MARITIMES CRUISE 2025

QUEBEC

Day 9- Saguenay, Quebec

This morning we woke up in Quebec, specifically the port of Saguenay, Quebec. Carroll and Stuart were doing a separate tour, so Brett, Leslie, Norine and I headed out to explore after breakfast.

The town welcomed the cruise ship with open arms, singers, dancers, and most importantly, free maple Syrup poured on a stick over ice. A delicious Canadian traditional lollipop.

Saint Alphonse de Liguori Church is a beautiful small historic Catholic church sanctuary within walking distance of the cruise terminal in Saguenay. Built in 1862 it is the oldest stone church in the region.

While Leslie and Norine are checking out a little craft fair, Brett and I wandered down a little alley to find the Romeo Boivin Collection, a private collection of cars and memorabilia. A small collection, but in very good condition, and very unique.

We explored a few more areas of the little town.

Based on my research, it seemed like the best way to spend our time was to jump in an Uber and head over to the nearby town of Chicoutimi. As soon as we are dropped off, we spot the massive Sacred Heart Parish (Sacré-Coeur). The Church of the Sacred Heart was built in 1905 yet the interior was not finished until 1929. Surprisingly, it and the adjoining presbytery were spared during The Saguenay Flood in 1996.

Taking this photo looking back at the entrance to the church and the organ, a lens flare or ghost appears of the sacred heart.

Across the road is an area that was heavily affected by the floods of 1996.

Musée de la Petite Maison Blanche (the Small White House), The small white house was built on Gédéon Street around 1890, in the heart of one of the first neighborhoods of the city of Chicoutimi. Its walls are composed of large beams stacked on top of each other, like a log cabin. At the time, the small white house was surrounded by numerous residential and commercial buildings. An imposing dam overlooked its neighborhood, Bassin. This dam held back water from the Chicoutimi River to power a hydroelectric power plant.

The little white house suffered its first flood in 1947. One July night, strange rumblings awaken Alyre and Jeanne-d'Arc Genest, the residents of the little white house. A torrent of water surrounds their home! When morning comes, the couple assesses the damage. In the neighborhood, other houses have also suffered significant damage. It's devastation... After this event, Alyre decides to equip her property with solid foundations anchored in the rock. Her little white house will be foolproof!

The little white house survives a second flood in 1996. On July 19, 20, and 21, the Saguenay area received more than 200 mm of rain. The level of all the reservoirs rose visibly. Levees and dams failed. Water poured into the streets. The entire region was flooded. The devastation was colossal, and the damage amounted to more than a billion dollars. It was The Flood! Through the torrents of water, the little white house resists. Everything around it is destroyed: residences, businesses, and infrastructure. The eyes of the entire world are riveted on the indestructible little house.

From the Little White House we walked up to La Pulperie de Chicoutimi (Chicoutimi Pulp Mill) which is located in a partially wooded valley on the Chicoutimi River. It is a typical early 20th century industrial complex, comprising five buildings (four mills and an electrical substation) constructed between 1898 and 1923.

Getting a little hungry, we wandered back in to town, but not before Norine made a new friend in one of the shops.

After Brett asked some guy on the street what place we should go, we chose Smokey, an authentic Quebec pub/restaurant that had Poutine! We spoke some French as the waitress did not speak english, drank local beers and ciders and ate smoked meat poutine with the real squeaky cheese.

Stomachs full of good food, we wandered over to the Chicoutimi river.

I would say we made a pretty good day of exploring the Saguenay/Chicoutimi area, and caught an Uber back to the Saguenay port. We ended up with the exact same driver that brought us to Chicoutimi, maybe there's only 1 Uber driver in this small town.

We watch from the deck as we leave port, and hundreds of geese are migrating away over the town.

Tonight's after dinner show was spectacular, it was called Fantastic Journey, included all kinds of special effects, including one number with dozens of drones flying around the singer.