Jake's Journey: Montreal to Quebec City

Saturday, August 25 – Today we moved on to Levis, Quebec. Levis is on the east bank of the Saint Lawrence Seaway, across from Quebec City. We checked into Camping Transit and Mom and Dad went shopping. They wanted groceries for them. They’ve been eating what we've had to get rid of anything the Border guards might want to confiscate. Now it’s time to restock.

They also went to the Costco Pharmacy. They’ve done research and this is a highly planned stop. I try to be a non-political Poodle, but healthcare for US humans is really messed up!! Drug companies are gouging Americans and all our politicians are doing nothing.

Case in point - At home, Dad’s insulin is $295/bottle, if he goes to his insurance company’s “preferred pharmacy” which gives him the “preferred price”. Dad uses 2 bottles/month or 24 bottles/year, so the total cost is $7,080 for a one year supply. Dad pays a $5500 deductible and then 20% of the balance, so his cost for the 24 bottles is about $5800.

Here in Canada, at the current exchange rate, it's $24.64 US/bottle. His 24 bottles cost him under $600. $600 vs $5800. Yikes!! Do you have any idea how much dog food Dad can buy for $5200???? I could eat like a king! Mom says that it's paying for our trip, not more kibble. Darn!

I also need to mention that at the Costco Pharmacy in Quebec, he’s getting the same type of Insulin made by Eli Lilly that he buys in the states. The sealed vials come in sealed boxes, just like in the states. Canada isn’t a 3^rd world country that dispenses inferior drugs.

Sunday, August 26 – Today was more fun for Mom and Dad. They drove to the Ferry Dock in Levis and took the ferry to Quebec City. Much easier than trying to drive the Jeep on narrow streets in Quebec and much cheaper than parking in the City.

View from the Ferry, crossing the River.

They went to the Citadel (Fort) and took a tour and then they took a tour of the Quebec Residence of the Governor General of Canada that is inside the Citadel. They learned that the Governor General is appointed by the Queen and is on an equal level with the Prime Minister who is elected by the Canadian people. The current Governor General is Julie Payette, a French speaking Canadian, who is a former astronaut. The Governor General has to sign all the laws passed by the Canadian government. While they rarely veto a bill, they have the power to do so.

The Headquarters Building inside the Citadel

Panorama of the City and River, taken from the Citadel.

The only disadvantage to taking the ferry into Quebec is that you start on the shore of the Saint Lawrence Seaway, but most of Quebec is on top of a big high bluff. There is a Funicular, but Mom and Dad are trying to get their exercise, so they decided to take the stairs. Even at the top, the town is pretty hilly, so by the time they’d done both tours, they’d done a lot of walking. Then, as they were finishing up the tour of the Governor General’s Residence, it started to rain. While it was a short shower, Mom and Dad decided that they had enough walking and decided to head back to the Ferry dock. They looked in a few shops in Old Town and then took the Ferry back to Levis.

Umbrellas over the street in Old Town

Bobble-HANDS of the Pope and the Queen in the

window of one of the souvenir shops. The

hands turn from side to side. The Canadians

certainly have a sense of humor.

Monday, August 27 - Today Mom and Dad went to the Parc de la Chute-Montmorency. If you only speak English, you would call it Montmorency Falls Park. The Falls are 83 meters high (273 feet), which is 30 meters (almost 100 feet) taller than Niagara. Mom showed me these pictures of the Park.