about Quebec City that feels almost European, but also a lot quieter, especially at night. Coming from Toronto, where everything is always busy and moving fast, it honestly felt kind of refreshing. I know it wasn’t peak travel season, so that probably played a part, but I actually liked that it wasn’t crowded. It made it easier to slow down and really take in everything around me.
On the bus ride there, we were already trying to figure out where to eat because one of my friends had a bad experience with Asian food in Montréal before and didn’t want to risk that again. We ended up finding a spot called Bahti Bassac, just a few mintues from our hotel, and it honestly ended up being such a good choice. The food was so flavourful, and it felt like the perfect way to warm up after being cold all day.
But what I’ll probably remember the most from that first night wasn’t even the food, it was just being outside. We ended up walking through the streets near our hotel, and everything was completely empty. It was snowing, freezing rain was hitting our faces, and we were literally just walking and running through the snow, taking photos. It sounds kind of chaotic, but it didn’t feel that way in the moment. It just felt fun and spontaneous, and honestly, that ended up being one of my favourite memories form the trip.
The next day, we woke up really early to have breakfast at the hotel before heading out into the cold. We already knew we were going to be walking for most of the day, so we tried to mentally prepare for it. We ended up walking about 40 minutes to Old Quebec and it was super snowy and slushy the entire way. It wasn’t the easiest walk at all, but honestly, it made the whole experience feel more real. By the time we got these, it felt like we actually earned it.
One of the highlights for me was Aura at Église Saint-Roch. I didn’t really know what to expect going in, but the way light, sound, and projection completrely transformed the space was so interesting to watch. It made you notice details you probably wouldn’t have paid attention to otherwise, and it changed how the space felt overall. One thing I do wish, though, is that we had time to go back and see the church during the day. I feel like it would’ve been so nice to actually photography the architecture in natural light and take in the details properly. Even though Aura made it look amazing at night, I feel like it wou;d’ve been a completely different experience during the day.
I think what stood out to me the most from this trip was how much atmosphere can shape your experience of a place. Québec City isn’t just somewhere you visit, it’s something you kind of settle into, especially in those quieter moments where nothing big is happening, but it still feels memorable.
Note: All photos were taken by me during my trip to Québec.