Quebec City, Quebec

Hilton Quebec Hotel

by Linda Aksomitis

Kids with the Bonhomme in the hotel

The Hilton Quebec has one of the world’s best known and most-loved ambassadors as its greeter–the Carnaval de Quebec Bonhomme. And it’s no wonder, since the Hilton Quebec is right downtown in Quebec City near the Plains of Abraham, which is the location of the world’s largest winter carnival.

My grandson, Jon, and I, checked into the Hilton Quebec immediately upon our arrival, anxious to get settled before the beginning of Carnival.

I’d been drawn to the hotel because of the convenient location–we could easily walk to all of the Carnival events–and just in case one of us ran out of energy–return for a quick nap during the festivities. It also had all the features I look for in a hotel, from a pool to dining rooms to Internet access for guests.

Parliament Hill view from Hilton Quebec Hotel

What we hadn’t counted on though, was the view from our 20th floor window down on the city of Quebec. Ahead was Parliament Hill (Quebec City is the capital of Quebec), while almost under us, we could see the spectacular lights glowing through the famed ice walls of Bonhomme’s winter palace. The drapes, we decided, could stay open for our visit, so we could enjoy the view for the whole time.

Hilton Quebec Hotel room

Our room was spacious, so there was lots of room for Jon and I to unpack and settle right in. We tossed for the beds–Jon won and got the one closest to the window, so he could keep an eye on what was happening.

I unpacked and stashed our array of winter clothes in the closets and dressers, taking advantage of the iron and ironing board to give some last minute touches to my presumably “wrinkle-free” outfit. Jon, meanwhile, found the cartoon channel in English, and pleaded for an hour of video games.

It wasn’t long though, before we both decided to slide between the sheets and get to sleep! The beds were perfect, so we were soon dreaming about all the coming adventures at Carnival.

Room service at Hilton Quebec Hotel

Indeed, our next day was packed, so packed we decided to treat ourselves to room service at supper time, instead of joining friends. The food was delicious, even though dining room staff were busier than usual with the demands of Carnival.

For Jon, room service at the Hilton Quebec Hotel was one of the trip’s highlights, as he was able to stretch out on the bed, watch t.v., and slowly make his way through the kid’s choice of chicken fingers and fruit cup.

Hotel staff couldn’t have been friendlier or more helpful than at the Hilton Quebec, and certainly helped make our trip to Carnaval de Quebec a memorable experience.

If you go:

Visit the Carnaval de Quebec web site at: http://www.carnaval.qc.ca/
Hilton Quebec Hotel
1100 Rene Levesque East, Quebec, Canada G1R 4P3
Tel: 1-418-647-2411 Fax: 1-418-647-6488

Hilton Quebec Hotel – http://www1.hilton.com/en_US/hi/hotel/YQBHIHH-Hilton-Quebec-Quebec/index.do

Quebec Carnival Dogsled Racing

by Linda Aksomitis

Sled dogs at Quebec Carnival

Quebec Carnival has a tradition of more than a century, while dogsledding has been around for much, much longer. What better combination then, than to put the two together, and have dogsled races be one of the premier opening events for Carnival? Indeed, dog sled races have been an integral part of Carnival festivities since its inception.

The really unique thing, I discovered, about Carnival’s sled dog racing event is that it runs through the downtown of Old Quebec!

Quebec City celebrates its four-hundredth birthday in 2008, with the core section, called Old Quebec, designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1985 as a colonial urban landscape. It is the only city north of Mexico to still have its original fortification walls in place.

Sled Dogs racing through Old Quebec at Carnival

The dogsled race is called “La Grande Viree” and runs along one of the central streets of Old Quebec. Buildings that have stood for centuries tower over the race, while cheering spectators crowd together on the snow covered sidewalks to cheer the dogs.

Me, I crouched under the nylon rope barrier, camera in hand, for a groundhog’s eye view of the race.

With over thirty of the best dog teams from around North America to run, there’s a lot of excitement at the start line. Each musher brings his team to the line, while the dogs lunge ahead, anxious to prove themselves. The mushers try to calm their dogs, but it’s easy to tell they’re anxious to be off as well.

Sled dogs at the starting line for "La Grand Viree"

La Grand Viree is a timed event, rather than head-to-head racing, so the dogs are released at intervals of around a minute apart. This allows each musher time to make sure his team is ready before he’s given the flag start. Each team has four dogs pulling the sleigh.

If weather conditions have been warm, snow must be hauled onto the streets. The total length of the course is six kilometers, although half of that is the return route. Once the race has been running for awhile, the two-way traffic consists of sleddog teams still being released, and the first teams returning to the finish line.

Many of the dog teams and their mushers are local, so there’s lots of cheering from the crowd. While I sat, squatted in the snow, I listened to the family of one team anxiously waiting for the release, then the running of their team.

Start of a dogsled race with dogsled team and musher at Quebec Carnival

The musher pushes off as his dog team is released, to help speed the start before jumping onto his sleigh. Dogs reach speeds of up to 50 kilometres per hour during the race, since it is a short sprint race. During my walk through the staging area, prior to the race, I discovered many different styles of sleighs, depending on the preference of each musher. The dogs, as well, are of various breeds, including huskies and malamutes.

It’s easy to see from the dogs that they love their sport–and whether dogsled racing is a local tradition, as it is in Quebec, or something new, as it was for me, the cheering crowd love it too.

If you go:

Visit the Carnaval de Quebec web site at: http://www.carnaval.qc.ca/