Canada province/city impression thread

Ok, same thing as the US thread but for Canada. :p

Montréal - The greatest place in North America. Everything about it is great. It's beautiful, multi-cultural, affordable, safe, cosmopolitan, international, liberal, fun, and so on.

Québec City - The most beautiful city in North America. It's very fun yet quaint. The winter carnival and medieval festival are both great.

Laurentians (Québec) - Very pretty and so close to Montréal. I was so impressed.

Ottawa - Many people call it boring but I quite like it. It's no Montréal and suffers from proximity and comparision, but it's a nice place with friendly people and as interesting things to see.

Nova Scotia - Nova Scotia has incredibly natural beauty, a wonderful climate, and interesting local cultureand history.

New Brunswick - Nothing stands out except that the small cities like Moncton, Fredricton, and Saint John are all very nice friendly small towns that don't seem huckleberry at all. One of the nicest "boring places" I've ever been.

Georgian Bay (Ontario) - The unique natural landscape is stunning and pretty. It's a very nice place to relax and get in touch with nature... :)... but I didn't care much for the rinky dink towns at all. :\

Toronto - Toronto is very strange. It's nicer than most any city in the US, except for NYC, so when I first went there I loved it. But now that I live in Canada I, like most residents, I can't stand it. Internationally, it's one of the most insecure cities in the world, but in respect to Canada it thinks it's the all-important centre of the universe. It's very annoying, very American, and.... very stinky.

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Eventually, I'd love to visit Newfoundland, PEI, Nunavut, the Gaspé, Vancouver, and the Rockies. :sonic:

Canada: Gay, very gay.

Ontario: Think of tree's and then put a huge city at the bottom of this forrest and you've got Ontario. Oh yeah, Ottawa's somewhere in here too. I live in this province though, so it's scoring some points on this fact.

Quebec: I really liked Quebec when I went through. I stayed at a really expensive hotel where you had waiters with white gloves walking around the place. I'm not sure what the hell's up with that. Seriously, white gloves? That's the uniform of a serial killer.

Newfoundland: Beautiful country. The people are really bizarre but friendly enough that you can get along really well.

New Brunswick: What the hell?

Nova Scotia: Cool place to go. I like the mountainous terrain coupled with the steep cliffs and jaged rocks below. There's like 10,000 ferries in Nova Scotia to help you get around a lot quicker. Whales seem to migrate here in great numbers for the chance to taste the human flesh of a fisherman overboard

P.E.I.: The size of my back yard. It has a lot of fences, I've noticed.

I've also realized that Canada is like 70% country side. Which is nice, but it's also extremely boring too.

Can only comment on two places:

Toronto: Beautiful city. An anonomly compared to most US cities in that people reside in it, and people outside go to the core. It does... stink some times, but that depends on where you go *shakes fist at SGGG and ice-pop*. Most mulitcultural city in the world. I don't hate it, but I live on the outskirts and am in awe with it. Best place to buy records...

Montreal: Ahh, royal mountain. It's like a mini-europe. SGGG touched on the most important things, but I will add one thing; Montreal is more open than Toronto. In Montreal you can make eye contact with anyone... I mean anyone. Everyone is naturally curious about other people. People leave their blinds open without a care in the world. In Toronto I keep my eyes to myself to avoid getting shot.

I want to go to Nova Scotia and BC someday.

Do you know that some people in our region say P-dot for Pickering, and A-dot for Ajax? What the hell? I heard someone say it today at school and told them to fuck off with it. Then I scolded them for leaving poor Whitby out of the mess.

Where's the W-dot? It sounds stupid (well.... more stupid), but what the hell?

Vancouver - It rains a lot here. Like Toronto, it's very multicultural. The Asian population keeps increasing and they will no doubt become majority within my life time. It's nicknamed HongKouver for a reason. Or Budcouver for the pot.

Victoria - A tourist city that tries to look like England.

Montreal - I was born there but I haven't been back there since 1983. So my impressions from when I was 7 years old are "Oh my god, there's snow on the ground in April!"(Vancouver gets virtually no snow) and "I can't understand what anyone's saying to me".

Calgary - Cool zoo. I don't remember much else.

What part has the pancakes and lumberjacks?

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Originally Posted by Chibi Nappa

What part has the pancakes and lumberjacks?

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The whole damn thing okay. :D This also includes mounties, igloos, seal clubbers, eskimos, hockey players, beer, moose, beavers, poutine, the words "aboot" and "eh?" and really annoying female singers. :lol:

Ontario: Apparently the centre of the universe resides there. Nothing too exciting.

Quebec: Full of people who speak french. Lots of independent wrestling feds. Home of the poutine. Northern part has a lot of natives.

Prince Edward Island: Has red sand and potatoes. Nice beaches.

Nova Scotia: Home of Alexander Keith. Lots of good seafood restaurants.

Newfoundland: Lots of fish and happy drunks. Can't understand a word they are saying.

Yukon, Northwest Territories, Nunavut: Very cold. Friendly people.

Manitoba: Lots of nothing.

Alberta: It has that giant mall thingy.

I can comment on Windsor.. and Toronto.. But Toronto has been done to death already..
Windsor - Nice place, very friendly, but depressing, mostly because of the large ugly bridge i have to look at everyday.. Its got a cool mall, not much of a business city.. But the night life is quite awsome :D I recommend a visit if your done here.

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Originally Posted by The Bastard

Ontario: Apparently the centre of the universe resides there.

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I don't like to brag

Québec:
Montréal . Where I have lived all my life. Beautiful, lively, vibrant, cultural, exciting city. European. Big enough for there to be lots of new things to do and places to visit ... small enough not to be overly anonymous and intimidating. Beautiful people. Fucking cold at the moment. And better than Toronto.

Québec City . Old and French. Good place to go for school trips. Like Old Montréal but bigger. Lots of cobblestones and cafés. Beautiful historic city.

Laurentians . I have family in the Laurentians and my parents both lived in Ste-Adele for a while when growing up. Lots of mountains, great for skiing. Close to the city. Getting overcrowded.

