{"id":2087,"date":"2012-06-09T12:58:06","date_gmt":"2012-06-09T16:58:06","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/dougbardwell.com\/db\/?p=2087"},"modified":"2017-07-20T18:01:34","modified_gmt":"2017-07-20T22:01:34","slug":"the-great-ontario-to-quebec-via-rail-2012-biking-adventure-day-eight","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dougbardwell.com\/db\/the-great-ontario-to-quebec-via-rail-2012-biking-adventure-day-eight\/","title":{"rendered":"The great Ontario to Quebec VIA Rail 2012 biking adventure \u2013 Day Eight"},"content":{"rendered":"

[If you missed any of the previous or subsequent articles in this series, there\u2019s a list of all the articles with hyperlinks here at the end of Day Ten.<\/a>]<\/em><\/p>\n

Last night after that great trip past Quebec\u2019s white water rapids<\/a>, I biked a short distance from the train station into the neighborhood Plateau Mont-Royal. (That could be code for \u00a0“pedaling uphill” \u00a0I think.)<\/p>\n

I spent the night at a wonderful Victorian home now operated as Hotel Armor Manoir Sherbrooke<\/a>. There are 18 rooms and four suites available, and each is decorated with antique furniture.<\/p>\n

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\"ArmorManoir\"<\/a>My ensuite bathroom was surprisingly large for a room this size; with a deep, deep soaking tub should you want a relaxing bath. I understand the four suites also come with whirlpool tubs.<\/p>\n

While the woodwork is rich and stately, and the antiques give it an old-world ambiance, you don\u2019t give up your modern day luxuries. They offer free cable TV, air conditioning, and robust wireless Internet service.\u00a0 A 24-hour front desk and concierge service will get you headed in the right direction no matter what time you decide to go out exploring.<\/p>\n

[See more photos of the hotel.<\/a>]\n

Downstairs is a little bistro-style breakfast room where complimentary continental breakfast is served. The warm croissants, hot from the oven were excellent. After a quick breakfast, I was off to do some biking before checkout time arrived.<\/p>\n

I headed off across the Pont Jacques-Cartier Bridge for \u00a0Sainte-Helene island where the Biosphere is located.\u00a0 The Biosphere was designed by architect Richard Buckminster Fuller as the United States pavilion for the 1967 World Fair Expo 67. The 250\u2019 high dome was used in the original Battlestar Galactica<\/em> TV series, but is currently used as an environmental museum by Environment Canada<\/a>. \u00a0Beautiful grounds and parks surround the area.
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