QUEBEC, continued

According to Google AI:

The war between the U.S.-Israel coalition and Iran is currently in a severe economic stalemate after a temporary 60-day ceasefire expired in August 2026. Direct military strikes have largely paused, and the conflict now centers on a naval blockade and heavy financial isolation. [1, 2, 3]

Current Situation Highlights

Economic Warfare: President Trump announced a massive package of new sanctions, describing it as a "crushing economic operation" and an "economic D-Day" designed to completely isolate Iran's financial and digital assets. [1, 2, 3]

Strait of Hormuz Blockade: The U.S. Navy is enforcing a strict naval blockade in the Strait of Hormuz, having redirected dozens of commercial cargo ships. While Iran has discussed a limited, temporary shipping route with Oman, the main waterway remains restricted and heavily monitored by U.S. forces.[1, 2, 3]
Stalled Diplomacy: Formal negotiations between Washington and Tehran have broken down, though neighboring countries like Pakistan and Oman continue behind-the-scenes diplomatic efforts to restart talks.

We had a Quebec stop on the Viking Octantis this past spring.  Read my complete travelogue about this city.  I will today portray Quebec through Steve Barakatt, an award-winnning composer, pianist, music producer and  creative director.  He was one of the Canadian entertainers for the recent FIFA World Cup.  What you will view was a free Amazara Journey outing, an AzAmazing Evening experience at the Palais Montcalm of Quebec City, Feel the Soul of Quebec.

Boarded vans to the Palais Montcalm.  A ten-minute ride.  Inside the theater.

There are ten videos, and loading is so slow that you will need to return to see them.

After the performance, outside the theater.

Some fun facts about Quebec:

• The Fairmont Le Chateau Frontenac holds the Guinness World Reord as the most photographed hotel on Earth.
• Old Quebec is the only fortified city with surviving ramparts in North American north of Mexico.
• Processes about 70% of the entire world's pure maple syrup.
• The province of Quebec contains over 500,000 lakes.
• Minnesota has almost 12,000 lakes.
• The USA has over 125,000 lakes.
• The World has around 117 MILLION lakes.
• Canada has about 2 million lakes.  #2 is Russia with around 200,000 lakes. USA? Perhaps 100,000.
• So you ask, how can this be???
• Those 117 million can be as small  as about half an acre (.00078 square miles) in size.
• When you set the limit at 0.4 square miles, the world only has 1.42 million lakes.
• 
  Montmorency Falls just outside of Quebec City is roughly 98 feet taller than the Niagara Falls.
• Quebec province is three times the size of France, and larger than the state of Alaska.
• About 94% of the electricity comes from hydroelectric power.

• 
  Their comfort food, which they invented, is Poutine:  french fries, cheese curds and gravy.
• Is home to the Quebec Chronicle-Telegraph, the oldest continuously running English-language newspaper in North America, founded in 1764.  The city itself goes back to 1608.
• Quebec is a province, but Quebec City is also known as Quebec.
• 95% of Quebecers speak French.  However, 40% of the population is IRISH.
• The Quebec Winter Festival, known as Carnaval, is the largest winter festival in the world.

Well, so much for Quebec.  The Azamara Journey arrived in Montreal.

Typhoon Saudel at 89 MPH brushed Okinoerabujima Island this morning, and injured two.  Saudel actually increased in strength after leaving Amami Islands and is now up to 100 MPH.  However, the typhoon should return to Category 1 status and make landfall over China near Wenzhou late tomorrow.

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