Ice Follies
Just outside Quebec City, Canada, there is an extraordinary place called Hotel De Glace -- Ice Hotel. It's a real hotel, made almost completely out of ice and snow. And yes, you can actually spend the night there. Being so close to Quebec when I was in Vermont last week, I couldn't resist a visit. Well OK, it wasn't THAT close--about a five hour drive from Burlington--but my sister Donna gamely agreed to join me for an impromptu road trip.
The complex is built with 5,000 tons of ice and 15,000 tons of snow.
Inside, everything--walls, pillars, tables, seats-- is carved from ice and snow.
Benches, chairs, and beds are covered with deerskin for warm seating.
Photo by Donna Kruszewska
Even the chandeliers are made of ice.
There are fireplaces scattered throughout (above), with real fire. But the fire is well-insulated (for obvious reasons) and is meant more for ambiance than for warmth.
Photo by Donna Kruszewska
Photo by Donna Kruszewska
Donna relaxes on an ice bar.
Photo by Donna Kruszewska
When you take pictures without flash, the ice comes out in various shades of blues and pinks (above). I wondered if the colors reflected the temperature or thickness of the ice?
There is also a chapel, where supposedly a number of weddings have taken place. Gives new meaning to "getting cold feet" on your wedding day...
Your favorite alcoholic beverage is available at the full service bar, also made of ice.
Donna and I trying out the Maple Liquor drink, served in a recyclable glass made of--what else?--ice.
The hotel has 36 private rooms and suites, each with a different artistic theme.
This was one of two beds in our suite. Beds are made of a thick slab of ice, covered with a plank of wood, and topped off with a styrofoam mattress. Some of the bedrooms come with fireplaces, but those cost an extra $150.00 USD per night, so I opted out of that.
Photo by Donna Kruszewska
That's me (above) snuggling in for the night. The thick ice walls keep the temperature inside at about 25°F / -4°C. The nordic sleeping bag is included in the price, and is definitely needed! The only part of my body that got a little chilly was the top of my head, so I ended up sleeping with my hat on. And yes, I did make it through the whole night. Getting out of that cozy sleeping bag in the morning was the most difficult part of the experience.
If things get too chilly for you, there is a spa nearby, with outdoor hot tubs (above) and a sauna. I spent an hour here, watching the spectacular total eclipse of the moon from a hot tub. Getting out of the tub was excruciating -- the outside temperature dipped down to 0°F / -17°C that night They give you strict instructions to dry off every part of your body (including your hair) before getting into your sleeping bag, so you don't turn into a human icicle.
This spectacular place is available from January through April only. In April, the whole thing melts down, to be rebuilt again the following year. This was the most impressive addition yet to my Sleeping Around series!
That is the coolest!!!! (pun intended). I love it.
Great pics and amazing place. I can't think of anything more wonderful
than watching an eclipse from a hot tub. Wow!
And I was just sitting around hating winter and you post something that I
immediately fall in love with...how magical!! I can't believe it all then
melts...I wonder how long it takes to rebuild every year..just
spectacular...how do you find this amazing places? sharon
YeeHaw-
Basia is back in the business of showing us around the world. That is fasinating!!!!!!!
Good Basia, You're keeping us occupied. Ice hotel looks awesome. It was
very nice talking to you the other day.
How do they manage to rebuild the hotel year after year? Wow! Truly
amazing....whoever runs this place must have an obsession for ice carving.
Thanks for another insightful blog entry.
wow, well worth the zloty, I mean dollars- eh???? Cause remember what your
eternally freelance sister says, "when you're in-between jobs, you should
be..."
awesome! i've heard of this place... but never knew more than "it's made of
ice!" you've piqued my curiosity and i'm definitely putting it on my MUST
visit list!
Hi Ranga. Donna here. I too recall that dinner very fondly. In the last 10
years, I can recall only one other time when I had as much genuine fun and
laughter as I did that night. Till we meet again. Na razie! ( For now!)
Danuta
Sheila: Yup, it sure is...
"There is no such thing as bad weather, only wrong clothing" -- folk
wisdom from Scandanavia
Wow! What fun :D By far this one's the best of your sleeping around series!
:)
Wow! This place is like my dream come true! I'd read about this hotel
sometime back, but was sceptical about its existence!
Two Dishes: What a great quote - I love it. A good thing to remember
in the Rochester winter-
Dear sister, this is inbelievable... amazing... beautiful ... and
unbelievable... how is it possible... please help me to understand this
miracle building... how u can survive in such a cold place, the candle is
not melting the ice? hahah... please entlighten me... ur's kishori