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Merci, Canada!

Risky Thicket

Risky Thicket

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With Yo Mama
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Independent
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We returned last night after a 10 days in Montreal and Quebec City, Canada. Canada was grand, as always.

Canada is a vast and beautiful country, but the Canadian people make the travel experience as memorable as anything. Canadians, in my opinion, haven't become as jaded as Americans. There is a palpable joie de vivre among many Canadians that reminds me of the America I knew a few decades ago. It is refreshing.

Because it is closer we travel to western Canada most often. This was our first trip to Montreal and Quebec City. Quebec is probably the most European city in North America. We enjoyed that. Montreal is surprisingly friendly for such a large city. People weren't too busy to laugh. We noticed that.

Because we love trains in Europe, we decided to take the train from Montreal to Quebec City. If you love trains, it's a great experience. We went Business Class. Very nice. It was train travel experience that reminded me of what air travel once was. I don't fly that much these days, maybe 8 times a year, max. But, air travel anymore is no different from taking a feckin Greyhound Bus.

It was a enjoyable trip. We took lots of pictures; visited museums and historic sites and basilicas; ate lots of food (stood in line to eat at Schwartz's Deli in Montreal) and walked lots of miles.

It was fun. We smiled and laughed a lot.

Les Trois Garcons .jpg



Thanks, Canada! You all have much to be proud of.
 
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Good to hear you didn't run into any arrogant French Canadians. Or is that a myth?
 
Hey, next time, come to Ottawa! Quebec city and Montreal are awesome places. Glad you had a great trip.::2canadian
 
Middleground said:
Hey, next time, come to Ottawa! Quebec city and Montreal are awesome places. Glad you had a great trip.::2canadian
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Ottawa is actually my favorite Canadian city, especially in the winters. You haven't really lived until you've skated on the canals!
 
EnigmaO01 said:
Good to hear you didn't run into any arrogant French Canadians. Or is that a myth?
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It's a myth in my experience. In fact, it is largely a myth regarding France as far as I am concerned.

French Canadians have a well developed sense of humor.
 
Risky Thicket said:
It's a myth in my experience. In fact, it is largely a myth regarding France as far as I am concerned.

French Canadians have a well developed sense of humor.
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I love the French Canadians. I love them when they're in their country, and the ones who migrate here (NH has a huge population) are great too. They do have a sharp sense of humor. And I think they're really pleasant and accommodating.

Montreal and QC are simply fabulous, and taking a trip to both is as close to a European experience as you can get in North America.
 
tres borrachos said:
Ottawa is actually my favorite Canadian city, especially in the winters. You haven't really lived until you've skated on the canals!
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I'm a horrible Canadian... I hate winter. But there are tons of tourists from everywhere that come for Winterlude. The canal is about 8 kms long.
 
tres borrachos said:
I love the French Canadians. I love them when they're in their country, and the ones who migrate here (NH has a huge population) are great too. They do have a sharp sense of humor. And I think they're really pleasant and accommodating.

Montreal and QC are simply fabulous, and taking a trip to both is as close to a European experience as you can get in North America.
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French Canadians were most tolerant of my gawdawful mangling of attempted French. It might be that some people are put off by the sharp French Canadian sense of humor. I love it! Often our laughter and response led to extended conversations. What more could you ask?

Canadians in general are very open people. If they have the time and the chance to chat, they will. They are easy to laugh. We've found that to be true across Canada, though we have yet to go to New Brunswick or Nova Scotia. They are on our list.
 
Risky Thicket said:
It's a myth in my experience. In fact, it is largely a myth regarding France as far as I am concerned.

French Canadians have a well developed sense of humor.
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I don't know how exactly to put it, I think I come closest by saying they have a "joix de vivre." Though they are mostly culturally different from English Canada, they are certainly not rude.
 
I've kinda always wanted to see the tundra. But never had a clear plan for how to convince the wife that it's something SHE wants to do, too....perhaps selling it as a quasi european vacation that is affordable will do the trick...?
 
Middleground said:
I'm a horrible Canadian... I hate winter. But there are tons of tourists from everywhere that come for Winterlude. The canal is about 8 kms long.
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You are not alone, Middle. We have loads of Canadians who winter in Arizona. Judging from license plates most here are from Alberta, which makes sense as it's a straight shot north from here.

I love Arizona but I'm not in love with summer. Almost every winter we jump up to Calgary and/or Banff for 4 nights or so just to enjoy freezing our butts off. I like it. At the same time I know it's only temporary.
 
KevinKohler said:
I've kinda always wanted to see the tundra. But never had a clear plan for how to convince the wife that it's something SHE wants to do, too....perhaps selling it as a quasi european vacation that is affordable will do the trick...?
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Don't forget to pack the parka!
 
Middleground said:
I don't know how exactly to put it, I think I come closest by saying they have a "joix de vivre." Though they are mostly culturally different from English Canada, they are certainly not rude.
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Not at all, quite the opposite.
 
Risky Thicket said:
You are not alone, Middle. We have loads of Canadians who winter in Arizona. Judging from license plates most here are from Alberta, which makes sense as it's a straight shot north from here.

