Mallory, tourist
Irene, Mallory and I are in Québec City for a few days, part of our actual vacation. The rest of our time off work this summer is going to be all about moving.
We got in yesterday, early evening. I had been a bit preoccupied about what to do with Mallory. Québec City is a lovely city for grownups, but what about a toddler? I’d been leafing through pages of 400th anniversary site and not seen a lot for kids.
But after we’d checked in, stretched out a bit and what not we decided to just go for a walk in the old city.
All my worries about how to amuse a child in a strange city evaporated. Mallory was just agog at absolutely everything. The cobbled streets, the old houses with their windows so close to the ground she could see her reflection as she walked by, the horse-drawn carriages, fountains, everything.
The pedestrian streets were particularly thrilling because she could just run and run and run. When she looked up, all she could see were other tourists, smiling at how cute she is.
Problem solved. Want to entertain a toddler in old Québec for a day? Just go outside.
And she even got to sleep in the strange bed easily. And slept well. Without falling out the other side.
All was going well the next morning until mommy had to go to her meeting. Mallory was pretty upset. She stopped crying after half a minute or so, but was clearly down in the dumps. Where yesterday, she was running everywhere, today she wouldn’t even walk. She insisted on being carried everywhere.
She decided (just after I paid the $10 admission) that the Musée de la civilization wasn’t for her (too dark). So we went outside.
We had forgotten our stroller, and had decided to go rent one. I hadn’t decided how much of a priority it was going to be, but after carrying Mallory for half an hour through the old city’s rather hilly streets, I decided, “yes, this is a priority.”
And so with stroller rented, I walked. And walked. And walked. All morning long. We paused for snacks a couple of times, but for the most part the moments when Mallory got out of the stroller were rare:
- explore what seems to be the bone the historical accuracy people have allowed to be thrown at those with little kids, a ship rigging-shaped play structure
- go inside a souvenir store that had a giant toy moose out in front of it
- climb some of the steps of the Musée de la civilization’s lovely exterior garden exhibit.
Otherwise, she was stroller bound. Maybe she was stiff from doing all that running yesterday? But maybe not.
We got back for afternoon nap a little early. And Mallory slept between 2pm and 4pm.
Irene was back from her meeting about half an hour later, and Mallory lit up. Suddenly she was all bouncy and laughing. We went out for dinner and there she was again, tearing down the pedestrian malls, laughing, pointing out everything (the funny bicycle with no seat, the tiny dog, the man with no shirt).
I asked her if she had fun today and she insists she did. I wonder. Tomorrow Irene and I are with her all day.
