Baby beluga in the deep blue sea,
Swim so wild and you swim so free.
Heaven above and the sea below,
And a little white whale on the go.

Anyway, for some reason, it made quite an impression on me as a child. There is just something so mystical about those pure white whales that I never really thought about them actually existing in the world. So as you can imagine, I was quite excited to find out that they feed regularly in the Saguenay fjord, and that it’s pretty easy to see them.

Baie Ste. Marguerite, located within Saguenay Fjord National Park, is an ideal location to observe belugas. They are regularly spotted feeding in groups in the shallow, warmer waters. In order to see them, you can rent a sea kayak or take a tour, or observe them from the beluga lookout point (la halte du béluga). The 6.4 km trail is pretty easy, and consists of mostly flat ground and a long boardwalk through a pine forest. Be sure to stop in the Beluga Discover Center to learn a bit about these small whales before setting off. Park rangers also make regular presentations at the lookout.

Our first experience in the Saguenay Fjord was a quick one, as we spent most of our time near Les Escoumins on the St. Lawrence coast. We had terrible weather, leaving us with only short windows of time to get outside. We thought we’d quickly try to see the belugas on our drive from Tadoussac to Chicoutimi. Unfortunately, the bridge at the beginning of the trail had been damaged in the recent storms rendering the beluga lookout inaccessible by foot. This was a huge disappointment, but it gave us an excuse to visit the area again.

Later in the summer, on our second trip to the Saguenay fjord, we camped at Au Sommet du Fjord (an experience in itself) which is just a short drive from Baie Ste. Marguerite. Our main goal this time was to see belugas.

We spent the first evening at the lookout, but didn’t see anything. The sunset over the fjord was not a bad consolation prize, however. A little discouraged, we resolved to wake up early the following morning to be at the bay during the rising tide. Our diligence paid off, and we finally spotted several belugas!

Feeling pretty pleased, we decided to eat some lunch and enjoy the view. As we ate, we saw more and more belugas. Over the course of a couple of hours, we counted at least 30 swimming in from the St. Lawrence with the tide, in groups of 2 or 3. Eventually, we gave up counting as they congregated to feed in the bay.

They were a bit far away, even for my longest lens, but we still were able to get a pretty good look at them with our binoculars. And the most amazing discovery of all is that belugas are LOUD! I had no idea we’d actually be able to hear them. I found it fascinating to listen to their clicking and whistling as they swam by.

Even if you don’t spot any belugas, Baie Ste. Marguerite is a lovely place to spend an afternoon. There’s a sandy beach, lots of rocks to climb on and quite a view.

**For more photos, check out Bela Lumo’s photostream on flickr or “like” Bela Lumo Photography on Facebook. I’m regularly updating the albums there. And as usual, please contact me directly if you’re interested in using my photos or purchasing any prints. Thanks!**

Boiling maple sap creates lots of steam, which leaves a sticky residue on everything it touches. It takes about 40 gallons of sap to make 1 gallon of maple syrup.

To make maple taffy (tire d’érable), maple sap is boiled past the point where it becomes maple syrup.

Checking the temperature of the syrup. To make maple taffy, it must be boiled until it reaches a temperature of about 234 °F (112 °C).

Different shades and grades of syrup. In Canada, there are 3 grades and several color classes: Canada Number 1, which is Extra Light, Light and Medium; Number 2 Amber; and lastly Number 3 Dark.

**For more photos, check out Bela Lumo’s photostream on flickr or “like” Bela Lumo Photography on Facebook. I’m regularly updating the albums there. And as usual, please contact me directly if you’re interested in using my photos or purchasing any prints. Thanks!** 

The traditional sugar shack menu usually includes pea soup, oreilles de crisse (crispy pork rinds), maple syrup, maple poached eggs or an omelette, ham, maple syrup, tourtière (meat pie), fèves au lard (baked beans), pancakes, sugar pie, and did I mention maple syrup? Afterwards, everyone heads outside to watch log sawing competitions and eat maple taffy (tire sur la neige). It’s good fun!

There is an abundance of cabanes à sucre to choose from, with most of them serving up a similar experience for a reasonable price ($20-$30 all you can eat). Last year we tried Le Relais des Pins on Ile d’Orléans and thought it was pretty good. This year we’re heading to Erablière du Lac Beauport. And on December 1, we’ll be competing with the thousands of diehard fans of famed Montréal chef Martin Picard for a reservation at his wildly successful Cabane à Sucre au Pied de Cochon. If we’re lucky enough to get a seat at the table, I know it will be quite an experience!

**For more photos, check out Bela Lumo’s photostream on flickr or “like” Bela Lumo Photography on Facebook. I’m regularly updating the albums there. And as usual, please contact me directly if you’re interested in using my photos or purchasing any prints. Thanks!** 

For more information about family portrait sessions, contact me at info@belalumophotography.com. All sessions are shot at the location of your choice, within Québec City or the Capitale-Nationale region. If you’d like to book a session, but live somewhere else in the world (especially Florida or France), contact me anyways and we’ll see if we can work something out. I love to travel!

I was lucky to visit Paris in January during one of the rare occasions that the snow actually lasted more than a day. Coming from the depths of winter in Québec, I was looking forward to a break from wearing snow boots and my heavy coat, so I gambled and left them at home. I could not have been more wrong! Not only did the snow stick, but it snowed for 3 entire days – heavily. If I had been anywhere else, I probably would have stayed inside, but the beauty of the city lured me out to explore. How could I resist?

**For more photos, check out Bela Lumo’s photostream on flickr or “like” Bela Lumo Photography on Facebook. I’m regularly updating the albums there. And as usual, please contact me directly if you’re interested in using my photos or purchasing any prints. Thanks!**