Quebec City

Even the Canadians can be thrown by the weather. I crossed the Atlantic to arrive on what was scheduled to be the first day of the world's biggest winter carnival. And normally temperatures of minus twenty wouldn't bother anyone here. But the blizzards have been so intense that the annual winter carnival in the capital of the French-speaking Canadian province of Quebec has been delayed by a day. Then there will be husky races and old-fashioned go-kart races though the cobbled streets. There will also be canoe races across the semi-frozen St Lawrence river, at the base of the ramparts of this walled city, which celebrates its 400th anniversary this year. The good news is that the blizzard has delivered huge dumps of fresh powder, so tomorrow I am going skiing.