The view of the winding cobblestone streets and the imposing cathedrals; the sound of French courtesies and "Oohs" from tourists; the smell of freshly baked bread and spicy cheese; the taste of creamy lattes and buttered croissants. Québec City, the capital of the Canadian province, Québec, lived in the shadow of its neighbor, Montreal, for a long time, but its 400th anniversary celebration in 2008 catapulted Québec City back into the spotlight. As you walk through the fortified walls of Old Québec , you'll discover a world straight out of a European painting: 17th- and 18th-century buildings house bakeries, bistros, and boutiques, while cobblestone plazas are awash in a sea of café tables.