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Day 2
Quebec Winter Carnaval, Day Two, Saturday
We got a decent night’s rest in room and were ready to explore the city and the Carnaval on foot.
There is sculpture, like this one in the alley, all over the city. Alleys, corners, in front of various buildings. This is a city that embraces itself and hasn’t been afraid to decorate, as it were. 
One of the events of the Carnaval is a Soapbox derby for kids. It took place in the old city, about a block down from our hotel. The race itself follows a fairly steep hill. The kids line up at the top and when the start signal is given, have to start their cars by lurch forward in the seat. It gives some cars a distinct advantage (and, I suppose, the heavier kids one as well). But it’s a blast to watch. This derby lasts about three hours. 
Two kids at the starting line. I like the Mr. Potato Head hood ornament. 
This was the “pit area” where the kids staged their cars and got ready for the races. While the kids took the race deadly seriously, there was never even a hint of over-competitiveness or acrimony. Everyone was just there to race their car and have fun. That some of them “won” was just icing on the cake. 
That Mr. Potato Head car I liked. Because the road was so steep, they had little 4 wheelers that would drag the cars back up from the bottom of the course. The kids of course would stay at the wheels of their cars, steering them, while they got towed back up. What was so funny was the look of utter seriousness on the part of the kids driving when they were being towed. You would think they were starting at LeMans.
Another of my favorite cars, the Refrigerator Rolls Royce. This was actually an old fridge, with the door taken off and axels and wheels added. The weight of this made it take off like a bandit once the kid got it rolling, as you’ll see in the next image… 
And the RRR is off… So these are old, very narrow streets. We kept seeing these cars that came to a point or had something that looked fairly dangerous on the front of them should the kid lose control. The only between the people that lined the streets and the cars were those heavy, steel parade fences. It’s not like there was cement walls or anything.
So of course, when we first saw the fridge, we thought, what if that thing gets off course. And yes, it did go into the crowd creating quite stir. Luckily no one was hurt and the fridge lived to race again. But I know I would not want to see that barrelling down the street towards me.
A view down the race course from the starting line. It’s steeper than it looks. 
The fridge coming back up the hill. Note the Barbie hood ornament. Sombodies sister was pretty pissed about that I’ll bet. 
Racers getting ready to start. A view from behind the starting line. 
Another view of the pits. 
Starting line action. 
More starting line action. 
The ever-lovely Mrs. Priusownersgroup watching from the starting line (and safely behind the fence). 
A building across the street from the historic Chateau Frontenac. 
This is the historic Chateau Frontenac. 
A view of Quebec city looking down from the old city, within the walls, to the neighborhood along the St. Lawrence River. There isn’t a bad view anywhere in this city. It’s really amazing. 
Mrs. Priusownersgroup again smiling for the camera at a lookout point overlooking the St. Lawrence River. 
Looking back along the wall that surrounds the old city. Quebec City is the last fortified city in the this hemisphere. 
Another beautiful building near the Frontenac. 
These drivers were all over and would take you anywhere you wanted to go, or just take you around the city. 
An outdoor ice bar set up on the street for the Carnaval. 
We ate at Parmesan the night before. 
Looking down one of the picturesque streets of the old city. 
A scenic ride through town. 
More scuplture decorated a street corner. 
Another city view. 
This was kind of odd. Not odd in Quebec mind you, just odd in my experience. These guys were professional Roof Snow Removers. They were all over the place every time it stopped snowing getting snow off the roofs. 
Up to this day Quebec had gotten 19 feet of snow, so far, that season. I guess that’s why these guys are around. 
The obligatory street signs in a language we do not understand picture. This is just outside of the Place Desjardins, the main plaza for Carnaval activites. 
Those snow removal guys on the roof of the Quebec Parliament building. 
The main entrance to the Place Desjardins. 
One of the entries in the International Snow Sculpture Contest held every year. 
Now this really takes me back. This is outside of a “sugar shack”. Inside someone stirs a fiendish concoction of maple sugar into a thick goo. You get a cup a goo and a wide popsicle stick. You take your goo outside to these long tables covered in snow. You then pour the goo on the snow and roll the stick in it. What you end up with is a thicker taffy-like substance wrapped around your stick. And trust me, it’s amazingly delicious. I wish I had some right now… 
If someone asked me, “Who is Carnaval for?” my immediate response would be, “kids and dogs”. It is a family event. And while some of the evenings are definitely more adult oriented, everything else, during the day, is family friendly. 
Cross country skiing on the Plaines d’Abraham. 
Standing on a hill above the Plaines d’Abraham looking back towards Place Desjardins where the canoe race time trials are being run. 
A panaramic view of the Place Desjardins from the Plaines d’Abraham.
NOTE: this thumb is linked to a smaller image than the thumb
A panaramic view of the Place Desjardins from the Plaines d’Abraham.
NOTE: this thumb is linked to a much larger image than the thumb
Mrs. Priusownersgroup at the Place Desjardins. 
Wandering through Place Desjardins. 
Place Desjardins 
This killed me. And I had brought nothing to swim in! And no, I’m not nerly that brave. 
Outdoor hot tubbing in the winer, is there anything better? 
“Human Foozball” is a blast. People are strapped to poles going across a life-size foosball table. The goal? To make a goal just in foosball. 
Nice wind up. The kick and the…
…SAVE! 
And yes, it appears these goalies were very relaxed. 
This was a race where kids hauled themselves towards the finish line by operating a crank on top the car. The ran on wheels but down a track of ice. 
At the starting line. 
A final word of advice to the drivers. 
Racers ready. 
And with an ever so gentle shove, they’re off. 
All this for glory and a packet of Oreos. 
Part of the Kraft kids area, an ice slide. 
Bonham’s ice castle at Place Desjardins. 
Bonham’s ice castle at Place Desjardins. 
Leaving Place Desjardins. 
Heading over to Bonhom’s Ice Palace (not to be confused with his castle). 
A panaramic view of the old city from atop the city walls.
NOTE: this thumb is linked to a smaller image than the thumb below.
A panaramic view of the old city from atop the city walls.
NOTE: this thumb is linked to a much larger image than the thumb above.
Looking down into the old city, still on top of the wall. 
Another view from on the wall. 
This is the Palias De Bonhomme. You can see the Quebec Parliament building behind the Palais. 
A view looking along the top of the wall. Once again, the city has these stunning views every place you go. 
View from the wall. 
Mrs. Priusownersgroup taking a break after climbing to the top of the wall with me. 
One of the gates to the old city. 
Note two things in this image ubiquitous during Carnaval. One, horns. Everyone has them and everyone blows them and all for no readily apparent reason. All day and night it sounds like ten thousand geese. After a short while, it’s strangely soothing.
As well, note the red plastic canes. Like horns, they’re everywhere except these are only carried by adults. The canes are hollow and hidden under a replica of the Bonhomme Carnaval’s head, is a container that runs the length of the cane. This is suppose to be filled with “caribou”. Caribou is sold all over the place. It’s served warm. It’s a combination of a number things included (and certainly not limited to) port wine and ethyl alcohol. It’s heated and you drink from your cane whilst you stroll through the Carnaval. No wonder everyone looked so happy.
The Palais De Bonhomme with the Quebec Parliament building behind it. 
Gaint Schnauzers from New Jersey (we asked) playing in the park, just inside the walls to the old city. 
Another street view on our walk back to the hotel. Click here to visit the page for Day Three
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