Eastern Townships . My grandparents used to live just outside of Mansonville near Owls Head so I have spent a lot of time there. Beautiful mountains and lakes. Great skiing though it's further from montréal. Less hustle and bustle than the Laurentians.


Ontario:
Toronto . What is that smell? .... Seriously though, people in Toronto are mean and scared of interpersonal contact. Never try to talk or hug a Torontonian ... and don't even try doing the two cheek kiss thing with new people you meet there (may be normal in Montréal but Toronto people will get scared and hostile).

London . Actually a fun little university town though I imagine it can get quite boring. Hung out in what must be the only gay bar in the whole city. Or region. They also have a bar that lets you pay in Canadian Tire money once a year.

Parry Sound / Georgian Bay . Where I've spent all my summers. The most beautiful and magical place I have ever been. Very important place to me.

Barrie . My grandparents used to live here. Don't remember too much about it but I think that's a good thing. Passing through on a voyager bus last summer, I was surprised at the number of strip clubs / liquidation sex shops.


Unfortunately, I haven't travelled too much in Canada.

North Bay - Cold and boring. Literally nothing to do about 90% of the time. And the windchill right now is a balmy -41C.

I'm in Calgary, and the previous impressions seem pretty dead on. Both Calgary and Edmonton are bizarre places, as they're both fairly large cities but feel like smaller towns. There's little nightlife to speak of, and there's this odd sense of space absolutely everywhere. Tricky to explain, but I'm sure that anyone who has been here gets what I'm talking about.

Anyway, I've always been interested in going to Montreal, but everyone around here seems to be under the impression that everyone from Quebec will treat you like dirt if you aren't a fluent French speaker. Does the rumour have any validity, or is it just useless paranoia?

Got you beat, it's -44 here. Brrrrrrrrr ....

Isn't it sick when you're looking forward to -20?

I believe it's a chilly, wintry 70 degrees Fahrenheit here in Miami.

Brrrrr.

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Originally Posted by Riptwo

Anyway, I've always been interested in going to Montreal, but everyone around here seems to be under the impression that everyone from Quebec will treat you like dirt if you aren't a fluent French speaker. Does the rumour have any validity, or is it just useless paranoia?

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There is no validity in that. I live in a predominately French neighbourhood and although my French is not very good (I very much want to improve) and almost always speak English I have never had any problems.

As long as you treat people with respect they'll usually treat you the same way. Make an effort and be friendly and you'll find most people are the same way. I think people who have problems must bring it on themselves by acting obnoxious or disrespectful.

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Originally Posted by Andrew

Do you know that some people in our region say P-dot for Pickering, and A-dot for Ajax?

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Yep. I was one of them. Now it's Pick-city.

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Originally Posted by icepop

Québec:
Ontario:
... and don't even try doing the two cheek kiss thing with new people you meet there (may be normal in Montréal but Toronto people will get scared and hostile).

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Sad cuz it's fucking true.

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Originally Posted by icepop

[...] doing the two cheek kiss thing with new people you meet there

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:wtf:

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Passing through on a voyager bus last summer, I was surprised at the number of strip clubs / liquidation sex shops.

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*makes note*

i've been to vancouver and the coastal island next to it...Queen Victoria Island I believe? Both were very pretty places with generally friendly people. I really liked the fact that hardly any litter was to be found in the streets of Vancouver, the air was very clean I can recall as well. Yup, great place that.

Ontario

Ok, about Barrie. There is ONE strip joint within 2 seconds walking distance from the bus terminal, and 2 sex/lingerie stores in the immediate vicinity. (oh and i guess theres two porn stores visible from the highway as you drive through town) NOTHING to write home about, or make notes about. Trust me. The good stuff is on the outskirts (heh, ok, fine, at the tail of the horse in our one horse town) of town. I live here, I don't plan on being here forever, but it's a nice place to raise your kids and live in fear of the Blacks and Asians moving up from Toronto and ruining your property values. (NOT my sentiment. But if there are rednecks in Alabama, there sure as shit are Rednecks in Ontario too. We just dont go for the sibling love and stuff). Also home of Canada's largest pot bust! Take an abandoned beer brewery which serviced a large portion of the province, buy it (with federal help no less) for the purpose of making "beverages" then use the vats to grow weed. Amazing ingenuity, and they only got caught cuz somebody phoned in a tip. It's down right Vice Cityish.

Toronto: grew up there, wish i was still there. will be again (McArthur/Error: I shall return) And of course we get pissy if you try to hug us or kiss us on the cheek. It's called personal space, look into it. Also, you think Toronto smells? Let me let you in on a little secret, it isn't the city, its YOU. Still, their hockey team cracks me up and it's fans annoy me. Ah well, could be worse. It could be PEI.

Hamilton: Shithole. Think Pittsburg, only smaller.

Niagra Falls: Hear the roar of the falls...see the majesty of the falls...feel the power of the falls...now leave a minute later wondering why you spent the past 2 hours getting there, and wtf else is there to do in this place? (unless you brought a chick. then its just obvious)

Newmarket: Has an Arbys. reason for going +1

OK, thats it for me and Ontario.

Quebec:

Montreal: Passed through when young, not much to say really, didnt stop.

New Brunswick: OMFG It's ALL trees!! Everywhere Trees!!!!

Nova Scotia: Home of Alexander Graham Bell apparently. Also home to the realization that if you can't drink and you haven't hit puberty there is less and less to do in Eastern Canada the farther East you go.

PEI: HOLY SHIT, IS THIS PLACE BORING! If there was EVER a reason to own a portable game system, it's PEI.

it was -38 last night. I took my dog out for a 5 minute walk and couldn't feel my face.

Brisco: Calling things P-dot needs to stop. Even T-dot need to go.

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Originally Posted by cka

North Bay - Cold and boring. Literally nothing to do about 90% of the time. And the windchill right now is a balmy -41C.

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Say hello to my friend Phil for me. He's up there at the University of North Bay for airplane mechanics. So if you could just do that it'd be swell.

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Originally Posted by Andrew

Brisco: Calling things P-dot needs to stop. Even T-dot need to go.

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I assume you're against calling Scarborough 'Scarlem' or 'Scarbaria' then?

