Winterpeg- sorry- Winnipeg

My marathon effort of today's reporting brings me up to my current city, if not the current day. On Friday last week I arrived in Winnipeg.

Winnipeg, reportedly the Adelaide of Canada, with no beach, no wineries, no excitement in the form of sharks. Winnipeg, named Winterpeg as the coldest English speaking city on earth. Winnipeg, in the middle of the prairies. Winnipeg, the most underrated city in Canada. People were saying, what on earth was I thinking?

Let me tell you about what people don't really say often about the city, based on some first impressions. It is home to some of the friendliest people I have ever met. All over Canada, whenever I have sneezed (and trust me, I have), someone nearby without fail will say, "bless you". In Winnipeg they mean it.

The sky is huge. I have started really enjoying it since I worked out how the sun works north of the equator. The surrounding flatlands mean that the horizon is a long way away. I'm sure once I get out of the city it will make an even bigger impression on me.

They have a world-class ballet. I have seen the professional division of the Royal Winnipeg Ballet School in action this week but that will do for another post. They brought a tear to my eye and that was their artistry, not just from watching their flexibility :-) I can't wait to see the community theatre here and see whether they will consider having a university-trained actor (Aussie) who can do a variety of accents (unfortunately none of them Canadian) in their company.

And I have a friend here, Chris, who has been "solid gold" in introducing me to the city on my first weekend, including my first 'bruiser' experience of tobogganning with his friend Moira and the youth group from his church. I really hope parts of my body eventually return to their natural colour. By extension, his family, friends and church have been very welcoming and have answered a variety of silly questions such as "Random question no.264- Where does all the snow go after it is shovelled and does anyone take it away? and no. 265- When does it melt?"

And they have a great sense of humour. When I commented to Rae how beautiful the snow fields looked on the flight in, the paddocks looking like dozens of huge white snowy squares, she said, quick as a flash, "Oh, we lay it out like that".

Winnipeg- thanks for the welcome to your fabulous cultural and festival town. There was only one piece of false advertising. My mate Chris posted a comment to my blog some time ago warning me to expect temperatures of minus 30-40 something degrees. Apparently whilst I was struggling down the Rideau canal in Ottawa they had their cold snap here.

I don't think it's cracked minus 20 during the time I've been here. So I hesitate to call it "woosy weather", but oh look ! I just did.

The warmer weather must be because of my arrival. And so I sing, "Everywhere you go, you always take the weather with you..."