Even people on my side of the pond associate the fourth of July with US Independence Day. (I did get that right, didn't I? It's not Washington's Birthday, is it?)

This year, however, celebrations a litlle further up the east coast of North America could be the liveliest on the continent. The city of Quebec is celebrating the 400th anniversary of its founding, and yesterday the French three-masted sail training ship Belem moored at Quai 19 in the Vieux Port to become part of the show. Bostonians had a chance to take a look round this ship a week or two ago when she paid a short visit on her way to the St Lawrence. Originally built for trade with Brazil (hence being named after Amazonia's shipping port), she was even the private yacht of an English Duke at one period in her long life.

Actually; Jamestown Virginia was established a year before Quebec, but that was by an Englishman. Since England did not consider itself part of Europe at the time (and sometimes has difficulty in doing so even now), Quebec can claim to be the oldest city in north America that was established by a European.

Tadoussac, a small town or village on the St Lawrence River, was established as a fur trading station even before Jamestown...

If you can read French, visit the Belem Foundation's web site at Belem Foundation's web site

There are also several English posts about Belem and Quebec at my New Freebooters blog .

Quebec's celebrations will continue long after 4 Juy, so when you US folks have finished your own fireworks and parades, why not take a trip to Quebec or Montreal and pay a visit to a truly beautiful sailing ship? Enjoy.