I'm against stupid names. And I'm telling you this as "the guy who may have bought a videogame from you awhile back but can't remember". I just don't want to see the guy I may have bought a videogame from get hurt or make himself look the fool.

I'm always looking out for you man

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Originally Posted by Andrew

I'm against stupid names. And I'm telling you this as "the guy who may have bought a videogame from you awhile back but can't remember". I just don't want to see the guy I may have bought a videogame from get hurt or make himself look the fool.

I'm always looking out for you man

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You say some of the most rediculously funny things I've ever read. :lol:

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Originally Posted by MechDeus

:wtf: *makes note*

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People in Montréal kiss you once on each cheek every time you see, meet, or leave them. It takes a little getting used to... but I'm used to it now.

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Originally Posted by The Bastard

Yukon, Northwest Territories, Nunavut: Very cold. Friendly people.

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Neat! What were you doing up there?

:chunobi:

I haven't been to another province since I was 7, even though I've been overseas and to the US a bunch of times, so my view of them would be pretty skewed with age.

Toronto's my home, more or less, so I love the place. All kinds of stuff to do in the city. I HATE the outskirts, filled with commercial parks and cookie-cutter subdivisions, but that's generally the standard everywhere now.

But the lack of touchy-feelyness can be blamed on the city's british heritage.

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Originally Posted by sggg

Neat! What were you doing up there?

:chunobi:

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My family was doing some fishing up there when I was a kid. They're fishing crazy. Even in the spring that area can get real cold. We would of taken pictures, but we forgot the camera at home and by the time we got out of Ontario into Manitoba we were too late (there were no disposable cameras back then). After being there, taking pictures were not necessary. I'll never forget my trip up there. The fish up there is real tasty. It ain't for everybody though. Unless you like the outdoors and a shitload of trees, don't go up there.

New Brunswick: I don't really wanna remember this place. The air in Saint John made my eyes red and irritated in like 3 minutes of being in there (it's almost as bad as Hamilton). Blacks Harbour is like the boringest place ever. Playing videogames and Monopoly was even boring there. This is where I found out that paper mills have a terrible stench to them. The smell was undescribable. I was puking for a good 15 minutes. The fishing there is not so good unless you are at the coast. Hopefully that whole province will dissapper from my mind.

OK! First, where it all begins:

Toronto - This is the city I couldn't wait to get away from for 2/3 of my life. There's nothing wrong with it citywise, but it's too big and oppressive for my taste. Also, the name sounds better in French and the weather sucks. Nobody there really thinks it's the centre of the universe. They know that it's not, and a massive inferiority complex builds up because they wish that they were. This makes them keep saying it over and over and over until you either get brainwashed into believing it or get a headache. Aside from this, it has plenty of cool points. The multicultural aspect rocks - way better than any other city I've been in. There's plenty of neat stuff to experience, and the awesome public transit means you can get places without having to wait for hours or rent a car.

Now that I live in the US, I can see what being the centre of the universe really is like. People who really believe they're the centre of the universe never say so - they just know it.

Niagara Falls - What a weird place. It's like a free-market version of Disneyland. Even though I hate gambling, I tried it once and won $8. Whoo! If you really want to enjoy yourself, visit the American side - it's only a ten minute walk and is a lot more pleasant.

Rest of Ontario - Really nice. I doubt I will ever move back there, but that thought makes me sad. In the summer and spring the climate is really pleasant, the scenery is nice, and the people are friendly. Northern Ontario is heaven if you're into fishing (like me).

Montreal - A cool place. Can't say I've ever had the chance to experience it properly, but I like what I've seen. The fact that you can actually ski, toboggan, etc. in the city during the winter seems extremely cool when you're used to slush every year. Even though I can speak French passably enough, everone there always tells that I'm an Anglo and switches to English, so I never got the chance to practice.

New Brunswick - Seems neat and the accent is awesome. I associate the province with really good fries, but that's probably coincidence.

PEI - Going on the ferry when I was a kid was the coolest thing in the world, because I saw some jellyfish for the first time. I remember more about that than the rest of the province.

Nova Scotia - I like it. It's pretty here and you can buy lobsters for next to nothing. Wouldn't mind living here someday.

Saskatchewan - Too flat. It gives me the opposite of claustrophobia. The fire engines in Regina were painted a weird colour.

Alberta - The mountainous side of it it great, but the flat side has the same problem as Saskatchewan. Lived in Calgary for 3 years as a kid, and enjoyed skiing and speed skating a lot thanks to the Olympic facilities. Having it get dark at like 3:00 in the winter is weird.

Vancouver - Never in my life have I seen so many homeless drug addicts. It's like the vast herds of buffalo that once populated the great plains, but made up of stoned Indians, bushy old skinny white guys, and crazy women with no teeth who don't know how to fasten a bra. My sheltered mind was amazed. I also don't particularly like pot, bad-tasting health food, or hippies. This aside, the background scenery is awesome. Some of my relatives live there, and they aren't homeless vegetarian potheads so I assume some parts of town must be very pleasant.

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Originally Posted by The Bastard

New Brunswick: This is where I found out that paper mills have a terrible stench to them. The smell was undescribable. I was puking for a good 15 minutes.

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Wow, you too? My family drove to Halifax (and the other direction too) when I was a kid, and the whole of Eastern Quebec and much of NB was dominated with paper mill nastiness. That was bad stuff :yuck:

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Originally Posted by Andrew

I'm against stupid names. And I'm telling you this as "the guy who may have bought a videogame from you awhile back but can't remember". I just don't want to see the guy I may have bought a videogame from get hurt or make himself look the fool.

I'm always looking out for you man

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:lol: Whatever, man.

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Originally Posted by Matt

Wow, you too? My family drove to Halifax (and the other direction too) when I was a kid, and the whole of Eastern Quebec and much of NB was dominated with paper mill nastiness. That was bad stuff :yuck:

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I vacationed in central Maine once and there was a town with a paper mill (I think the town was called "Jay").. and yikes, you guys are not kidding. The stench is unbearable. It made the NJ Turnpike smell like flowers. :yuck:

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Originally Posted by Error

Niagra Falls: Hear the roar of the falls...see the majesty of the falls...feel the power of the falls...now leave a minute later wondering why you spent the past 2 hours getting there, and wtf else is there to do in this place? (unless you brought a chick. then its just obvious)

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I'll have to borrow your response for this ;). It's about right... Saw it, thought it was really great, took a ride on the Skylon tower (if that's right) then left...

