Skiing on the Lake

What a beautiful day! I am experiencing a lot of firsts in Quebec! Today Karl and I went cross country skiing on the lake at the chalet and it was awesome! Mild temperature, beautiful scenery and wonderful companionship!

We are preparing for the upcoming New Year with Gilles & Charlotte at the chalet. We will be posting more photos and updating information so keep coming back!

Thank You

Karl and I have returned back to the chalet and are enjoying the snow (which is over 4 feet!!). It has been a while since I have been in snow like this!!

We had a wonderful adventure this past week. We were in the Sagueny & Quebec City and both are beautiful places. We spent some time with Karl`s best friends Eric & Christine and we had a wonderful time there! We would like to thank them very much for a beautiful few days! The Sagueny is a beautiful part of Quebec with Fjords and lots of nature and outdoor adventure! We saw people skiing in a field with sails...like wind surfing on the snow!

We spent Christmas in Quebec City and I have to say it is a very magical, wonderful breathtaking city! I am very happy to have been able to experience a Christmas in this magical city! Before I go on to tell you my feelings about Quebec City, there are a few people that we have to extend a special thank you to. Thank you to Andre & Isabelle for hosting a fun Christmas Eve for all the family. A warm thank you to Gilles and Charlotte for the wonderful gift of staying right in the heart of Quebec City on Christmas Eve! And last but not least, a big thank you to Tante Suzanne for my first fondue supper and for being a super hostess to us and letting us stay over the snow storm!!

Now to talk about Quebec City...it is a beautiful place to see and I believe that everyone should make the effort to see it and feel it! Yes, I said feel it! There is something about the city that is magical. Can you imagine, seeing and walking on the spot that Jacques Cartier declared that this spot is New France 400 years ago!! It was amazing!! I believe that I now have a small glimpse and better understanding of why Quebec wants to be its own country!

One other amazing feature about Quebec (or at least the parts that I have been priveleged to experience) is that this province is truly a bilingual province. Everyone that I have spoken with can quickly and smoothly transfer back and forth between French and English which has made my stay here very easy. I am sometimes embarrased that I cannot accomplish the same feat but I have definately improved my French listening skills!

Thanks again to all of our hosts and we want to extend a Happy New Year to everyone!

Merry Christmas, Joyeux Noel & Feliz Navidad

Taking this time to wish everyone a Merry Christmas!

We are in beautiful Chicoutimi and we just came back from a magnificent hike with Christine and Eric beside the Fjord of the Saguenay. We will have photos up to show you shortly!

We are headed to Quebec City tomorrow for a family Christmas and spending some time in old Quebec! We are very excited!

Talk to you soon!

Time Flies

Hard to believe that 2 weeks have passed. It is definately a wonderful place to be...a bit cold, but beautiful. Karl and I are embarking on Project Zen...a time for us to enjoy the moments and plan and organize where and how we will begin Harmonia Project for 2006.

We have had quite a bit of snow...over 2 feet!! We have been able to go skiing twice at Mt. Garceau in St. Donat. It is a great hill!!

We are headed to Montreal and Quebec City for the next few days for the holidays and we look forward to sharing photos with you real soon as we plan on purchasing a digital camera! I am very excited!!

For now we wish everyone a Merry Christmas, Joyeux Noel, Feliz Navidad and Frohe Weinachten!!

Karl and Monika

In the Laurentians

Tranquility, stillnes, quiet & peace is the description of living on Lac Defresne in St. Agathe, Quebec. Karl and I have passed a wonderful weekend with Gille & Charlotte (Karl`s mom & partner). We owe them alot...the least of which is a warm & grateful thank you for letting us use their beautiful chalet and also for their big hearts & warm personalities.

Time is passing quickly...it is hard to believe that I have now been in Quebec for 1 week! I am very appreciative of these moment I/we have been experiencing.

It has snowed a bit every day making for an accumulation of about 12". It is vert picturesque with the powdery snow covered pine trees and the frozen lake right outside our door.

Until next time...a Belle Journee!

Montreal Bound

One more day until I am on my way Montreal. I am very excited and looking forward to connecting with Karl and learning more about the city.

Everything is complete here in Victoria. I have spent my last week organizing the final stage of moving and everything has worked out well. It was a bit stressful but I really learned alot about myself which is always a good thing. No regrets and I am looking forward to the next chapter of the journey!!