I know, I know, this is a Cuba website but many of those who do winter vacations in the Caribbean also do other trips. I am a frequent reader/poster on Debbie's great Caribbean website and over time you communicate with some of the other viewers/posters. Jackie (aka "Freezing") teaches school in a small town east of Kenora Ontario. In February 2007 we stayed Iberostar Varadero and quite enjoyed the experience. As a result of our posted review Jackie emailed us a few questions and then she stayed at Iberostar Varadero too. But also in the same year, December 2007, Jackie and a three other brave souls (brave in the sense of being responsible for 32 teens on a long journey for a week) had a great adventure tour - seeing Polar bears in Churchill Manitoba.
      To put these diverse trips in more geographic terms; starting from Vermillion Bay Ontario, Churchill MB is 613m/985km almost directly north while Varadero is 1964m/3158km southeast.
      Talk about travelling in opposite directions!

      All the pictures are thumbnails of larger pictures. To see the larger picture, left mouse click and then press the Back button to return. Hint: You will notice that the mouse pointer changes from an arrow to a hand when moved over any picture that can be enlarged.

     Lake Winnipegosis ("Little Muddy Lake") does freeze over in mid winter, good fishing any season! Looks cold doesn't it

     A cabin in the middle of nowhere. Wonder how close their nearest neighbour is...

     A herd of Caribou. As you get closer to Churchill, the Spruce boreal forest that has blanketed the land from south of The Pas to North of Gillam has ended. There are fewer trees and the land becomes more barren as the train approaches the Arctic Tundra near Churchill.

     We have reached our destination. Now, where are the bears?

     Jens Munck came to Hudson Bay to try to find the elusive Northwest Passage. A cairn at Cape Merry commemorates Fort Churchill and Jens Munck and his crew, the first Europeans to leave evidence of their presence.

     Not exactly the white sand beach at Varadero is it...

     Dog sledding played an important part of the history, culture and heritage of Northern Canada. Imagine letting a cat loose in this area - pandemonium!

     Spruce trees reveal the "Krumholz Effect". Trees are one-sided, fashioned by the heavy prevailing winds and the ice crystals carried by these winds, wear down any new growth. The harsh enviornment and short growing season also stunts the growth resulting in very small Spruce trees.

     Hmmm, Polar bears are not small are they.
Sort of looks like a Sasquatch footprint...

     Viewing one of Churchill's roving citizens from the safety of a "Tundra Buggy".

     No Virginia, this is not a Winnie-the-Poo bear! Polar bears (and Alaska Kodiaks) are the largest carnivores in the world. Most adult males weigh 300-600 kg (660-1320 lb); adult females are about half the size of males.

     Just maxin'and relaxin' - in the snow!

     There's no chance I'm leaving the safety of the "Tundra Buggy" - this is close enough.

     Rush hour traffic in Churchill !

     The adventurers from Vermillion Bay, Ontario, at the end of a great Polar bear tour at Churchill.

     All good things must come an end. Sunset in the North as we return home.