And only other place I've been to is Toronto. We went there, for the most part, to visit their Greektown. For me, I dunno, it was kinda refreshing to see it. I suppose I wasn't there long enough to recognize its faults, given the negative comments I see here. I share Brisco's pov. Thought it was modern, friendly and clean... There wasn't any foul smell where we went to. All in all, it was a fine trip. Only thing that ruined it was getting pulled over by some cops on our way back and being treated to, "You Americans, you come here, think you own the place and don't respect our laws!!! Who the hell do you think you are???"

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Originally Posted by NightWolve

"You Americans, you come here, think you own the place and don't respect our laws!!! Who the hell do you think you are, eh???"

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Figured I'd add some authenticity to it.

Paper Mills make me feel the violent pain. :yuck:

Matt's description of Vancouver was great. :lol:

Ferries are awesome. The soup and sandwiches I had on the ferry were also good. Why I remember that I don't know. :sweat:

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Originally Posted by NightWolve

"You dirty Americans, you come up here to Canada, think you own this here place and don't respect our laws!!! Who the hell do you hosers think you are, eh???"

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Now it has the Canadian feel.

Haha, thanks man. I don't think I could've done a better job than that... Pretty much nail on the head in capturing the "spirit" of what he was trying to convey to us ;).

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Originally Posted by The Bastard

My family was doing some fishing up there when I was a kid. They're fishing crazy. Even in the spring that area can get real cold. We would of taken pictures, but we forgot the camera at home and by the time we got out of Ontario into Manitoba we were too late (there were no disposable cameras back then). After being there, taking pictures were not necessary. I'll never forget my trip up there. The fish up there is real tasty. It ain't for everybody though. Unless you like the outdoors and a shitload of trees, don't go up there.

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That's a great story. Sounds like a fun trip. I love cold desolate places. I'd love to visit Nunavut, Svalbard (the island way north of Norway), Antarctica, Tierra del Fuego... etc.

When I was little I often to go fishing in the Atlantic ocean and various rivers. Ocean fishing was my favourite tho. It was always fun but when I got older I started feeling bad for the fish. :p

What type of fish did you catch?

The Hammer (Hamilton) isn't that great... but it isn't that bad either. There's worse places to be.

For example, Saint Catharines, which I refer to as the "New Jersey" of Canada. (They share all kinds of similarities, not the least of which is "The Garden City"/"The Garden State".)

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Originally Posted by Kenshin

The Hammer (Hamilton) isn't that great... but it isn't that bad either. There's worse places to be.

For example, Saint Catharines, which I refer to as the "New Jersey" of Canada. (They share all kinds of similarities, not the least of which is "The Garden City"/"The Garden State".)

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It's hard to compare a city to a state. The shitty areas of NJ are kinda like Saint Catherines - which is pretty dumpy from what I saw. The area in NJ around Rutgers is like that.... :yuck:

... but the nice parts of New Jersey remind me mainly of Nova Scotia. Plus, the urban parts by NYC are a lot nicer than the suburbs around most cities. Especially Toronto. :p

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Originally Posted by Kenshin

The Hammer (Hamilton) isn't that great... but it isn't that bad either. There's worse places to be.

For example, Saint Catharines, which I refer to as the "New Jersey" of Canada. (They share all kinds of similarities, not the least of which is "The Garden City"/"The Garden State".)

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It's hard to compare a city to a state. The shitty areas of NJ are kinda like Saint Catherines - which is pretty dumpy from what I saw. The area in NJ around Rutgers is like that.... :yuck:

... but the nice parts of New Jersey remind me mainly of Nova Scotia. Plus, the urban parts by NYC (Bergen, Morris Co, etc) are a lot nicer than the suburbs around most cities. Especially Toronto. They're more like Westmount that Mississauga. :p

Yea, anyone who thinks New Jersey is all industrial plants and Frank Sinatra don't know it. There's actually a huge amount of variety for such a small state. On the whole, it sucks ass, but parts of it are very very nice.

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Originally Posted by diffusionx

Yea, anyone who thinks New Jersey is all industrial plants and Frank Sinatra don't know it. There's actually a huge amount of variety for such a small state. On the whole, it sucks ass, but parts of it are very very nice.

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Yeh, I agree. There are truly awful areas.. but most people don't know about the nice stuff. There is a lot of social and enviornmental diversity for a relatively small place.

The main reason for the bad reputation is that 95% of visitors to the state only see the urban hell nightmare between Newark Airport and Manhattan. :xx:

Why does New Jersey have such a bad wrap anyway? Where did it start? It may suck, but there's obviously tons of other places in America that are the same yet dont get as much exposure to the insults.

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Originally Posted by Andrew

Why does New Jersey have such a bad wrap anyway? Where did it start? It may suck, but there's obviously tons of other places in America that are the same yet dont get as much exposure to the insults.

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Because, like sggg said, lets say you're going to NYC. It's easiest to fly into Newark, and take a taxi or the shuttle into New York City. And basically you go through an industrial wasteland. It's really gross. But that's all they see.

And there aren't really a lot of tourist-y areas to the state - there are some great state and national parks, but people would probably be more inclined to go to upstate New York, or New England, so not many people are gonna go to it to see the nice places (of which there are many).

And also, New Jersey has more superfund sites than any other state.

Oh... I've heard a few Jersey shore kokes too. Well that sucks.

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Originally Posted by Andrew

Why does New Jersey have such a bad wrap anyway? Where did it start? It may suck, but there's obviously tons of other places in America that are the same yet dont get as much exposure to the insults.

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It's like I just said. Most people only ever see the stinky mess between the airport and Manhattan. You see, there are areas that fit the lousy reputation and there are people who fit the stereotypical jokes. So, it's mpt false it's just that it's a pretty small area and percentage of people who are actually like the clichés.

When I lived there, most of the people who visited me from other parts of the world were very surprised at how nice it was. The nice areas anyway.

