The joys of Quebec winter

 Welcome to the Quebec winter, a season so dreaded by expats (and even by natives ^^).

A quick guide to what to expect:

• Good gear for your survival

By this we mean, of course, the basic combo of winter coat and snow boots, which can withstand temperatures down to -40 degrees. (Although recent winters have been milder and the days of such extremes are long gone)

But also, this requires a good pair of mittens if you don't want to lose your fingers, and remember to protect all your extremities: fingers, ears, neck, ankle, head with a good toque (hat for the uninitiated), headband, thick woolen socks. 

You will have understood that in winter you can spend 10 minutes getting ready before going out, the time to put on all your layers 

• Snow shovel if you have an exterior, courtyard, exterior stairs (and how to say that in Montreal, there are stairs everywhere on the buildings, which gives this authentic side to the city)

• A shoe bin in your entryway to avoid flooding it with your boots

• Rely on the perceived temperatures and not those of your iPhone before going out, the difference can be noticeable. 

Always check the weather before going out. The weather not only changes drastically sometimes from one day to the next but sometimes even within an hour.

(It can be 3 degrees one day and -20 the next)

Beware if you forget your gloves or your hat.

• You will discover the lovely feeling of your nose hairs freezing (yes yes you read me correctly)  

What does it feel like? It feels like you have boogers partying inside you. It's a very strange feeling the first time, but you get used to it, it's like everything else.

• It is clearly necessary force yourself to go out during the Quebec winter , it's long, cold, it's dark at 4 p.m., so morally there are ups and downs. You have to stay active (well this year, it was much more complicated at that level, confinement requires)

Some seasonal activities to try: get out of the city and enjoy a dog sled ride (unforgettable, a once-in-a-lifetime experience), snowmobiling on a frozen lake or even a weekend in a chalet.

For those who want to enjoy winter in the city, you can go skating in the various parks, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing or sliding everywhere (a popular spot on Mount Royal, for example).

So get ready, the Quebec winter lasts on average 6 months here...

Be patient when your French friends taunt you about being on a terrace in March. You, on your side, will have to navigate between your umpteenth snowstorm and -20 degrees, not to mention black ice or slush depending on the temperatures.