Winter, you say?
Yes, winter. While most of the Lovecats have just made it through summer, I’ve survived my first Canadian winter…snow and all.
I feel there should be a t-shirt this.
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| Screen cap from my phone on a very cold day |
Any Canadians we meet love to tell my husband and I how brutal the winter is here. We got a lot of ‘what the hell were you thinking?’ comments when explaining our decision to relocate. I have to admit, when the temperature outside had a wind-chill of -42 celcius, I started to question my sanity in leaving a place where ‘cold’ meant 7 or 8 degrees.
However, now that spring has sprung I can honestly say I’m glad I did it. And you know what, I like the snow (mainly because I live somewhere that doesn’t require me to shovel it).
The snow, while it’s falling, is magical. I’d seen snow once before I came to Canada, and it was already on the ground. Watching fluffy fat flakes drift down from the sky for the first time is something all always remember.
What they don’t tell you: snow by the end of winter is gross. It gets piled up on the side of the road and turns to brown sludge. Who knew?
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| A street near my apartment after 10cm+ snowfall |
Here are some fun facts about Canada:
- 15,500 of the worlds 25,000 polar bears live in Canada according to this infographic. I haven’t seen any yet.
- Also from that infographic: Canada has more lakes than all other countries combined!
- Canada is the second coldest country in the world if you look at the yearly temperature average, which is a chilly -3.6 C. Russia takes first place at -5.3 C. (source)
- According to Trip Advisor, Canada is approximately 9,984,670 sq. km and comprises of six time zones. It’s almost 30% larger than Australia and over 18 times the size of France.
- The ‘feels like’ temperature is really a thing. On cold days the wind can makes it feel even colder than it actually is. I.e. the temperature might read –22C on your thermometer, but the wind can make it feel like –32C on your skin.
Have you ever lived in a really cold place? Do you like snow?
I've lived in the UK. That's cold in comparison to Queensland :-) It snowed once when we lived there but only really lightly. When we visted the UK in 2009/10 over Xmas it snowed a lot! And we all loved it. You're so right, Stefeanie, those big fat flakes drifting down from the sky are magical and so quiet! I love the hush when its snows. Snow is sooooo quiet!
ReplyDeleteBut yes.....its easy to love it when you dont have to shuffle it or have your life disrupted by it for a few months every year!
I feel like most places would be cold in comparison to QLD! The snow is wonderfully peaceful, it's like a big soft 'shhhhh' when it falls.
DeleteBrrrrr....shivering on your behalf, Stef! I've been to Europe a couple of times in winter, but the during the day temps didn't drop below -5'C which was cold enough for me. It snowed (heaps and heaps) when we were in London in 2009 and that was fab fun. Mind you, it wasn't so nice once it froze over.
ReplyDeleteFrozen snow is not great. I encountered a little black ice in Washington and we had to shuffle down the street slowly so we didn't fall.
DeleteHi Stefanie
ReplyDeleteNo I have not had a lot to do with snow at all I have been to The Snowy Mountains a couple of times and yes it snowed and was lovely but to actually live somewhere where is snows and gets that cold no but I would like to for a while although I am not sure I would like to for too long.
Have Fun
Helen
I think the novelty of it will wear off haha. I bet The Snowy Mountains was beautiful!!
DeleteAh Stefanie, the coldest I've ever been was in Canada and I've been to Russia in the winter.
ReplyDeleteI visited Toronto for work and thought I'd walk from my hotel to the office where my meeting was. After all it was only 500 metres down the road! The staff at my hotel tired to stop me and I thought they were mental. By the time I arrived at the office I was crying from the cold. I've never been that cold in my life. An experience I never want to repeat. I realised during that ridiculously short walk how you could die in the cold. Aussies should receive weather training before being let loose in Canada!!
It totally changes your concept of what's an acceptable walking distance, doesn't it? We get freeze warnings here if it gets below a certain temp, no exposed skin for longer than 3-4 minutes.
DeleteWhoa, that looks awesome, Stefanie, but bet it's freezing. I love snow but wouldn't want to live with all winter. It gets cold enough for me in the South Island and I'm not even at the bottom where it really turns wicked. I did see snow on the beach in Vancouver once and thought it bizarre.
ReplyDeleteSnow on the beach? Hard to imagine how that would look. NZ gets pretty chilly, doesn't it? Besides, you guys have crazy earthquakes, you shouldn't have to deal with snow as well.
DeleteGorgeous street picture, Stefanie! I love snow - as long as I'm dressed for it! We've had a dusting a few times where I live and I always get excited about it! Never enough to require shovelling though or to get that gross brown sludgy look so that's probably part of my excitement!.
ReplyDeleteWe used to go skiing each year and sometimes the mountain we went to was quite quiet during the weekdays. On a still day, if there was plenty of snow, it seemed to have a sort of mystical hush.
Yes, dressing the part is so important in the cold weather. I embrace Michelin Man Chic haha
DeleteBrrr. I don't like snow. Or cold. I grew up in England, in the country, and we were often snowed in during winter. I didn't mind as a child because it meant missing school, but once I grew up and had to drive in it, my opinion changed.
ReplyDeleteI bet teachers love a snow day too! I can't comprehend driving in it, though. So scary!
DeleteNo thank you, Stefanie! Same as Claire- I grew up in the north of England and had lots of snow which was lovely for about 5 minutes then it got old and cold and was miserable. My family love ski-ing- me? I love sitting in a warm bar with a wine watching them ski.
ReplyDeleteOr a hot chocolate in the lounge? As much as I'm fascinated by the snow, skiing looks like a quick way to a broken ankle to me :)
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