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Originally Posted by Andrew

Oh... I've heard a few Jersey shore kokes too. Well that sucks.

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I assume you meant "jokes"... :p.... and yeh, many of those jokes have some basis in reality too. Some of the shore areas are really awful pathetic rinky dink towns filled with the worst kind of suburban nitwits.

But there are also some really pretty beaches and natural areas too, if you know how to avoid the sleazy touristy or suburban areas anyway.

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Originally Posted by sggg

What type of fish did you catch?

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Lake Trout, Northern Pike, Arctic Char and a crapload of Walleye.

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Originally Posted by Matt

Vancouver - Never in my life have I seen so many homeless drug addicts. It's like the vast herds of buffalo that once populated the great plains, but made up of stoned Indians, bushy old skinny white guys, and crazy women with no teeth who don't know how to fasten a bra. My sheltered mind was amazed. I also don't particularly like pot, bad-tasting health food, or hippies. This aside, the background scenery is awesome. Some of my relatives live there, and they aren't homeless vegetarian potheads so I assume some parts of town must be very pleasant.

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Heh, you must be talking about the shithole of an area around Pigeon Park/West Hastings. It's the only area that meets the description. I only enter that wasteland to buy cheap video games at pawn shops.

Pigeon Part/West Hastings sound like hilarious places to visit.

I wonder if people think that about 5th/3rd Ward in Houston where the Blow Jobs are always free.

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Originally Posted by NeoZeedeater

Heh, you must be talking about the shithole of an area around Pigeon Park/West Hastings. It's the only area that meets the description. I only enter that wasteland to buy cheap video games at pawn shops.

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Yep, that's it. I remember some friends telling me the area was really bad, but nothing prepared me for the truth! It's surprising that it's so close to the main tourist stretch.

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Heh, you must be talking about the shithole of an area around Pigeon Park/West Hastings. It's the only area that meets the description. I only enter that wasteland to buy cheap video games at pawn shops.

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Sounds like Griffith Park here in Los Angeles.

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Originally Posted by NightWolve

And only other place I've been to is Toronto. We went there, for the most part, to visit their Greektown. For me, I dunno, it was kinda refreshing to see it. I suppose I wasn't there long enough to recognize its faults, given the negative comments I see here. I share Brisco's pov. Thought it was modern, friendly and clean... There wasn't any foul smell where we went to.

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Oh, Toronto's a fine city. Most of those Montrealers just don't know what they're talking about :p. I like to complain about it, but really I'd do the same for most cities in North America.

You only get bad smells in the Chinese areas, where the shop owners put dead fish out on the sidewalk and never hose it down.

Well, I just got back from seeing family in Northern Maine/New Brunswick.

I can sum it up in two pictures.


The Second one is in F, not C.

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Originally Posted by Matt

Oh, Toronto's a fine city. Most of those Montrealers just don't know what they're talking about :p. I like to complain about it, but really I'd do the same for most cities in North America.

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Well, like I said, compared to most cities in the US Toronto is definitely MUCH nicer. I'd sooner live there than anywhere in the US aside from NYC. The problem with Toronto comes vis-a-vis rest of Canada and how the citizens and media act in and put off the rest of the country. I guess I have mixed feelings. Overall it's an average city with good and bad features, but which other Canadians justifiably resent/make fun of.

Oh yeh, and the Leafs suck. ;)

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You only get bad smells in the Chinese areas, where the shop owners put dead fish out on the sidewalk and never hose it down.

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Very true. Spadina Street (?) in Toronto is the stinkiest place on Earth! :yuck:

On the other hand, Chinatown in Montréal smells fine and I don't remember any problems in NYC either, tho it's been a while since I was down there. :p

sggg, how much have you been to LA? Certainly parts of it are shitty as all hell but its such a huge place, and West LA is really nice. And San Francisco is great, too, and San Diego, and Boston...

Ive never been to Toronto, so while Im sure its better than places like Cleveland or Miami, there are a lot of nice cities in the good ol' US of A, and a lot you just never really hear of or they get a bad rap.

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Originally Posted by diffusionx

sggg, how much have you been to LA? Certainly parts of it are shitty as all hell but its such a huge place, and West LA is really nice. And San Francisco is great, too, and San Diego, and Boston...

Ive never been to Toronto, so while Im sure its better than places like Cleveland or Miami, there are a lot of nice cities in the good ol' US of A, and a lot you just never really hear of or they get a bad rap.

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I've not been to LA, I've never been west of Las Vegas.

I have been a lot of places on the east coast and some in the midwest tho. There are some cities/places in the US I find decent, both from first hand experience or reputation (Boston, San Francisco, Rhode Island, Minneapolis, Hawai'i, etc) and but I'd still rather live in stinky ole Toronto than any of them. ;)

I'd move to many other parts of Canada before TO however. :p

I would love to visit Canada this year during this easter or summer. Is the transport expensive? Seriously considering touring as much of the coutry as I can with a friend.

Good thread :)

Aside from a couple of totally plastic areas, LA is a complete hellhole.

But it's fun to visit.

Well, since the US dollar is worth less Canadian than it used to be, it will cost more for transport that it used to say, 2 years ago. But it's still like 80c US = 1.00 Canadian.

It's Spadina Ave, by the way...

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Originally Posted by Sidez

I would love to visit Canada this year during this easter or summer. Is the transport expensive? Seriously considering touring as much of the coutry as I can with a friend.

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Train prices are pretty reasonable. Via trains are very nice too, as nice as the ones in Germany but not nearly as fast. ;) You can look for info/rates here: http://viarail.ca/

In the summer you may have alternative methods too For example, you can take a speedboat from Montréal to Québec City for something like $70c in the summer.

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Originally Posted by sggg

In the summer you may have alternative methods too For example, you can take a speedboat from Montréal to Québec City for something like $70c in the summer.

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Really?

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Originally Posted by sggg

Train prices are pretty reasonable. Via trains are very nice too, as nice as the ones in Germany but not nearly as fast. ;) You can look for info/rates here: http://viarail.ca/

In the summer you may have alternative methods too For example, you can take a speedboat from Montréal to Québec City for something like $70c in the summer.

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$70c is what, like $8US?

