The Canadian Exchange League organised a long weekend in Quebec City for the winter carnivale. We left Toronto Thursday night, driving approx 9 hours and trying to get some sleep on the bus - one long night but so worth it!
Friday 4th February
Our first stop was Montmorency Falls just outside of Quebec city. A spectacular waterfall with great views, especially in winter with all the snow and ice surrounding it.
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| Montmorency Falls |
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| The view from the top of the falls |
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| Emma, Ingrid and I walking over the falls |
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The afternoon was spent wandering around Quebec city after getting ourselves all 'bundled' up and ready for the cold - I have worked out how many layers are required! Quebec can be cold and we were told to dress for it ..... thermal tights, thermal long johns and then ski pants keeps you nice and toasty :-) The weather was wonderful all weekend, very mild (still minus temps!!) and with all the layers I had on, apart from getting absolutely exhausted from carrying so much weight I also got hot!
Quebec has a wonderful European feel, they speak French so I was lost most of the time :-) and it was really quite amazing just how French it is! The city is divided in old town and new town and it was wonderful to just wander the streets.
This weekend was the middle weekend of the 2 week winterlude festival. A carnival celebrating all things winter, with amazing snow and ice carvings, tobbogan rides, snow slides, and lots of people. Oh and the food .... maple pie .... maple butter!
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| Over looking the Winterlude Carnival |
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| Winterlude - The Ice Castle |
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| Walking around the Ice Castle - trust me you need the beanie! |
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| Walking through the streets of old town |
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| From the lower town looking up at the Le Chateau Frontenac Hotel |
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Joinin g in the winterlude fun -
Riding the tube down the hill :-) |
Quebec city is on the St Lawrence River, we caught the 'ice breaker' ferry across the river not only for the spectacular views of the city itself but to watch it break the ice - amazing!
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| Looking over the ferry watching it break the ice. |
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The St Lawrence River, looking across to Levis
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| Breaking the ice! |
Saturday 5th February
We started the morning heading out of the city to visit the Ice Hotel - wow! A hotel built out of only ice. It lasts for only 3 months of the year and even has a chapel for weddings. Just spectacular!
The afternoon again was spent wandering through the city and having fun at the winterlude carnival.
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| Entering the Ice Hotel |
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| The bar! How cool ... literally! |
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| One of the rooms you can stay in. They do provide you with sleeping bags! |
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| One needed to sample a drink from the ice glasses! |
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| They weren't all mine! Maple Whiskey and Caribou |
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| The Chapel |
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One of the many amazing snow sculptures at Winterlude
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| Another amazing snow sculpture |
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| A massive ice carousel |
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| Enjoying the concert and fireworks |
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| Ice skating at night in Quebec - I didn't ice skate it was just beautiful |
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| Walking home in the snow .... after a drink or two at St Patricks Pub! |
Sunday 6th February
Unfortunately our weekend had to end, Sunday was spent on the bus traveling back to Toronto. There was still fun to be had in the snow and a quick lunch stop in Montreal.
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| The perfect rest stop |
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| Belinda goes off to find the best angle for the pictures and gets a little stuck |
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| The perfect spot for a snow angel |
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| Ready for a snow dive |
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| up .. up ... |
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| and away ... |
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| disappearing into the snow! So much fun! |
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2 comments:
How fantastic! i love the pictures. Looks like you have finally sorted out the cold weather atire??? hehehe Missing you! dont have too much fun without us!
Carly xxx
Wow Belinda. It looks amazing. I am jealous ! I wish I was there, though not sure I would cope with the cold. Don't have too much fun or you won't want to come back!
Penny :-)
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