Ice and Snowfests

I know that it's easier for me to say this living in Southern California as I do, but I absolutely love winter. I love ice. I love snow. I love how beautiful and transformed ordinary landscapes can become during this season. To celebrate my snow-smittenness, I've collected some unusual icy pics for you. Enjoy.
**special note**if you click on the pictures, they will be more bigger and more prettier

This photo was taken at an ice festival in Finland. Below are some shots from one of my dream destinations: the Icehotel in Sweden.





There is a spectacular Ice and Snow Festival held annually in Harbin, China. One of these decades I'd love to make it there. They build an entire replica city of ice, as well as having ice and snow sculpture contests. You can read more about it and see more photos on R Todd King's excellent blog. Absolutely everything in the photos below, with the exception of people and animals, is ice. Yes, even that big beautiful church, there. It's ice.