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Originally Posted by diffusionx

$70c is what, like $8US?

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Wow, what an original joke. :eek: Actually, the Canadian dollar (like the Canadian economy) is much stronger than the US dollar right now. It's at a 10 year high of ¢80c/$1 and has more buying power, which is to say that it's cheaper for Canadians to buy American goods than the other way around - like it had been in the past.

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Originally Posted by Brisco Bold

Really?

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Would I lie? :p

Anyway, yeh, last summer I saw the boat down in the Old Port. It's a big yellow boat and there was a sign that advertised the trip to Québec City and it said something like $70 or maybe $80 (definitely under $100). I can't remember exactly but it seemed like a good deal for a fun trip. :)

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Originally Posted by diffusionx

$70c is what, like $8US?

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It's $53.78 US funds. :chick:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by sggg

Well, like I said, compared to most cities in the US Toronto is definitely MUCH nicer. I'd sooner live there than anywhere in the US aside from NYC. The problem with Toronto comes vis-a-vis rest of Canada and how the citizens and media act in and put off the rest of the country. I guess I have mixed feelings. Overall it's an average city with good and bad features, but which other Canadians justifiably resent/make fun of.

Oh yeh, and the Leafs suck. ;)

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The whole media/attitude thing isn't something you can avoid - Toronto has more money and power than anywhere else in the country. People in Toronto are blissfully unaware of the resentment until they visit somewhere else and hear people complain. It's exactly the same as Americans vs people from anywhere else.

The leafs may not be the best team in the world, but supporting them is really fun in an odd way.

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On the other hand, Chinatown in Montréal smells fine and I don't remember any problems in NYC either, tho it's been a while since I was down there. :p

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Honolulu's Chinatown smells fine, too, even though we have way more fish/seafood vendors here. The difference is that the dealers clean up after themselves - I imagine it's because trash bylaws are better enforced.

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I have been a lot of places on the east coast and some in the midwest tho. There are some cities/places in the US I find decent, both from first hand experience or reputation (Boston, San Francisco, Rhode Island, Minneapolis, Hawai'i, etc) and but I'd still rather live in stinky ole Toronto than any of them.

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Oh, there are some US cities I'd live in before Toronto. San Francisco is great and I'm seriously considering moving there after I'm finished school here. Honolulu is awesome - it's got everything you'd want in a city but it's small enough that you can escape the urban sprawl without too much trouble. Having perfect weather 99% of the time is cool also. Even though I now live on an island that's smaller than the GTA and located 3000 miles from anywhere else, I still feel less isolated than I did in Toronto. Being stuck in the middle of a slushy concrete ocean sucks.

But yeah, compared to a lot of US cities, Toronto is a near utopia. Crime is very low, it's really easy to get around, it's clean, the cost of living is cheap, and it's a tremendously diverse place. Some areas of town aren't so hot, but they're nothing compared with the crap I've inadvertently seen in some US cities. The fact that I lived in Canada's larget city for most of my live and was still shocked at seeing Vancouver's homeless problem says a lot.

if someone in montreal attempted to kiss me, i'd slit there throat.

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Originally Posted by sggg

Montréal - The greatest place in North America. Everything about it is great. It's beautiful, multi-cultural, affordable, safe, cosmopolitan, international, liberal, fun, and so on.

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Originally Posted by icepop

Got you beat, it's -44 here. Brrrrrrrrr ....

Isn't it sick when you're looking forward to -20?

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Try working outside every day since the New Year and you've summed up my past weeks pretty well. ;)

There's all kinds of nice places to live in the US. But, I couldn't live there for political and ideological reasons. (I'm an evil bleeding-heart liberal socialist, remember.)

Why do all the Montreal people get off bashing Toronto? I hate the ciy myself, and only go when there's a good concert on or to a buddies place to drink, but Montreal just looks like Toronto in the eighties. I wouldn't be too proud to live in some asshole city where all the french text MUST be double the size of the english. At least in Toronto its the same size. Montreal, [much like all of Quebec] needs to get off its high horse and contribute something to the world instead of asking everyone "Remember the World Fair?" or "Remember when the Canadians won a cup?"

It's true. All too often do cities ride high horses with their golden stirrups of extreme snoodiness. The hair on their steed rifled with the memory of their comrades who have fallen in the line of duty (poets, mostly). Have you no shame, Montrealers? What happened to the double kissing attitude that once made you the laughing stock of the nation? Are foreigners to your razer sharp borders not welcome to this custom? I say nay. Nay like the horse you ride on so high and blazen. It's time to do as your forefathers have always done and step down.

VIVA LA MONTREAL... I mean TORONTO!

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Originally Posted by Kenshin

There's all kinds of nice places to live in the US. But, I couldn't live there for political and ideological reasons. (I'm an evil bleeding-heart liberal socialist, remember.)

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Same reason I left. ;)

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Originally Posted by Gibbits

Why do all the Montreal people get off bashing Toronto? I hate the ciy myself, and only go when there's a good concert on or to a buddies place to drink, but Montreal just looks like Toronto in the eighties. I wouldn't be too proud to live in some asshole city where all the french text MUST be double the size of the english. At least in Toronto its the same size. Montreal, [much like all of Quebec] needs to get off its high horse and contribute something to the world instead of asking everyone "Remember the World Fair?" or "Remember when the Canadians won a cup?"

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Ha. It sounds to me like someplace is trying to be Paris II.

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Originally Posted by Gibbits

but Montreal just looks like Toronto in the eighties.

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Explain that. :wtf:

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Originally Posted by Gibbits

I wouldn't be too proud to live in some asshole city where all the french text MUST be double the size of the english. At least in Toronto its the same size.

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I'm an anglophone and I have no problem with the sign laws. If English was banned I'd have a problem with it but there's nowt wrong with requiring French and requiring it be predominant. The laws are far from perfect and occasionally enforced rather absurdly or immaturely, but on the whole protecting the French language and culture is more important and it keeps Montréal from looking like ever other US city.

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Originally Posted by Gibbits

Montreal, [much like all of Quebec] needs to get off its high horse and contribute something to the world instead of asking everyone "Remember the World Fair?" or "Remember when the Canadians won a cup?"

