Le Festival d'été de Québec

Scène Bell

The Summer Music Festival of Québec is a big deal. It has seven stages set up in the heart of the city, the largest of which is Scène Bell, the main stage on The Plains of Abraham. Last night was opening night for the festival, featuring Sting and Peter Gabriel on their Rock Paper Scissors Tour. Alison and I learned a lesson last night: we're not main stage people.

Imagine a rectangular space roughly the size of four football fields, with their sidelines side by side. Enclose the entire space in twelve foot steel fencing, to prevent people from sneaking in, and then place an exit in each corner. Then, fill the space with untold thousands upon thousands of people, so many that you are standing shoulder to shoulder, belly to back no matter where you are in the space. Lastly, send a small army of young men and women into the crowd, squeezing their way through, selling beer and liquor shots to enormous numbers of already inebriated people. Now, ask the sun to set and queue the music.
​
​It was not pleasant. 20 minutes into Sting's set, we left.

Tidbit

Canadian coins are currently produced in five denominations:

• 5¢
• 10¢
• 25¢
• $1
• $2

The three smallest denominations are referred to as nickels, dimes and quarters, just as in the United States. The dollar coin is referred to as the "loonie" because it features a common loon; there is no dollar bill. The two-dollar coin is referred to as a "toonie," presumably because it is worth two loonies.

As for the Canadian penny, it is no longer produced. Only a small fraction of people actually used them, and it cost 1.6¢ to produce each one. So, in their (honestly) infinite, Canadian wisdom, the penny was eliminated about five years ago. Cash transactions are rounded to the nearest 5¢.