I love Arizona but I'm not in love with summer. Almost every winter we jump up to Calgary and/or Banff for 4 nights or so just to enjoy freezing our butts off. I like it. At the same time I know it's only temporary.
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I would hate to not experience seasons. I think summer all the time would suck... especially if it's bleepin' hot every day.
 
Middleground said:
Don't forget to pack the parka!
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Of course. I'm a big time (or USED to be, prior to the kids) back packer/hiker. I've been all over the blue ridge mountains, the smokey mountains, up and down parts of the apalachean trail. I've done some hiking in Scottland, when I was a teen. But Canada...Canada boast wilderness unlike anything I've ever seen before. So remote. Completely untouched. The only other place I've really wanted to go for a long time is Yellowstone. But there's so many rules there, and rightly so. No, places like the Canadian tundra excite, and scares the **** outa me at the same time. In short....perfect.
 
KevinKohler said:
Of course. I'm a big time (or USED to be, prior to the kids) back packer/hiker. I've been all over the blue ridge mountains, the smokey mountains, up and down parts of the apalachean trail. I've done some hiking in Scottland, when I was a teen. But Canada...Canada boast wilderness unlike anything I've ever seen before. So remote. Completely untouched. The only other place I've really wanted to go for a long time is Yellowstone. But there's so many rules there, and rightly so. No, places like the Canadian tundra excite, and scares the **** outa me at the same time. In short....perfect.
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So you want to visit the arctic?
 
Middleground said:
I would hate to not experience seasons. I think summer all the time would suck... especially if it's bleepin' hot every day.
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It does suck. It's one of many reasons me and the wife chose to leave Florida. Florida, especially where we lived, on the gulf side, halfway down, is beautiful. White sands, blue water beaches, right out of a movie. One in particular, Siesta Key, what a place! But no seasons. Summer, which last half the year, no fall, no dry crisp fall days, no winds (other than from the surf), no color changes, no REAL winter...when I first moved there from South Carolina, I swam all year round. The locals thought I was effing nuts. But it just wasn't THAT cold. And then, no spring. No bright, vibrant green. Just the same dull, dark green all year round. And the hiking there SUCKS. The only wilderness to speak of is the everglades, and dying isn't on my list of things to do. Well, not right away, anyway.

Nope, CT, my current state, may suck. But it does have wonderful seasons. Lots of maples up here, with bright yellows, oranges and reds, reflected back at you by a still lake or rushing stream, open fields of wild grass ringing by oaks and the occasional aspen groves...visually, CT rocks.
 
Middleground said:
So you want to visit the arctic?
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I'd like to, yes. But I don't want to do it solo. I have a buddy who would go with me, but I kinda don't want to take a vacation that long without the family. I think my kids would enjoy going with me if I took them, but then I would have to stick to the "guided tour", as they say. And my wife wouldn't be thrilled at the prospect. She likes the outdoors somewhat, but she is more a creature of comfort, know what I mean?
 
I actually have one of those cheesy photo calendars that is devoted entirely to the Canadian tundra. In fact, that thing is a big reason why I want to go...
 
KevinKohler said:
I actually have one of those cheesy photo calendars that is devoted entirely to the Canadian tundra. In fact, that thing is a big reason why I want to go...
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There are some spectacular places indeed. If you have the chance to see Billy Connolly's Journey to the Edge of the World, please do:

Comedian, actor and musician Billy Connolly braves the elements in this adventurous journey from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific, via the legendary Northwest Passage.
Billy Connolly: Journey to the Edge of the World (TV Series 2009
 
Risky Thicket said:
French Canadians were most tolerant of my gawdawful mangling of attempted French. It might be that some people are put off by the sharp French Canadian sense of humor. I love it! Often our laughter and response led to extended conversations. What more could you ask?

Canadians in general are very open people. If they have the time and the chance to chat, they will. They are easy to laugh. We've found that to be true across Canada, though we have yet to go to New Brunswick or Nova Scotia. They are on our list.
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You're a brave man Risky. I don't even attempt to use my college French while I'm there. I don't want to kill anyone from laughter.;)

New Brunswick is nice. I found Nova Scotia to be a very big letdown. JMO.
 
tres borrachos said:
You're a brave man Risky. I don't even attempt to use my college French while I'm there. I don't want to kill anyone from laughter.;)

New Brunswick is nice. I found Nova Scotia to be a very big letdown. JMO.
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My French is most certainly worse. I had 5 years of Spanish I.

No doubt my Georgia accented crap French is challenging for the average Québécois.

"Bonjour, y'all!"

Nova Scotia a very big letdown? Why?
 
Glad you had a great trip, Risky! I'm jealous... always wanted to go to Canada. Never had the chance, so I enjoyed living the experience through your descriptions! :)
 
Risky Thicket said:
My French is most certainly worse. I had 5 years of Spanish I.

No doubt my Georgia accented crap French is challenging for the average Québécois.

"Bonjour, y'all!"

Nova Scotia a very big letdown? Why?
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"Bonjour y'all!" :lol:

I just found Nova Scotia to be boring. Not everyone agrees with me, it's a popular destination, but to me, it wasn't so good, and I've been quite a few times, each time thinking "it WILL be better". It never is...
 
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