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Québec contributes an awful lot to world culture (both French and English) for a society of under 8 million people.

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Originally Posted by diffusionx

Ha. It sounds to me like someplace is trying to be Paris II.

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Montréal does not have to "try" to be French. 75% of the population is French and it's the second largest French speaking city in the world.

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Québec contributes an awful lot to world culture (both French and English) for a society of under 8 million people.

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Like what?

Im being serious here, I dont even know where Montreal is on the map (and yes, I do know where other big cities in Canada are).

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Originally Posted by diffusionx

Like what?

Im being serious here, I dont even know where Montreal is on the map (and yes, I do know where other big cities in Canada are).

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How about the largest Jazz festival in the world held in Montreal. You may not be a fan, Jazz is not my thing either. But it's seriously big.

We have the Just For Laugh Festival, where comics all around the globe comes to perform in teo weeks of great fun.

Le Cirque Du Soleil debuted here as a local circus troup.

We have other international event like Formula One, although not qualified as culture, brings millions of visitors yearly.

Aside from the jazz festival, which is cool, but not unlike a million other music-related festivals in the USA (Milwaukee has a huge one, I heard about), that other stuff you mentioned isn't all that great.

Im not saying Montreal is shitty or anything, but if it contributed as much to world culture as sggg said, you know, youd think you would hear about it more... I mean I hear about Sydney, London, Tokyo, Berlin, Beijing, even like Buenos Aires all the time, but not Montreal.

I hear about Toronto and Vancouver way more than Montreal, actually.

ya... just for laughs is alright.

But the french on this board seem to be overlooking my last post, which laid everything out pretty clear.

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Originally Posted by diffusionx

Aside from the jazz festival, which is cool, but not unlike a million other music-related festivals in the USA (Milwaukee has a huge one, I heard about), that other stuff you mentioned isn't all that great.

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Yeah I'd die for a rock festival the size of our Jazz one. But looks likes we're stuck with it. Although I was surprised at the variety of music style they host now.

For a city of somewhere between 2 millions people, Montreal has a good share of celebrations and festivals for eveyone's taste.


And "Just for Laughs" plain rocks!

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Originally Posted by Andrew

ya... just for laughs is alright.

But the french on this board seem to be overlooking my last post, which laid everything out pretty clear.

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nah. I'm only contributing to this post as it seemed to be a big deal. I'm not riding high horses or anything. I never think about Montreal like the coolest and best city of all. It's the only one I can relate to.

So you think you're so cool and funny and hardcore and too good to post to a bunch of Torontonians because you're above them without the aid of a steed? Im insulted... just insulted.

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Originally Posted by diffusionx

Im not saying Montreal is shitty or anything,

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C'mon DiffX... I thought it was the one thing we had in common!

Opening up this thread brings it all back. When the guy above, who's name I have forgotten at the moment, just cut the catapult loose and flung a stinking pile of burning slippers right at me I felt betrayed. I'm trying not to break up here, but it's just too hard.

Toronto is a town I visit once and awhile, and eventually my town will probably be a subdivision of it and these high falootin' Montrealers come in to this thread with their tomfoolery and run amuck amongst the name of goodness.

If running amuck is wrong, then I now know what reason rules have in our society.

EDIT: Mindfeild, that's his name.

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Originally Posted by diffusionx

Like what?

Im being serious here, I dont even know where Montreal is on the map (and yes, I do know where other big cities in Canada are).

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Maple syrup and Poutine, not together though, well, maybe! :p

Poutine is fucking great, I'll give ya that!

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Originally Posted by diffusionx

Like what?

Im being serious here, I dont even know where Montreal is on the map (and yes, I do know where other big cities in Canada are).

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Quite frankly I'm not even sure if Montreal is on the map to find. It was on there awhile back, you know... in the 80's. But map makers everywhere just gave up on the whole thing for greener pastures by placing the cities Carnifax and Medicine Hat firmly in its stead.

I've not looked back since, that's for sure.

Contributions to world culture: Splinter Cell, Prince of Persia, Celine Dion

2 out of 3 ain't bad :chick:

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Originally Posted by Andrew

ya... just for laughs is alright.

But the french on this board seem to be overlooking my last post, which laid everything out pretty clear.

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I think most people overlooked it as it was barely coherent and made very little sense. :p

On topic ....

I don't think Montréal is the best city in the world but I think it has a lot to offer and certainly doesn't deserve the character assasination and lame French jokes that seem to have been made here. Montréal has a lot more to offer than just a bunch of festivals. There's a sort of intangible quality about the city that's hard to explain unless you've been here. There's a kind of openness and joie de vivre that is unmatched in a lot of other North American cities.

As for what precisely it has to offer ... lively nightlife (cafés, clubs, restaurants), festivals galore (light, film, music, comedy, etc.), a mountain, European atmosphere, safety (I can walk home alone at whatever time in the morning or night and I can feel safe), great shopping, great food (famous for its restaurants), friendly and generally open-minded people, style, sexy boys and girls. Montréal is also really close to a lot of ski hills and there's lots to do just outside the city.

People can make all the stupid French jokes and misinformed assumptions about the "language police" ... but you just end up making an ass of yourself. It shows your ignorance and just how little you know about Québec and Canada.

Anyways, Montréal is a pretty cool city.

(that and a lot of Canadian journals are printed and scientific research is conducted there)

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Originally Posted by Brisco Bold

Contributions to world culture: Splinter Cell, Prince of Persia, Celine Dion

2 out of 3 ain't bad :chick:

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They are Technically published and funded by EA... an American company.

No.. Ubi soft is from France.

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Originally Posted by Brisco Bold

No.. Ubi soft is from France.

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And Andrew is apparently from a mental institution.

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Originally Posted by icepop

As for what precisely it has to offer ... lively nightlife (cafés, clubs, restaurants), festivals galore (light, film, music, comedy, etc.), a mountain, European atmosphere, safety (I can walk home alone at whatever time in the morning or night and I can feel safe), great shopping, great food (famous for its restaurants), friendly and generally open-minded people, style, sexy boys and girls.

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I can get all that in Toronto too... minus the euro-ness.



