Carnaval de Québec

We have suggested that you may want to visit in summer. We now think you should plan a visit some winter ... during Carnaval de Québec. It is the largest winter Carnival in the world. While the schedules for other carnivals conincide with Christian Lent (e.g., New Orlean's Mardi Gras and Rio de Janeiro's Carnival), the Quebec Carnival is scheduled on a solar calendar to coincide with the coldest days of the year (three weeks from the end of January through mid-February).

We went last weekend with the Irish Girls (the title that we will use to protect their identity). There were so many good things there, so this will be the first in a series of entries about our wonderful day at Carnaval de Québec.

First, let us introduce you to Bonhomme (the literal translation is "good man" but the actual translation is snowman). He is sort of the mascot of Carnival. One must by an effigy (for $10) to get into Carnival. It is worn somewhere visible - you will see it on our coats.

Our first stop was at the palais de glace (ice place). This year's was only somewhat impressive - we didn't even take a photo. This one was borrowed. However, you can see photos of all the ice palaces from 1955-2008 on the Carnival website.

Our second stop was the FREE Calgary Stampede Flapjack Breakfast. Here, one of the Irish Girls and S are in line for flapjacks and sausages. How many cowboy/cowgirl hats can you count?

There was a mechanical bull, but they loaded it up before S got to show the Calgary Stampede how to ride 8 seconds.

Next was the wild and wacky Normandin Soapbox Derby - which S may try to enter next year ... if she can find a sponsor (any takers?) and if we can get someone to translate the rules. We think the competition is based on a combination of creativity and speed ... but who knows. It is held on a street in Old Quebec, which just celebrated its 400th anniversary. For now, we'll leave you with photos of some of the course and our favorite soapboxes. But there is more to come in future blogs about the more wacky snow sports.