Winterlude (Or Having Fun In The Cold)
After another winter storm (where I, among others, sat on a bus that got stuck in the snow for an hour and shoveled about 50 cm of white snow to be able to open my door), we decided to make the most of the season and we headed to Winterlude, the annual winter festival which opened last week-end.
Funny thing is, I was recently reading RennyBA’s Terella, where my Norwegian friend was telling about his own Oslo Winter Festival — guess both countries enjoy having fun in subzero temperatures and building stuffs with ice!
 After The Storm |
 Snowy Road |
Winterlude starts here, at the Rideau Canal. The longest skating rink in the world opened last week, and the ice was thick enough for people to skate on it. It was quite crowed and no, in case you ask, I walked and didn’t skate. Come on, I can’t be perfect!
 The Rideau Canal |
 The Canal At Somerset |
 Skating Marks |
 Skating |
The Rideau Canal ends downtown, close to the Confederation Park. Not all the little chalets — which usually sell food and hot drinks — were opened, but I found a great ice bar. Bet the drinks are chilled!
 Nunavut In Ottawa |
 Ice Boat |
The sculptures were really nice. Made the previous day by an international team, they feature Canadian landscapes (such as this Nunavut scenery) and lots of icy people. The details are amazing… and don’t forget everything is made of ice!
 Dancer |
 Ice Warriors |
 Red Inukshuck |
 Lining Up For Beavertails |
Kids were invited to make their own Inukshuk. Inukshuk (“in the image of man”) are sculpture made of stone or ice erected by the Inuits. They represent leadership, friendship and are also used as milestones in the North. Meanwhile, grown-ups were queuing at the Beavertails stall.…
 Maple Toffee |
 Making The Treats |
But wait, the best is to come. I soon spotted… maple treats!! Maple toffees, more precisely, my favorite… They are the made by pouring maple syrup directly on ice/ snow. Yes, it’s very sweet and sticky but oh-so-good!
What? I deserved it, didn’t I?
Related articles:
- Winterlude !
- Winter Fun
- Winterlude 2012 in Ottawa
- Picture of the Week: Maple Toffee
- Winterlude 2011
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@Art — Yeah, I have heard about these tornadoes… I like my snow better!
@Alexander — Thanks! Yeah, it’s a lot of fun… and the festivities have just begun!
@princesse ecossaise — Usually the snow melts between late April and May… yep, that late. Spring is very short, only a few weeks and of course everything is flooded because of the snow!
@Theresa — It wasn’t that cold actually, *only* about — 10C.
@Jay Cam — Well, I could send you one, but it will melt on its way to FLA…
@Linguist-in-Waiting — There’s an ice hotel in Quebec city as well, although I have never visited it. I like the way we make the most of the winter!
@kyh — Never been to Harbin (hint: too cold!) but I have heard of the Festival… I’d love to see it though!
@RennyBA — Maple toffees are more “liquid” and sticky, and they have to be eaten right away on the snow. It’s a fun treat! Nothing similar in Norway?
@Kate — Thanks for visiting and reading! Do you have a blog yourself? I have never been to Vancouver, furthest I visited was Winnipeg (in the summer!). I’ve heard the city was beautiful too… and warm(er)!
@aline — Toffees ARE good, trust me! Have you been to Harbin?
@Graham — Thanks for the smile thing! Took me years to be comfortable taking pictures of myself, but I must say I’m used to it now after a lot of traveling! Do you have some kind of “rain festival” over there in the UK?
@Jess — No snow over there? Hum, weird… we had your share I think!
@Aiglee — The TO festival looked fun too! Have you had any maple syrup yet? I think I ODed on it when I first came!
@johnada — Well, note that I can actually skate, but the ice wasn’t too good. Plus I don’t have my own skate and renting is expensive… okay, ran out of excuses! I hope this is not in the citizenship test!
@Spyder — The sculptors are just amazing… I saw them making the art last year and wow, so much precision!
I’ve always felt that with snow, there either has to be none or a ton… in between is just a slushy, slippery drag. Well, I’ve got none, and you’ve got the ton!
Love the ice sculptures, and I am always so admiring of the ability to create art that is temporary, I’d be so chuffed that it had actually turned out right that I couldn’t bear to see it disappear, but I’m a crap artist, perhaps that’s the difference. Would love to see sculptures like those, and also like to visit the ice hotels, which I’ve only seen online. Maybe for a weekend, cos I’ve never quite understood how they heat them… or if they heat them… Brrrr.
Zhu, you do seem to try and get the absolute maximum out of your life under the snow;-D
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WOW the first 2 pics r AMAZING! And u look beautiful! Are we in a Winter Wonderland!
I just updated my blog
hv a good wknd Zhu!
::HUGS::
Keshi.
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I love ice-sculptures; hopefully, will stay at the Ice Hotel in Iceland one day! Maple toffees — very cool!