Coming from Georgia, where anything below 32 degrees is practically unheard of, my trip to Montreal meant my first real experience with Winter Weather. I was completely unprepared, bringing no mittens or decent snow shoes, but I quickly learned that my flimsy pseudo-winter gear wasn’t going to cut it. It was cold enough in Montreal to make ice structures permanent – for instance, this lovely ice partition guarding the outdoor dining area of Le Petit Frippon, a restaurant in Old Montreal.

The harbor on the St. Lawrence River was iced over, and some boats were frozen stuck in some places. Snow-plows moved countless tons of snow and ice off the road every night, making (much to my delight) huge piles of snow, perfect for photo ops.

Montreal is a beautiful city, regardless of the season. But there’s something about the snow evenly coating the ground, and historic buildings with white rooftops that really makes it a beautiful place to visit.