Well... I CAN get that in Toronto, but I have to live in the fucking yuppie-infested burbs.

I like the Euro-ness. And there's a different feel in Montreal. It's palpable.

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Originally Posted by icepop

I think most people overlooked it as it was barely coherent and made very little sense. :p

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Dont mock my mellowdrama.

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On topic ....

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Oh, I guess I'm not on topic then? I guess this Torontonian is just talking about prejudice against someone (me) based on geographical location. Geographism. That's what this is you know.

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I don't think Montréal is the best city in the world but I think it has a lot to offer and certainly doesn't deserve the character assasination and lame French jokes that seem to have been made here. Montréal has a lot more to offer than just a bunch of festivals. There's a sort of intangible quality about the city that's hard to explain unless you've been here. There's a kind of openness and joie de vivre that is unmatched in a lot of other North American cities.

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Intangible? You're trying to use these fancy French words as a means to create a feeling of superiority, aren't you?

The fact is that if Montreal was to be summed up in a charicature, that picture would be of a man on a bicycle with a beret and a large mustache, and a loaf of bread in the bicycles basket. This man may or may not also be sporting a skin tight black spandex on his legs and sweater with red and white horizontal stripes on it.

But if TORONTO were to be summarized in to this same charicature it would probably be a cowboy without the spurs and hat. Instead they'd be replaced by a sporty business suit with racing stripe down the side to represent the fast paced business world Toronto has to offer (and because they look cool too).

Sure, bikes are pretty cool and bread is definitely a plus when you're hungry, but bringing the old west in to the high paced business world of today is something only Toronto would be daring enough to do. And we are.

Think about that.

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People can make all the stupid French jokes and misinformed assumptions about the "language police" ... but you just end up making an ass of yourself. It shows your ignorance and just how little you know about Québec and Canada.

Anyways, Montréal is a pretty cool city.

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Does it? I think it shows the depth and willingness to learn a cultures ins and outs without being poo poo'ed from the expensive cheese kart in the fine dining restaurants.

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Originally Posted by Brisco Bold

No.. Ubi soft is from France.

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Oh yeah.

Are you sure I've sold you a game, Andrew? I was probably the black guy at the counter, avoiding the incoherent guy asking about the latest EA game Prince of Persia.

I can't remember if you sold me a game or not.

As incoherant as I may be, I think everybody deserves the chance for some expensive cheese at the fine restaurant. Dare to dream Brisco, I know I do.

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Originally Posted by Gibbits

C'mon DiffX... I thought it was the one thing we had in common!

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I dunno Ive never been there. Nor have I ever wanted to, because, like I said, I barely ever hear from this supposed Canadian culture mecca.

And nobody is really convincing me that it is a place worth going to.

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Originally Posted by Kenshin

I can get all that in Toronto too... minus the euro-ness.

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I'm sure you can. I wasn't trying to say Montréal was in any way better than Toronto. I was only defending it. It's true that there is a lot to do in Toronto and yes, yes, I admit it's only Spadina that smells really bad (and occassionally the smoggy stench that rises up over the city from Lake Ontario). Anyways, I'm not saying everyone should move on up to Montréal ... I just personally love the city and hate the French jokes. I find there's a uniqueness to the city that I have yet to experience elsewhere.

In my experience there is uniqueness to virtually every place you go.

A uniqueness that would make 90% of the human race feel oddly out of place because they're not used it?

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Originally Posted by diffusionx

In my experience there is uniqueness to virtually every place you go.

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Seriously man. But if you try to ask for some cheese at the kart after dinner they'll look at you like you're out of your fucking mind. I mean, c'mon waiter, just pass the good shit this way.

[COLOR=Black]

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Originally Posted by diffusionx

And nobody is really convincing me that it is a place worth going to.

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Ignoring the fact that I love the city, but it's truly an amazing place. Especially if you're coming straight from America. People are nice there (unless you meet a few club bouncers in a back alley like some guy I saw, but that's an isolated incidence...) it's hard to explain how good it feels to be there. You feel... I dunno, liberated from the hustle and bustle.

Oh, liberated? Any drug will give you this sensation.

Also, if you're thinking about entering mail-in contests forget about it. In most contests Quebec isn't eligible. If that's no deterent I don't know what is.

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Originally Posted by diffusionx

Aside from the jazz festival, which is cool, but not unlike a million other music-related festivals in the USA (Milwaukee has a huge one, I heard about), that other stuff you mentioned isn't all that great.

Im not saying Montreal is shitty or anything, but if it contributed as much to world culture as sggg said, you know, youd think you would hear about it more... I mean I hear about Sydney, London, Tokyo, Berlin, Beijing, even like Buenos Aires all the time, but not Montreal.

I hear about Toronto and Vancouver way more than Montreal, actually.

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Well, you're hardly worldy. That's why. :p Anyway, I'd say that Montréal has a very esteemed international reputation. It's almost always included in the lists of major international cities - both in the US and around the world. The city is one of the top tourist destinations in North America and is reknowned for it's nightlife and internationally famous festivals (Jazz, Comedy, Film, Winter, Light, there are too many to name) as well as European charm and old port.

Montréal produces a great deal of entertainment in both French and English. Québec has it's own film industry and Montréal is the centre of it. Many films receive their NA premieres in Montréal every year. Many television shows are produced in the city. Many English language films are shot in the city, where it often doubles for for NYC. A great number of authors, playrights, and musicians/bands hail from the city or have relacted there. John Lennon recorded Give Peace a Chance in the Queen Elizabeth Hotel in 1969. Montréal is home to one of the largest animation industries in the world and is establishing a reputation for game studios. The city is not quite on par with Paris or Milan but it's one of the hubs in the world of fashion. Montréal has the world's largest underground city. Montréal is one of the culinary capitals of the world, world famous for it's restaurants, chefs, and unique cuisine. Montréal is famous for it's sex industy and liberal attitudes towards sex, and tolerance towards gays and lesbians. Montréal is a centre of learning and is home to several world famous English and French universities (#1 in NA per capita), such as McGill. Many prestegious Canadian organisations are centred in Montréal, such as the National Film Board.

Montréal is acknowledged as the birthplace of hockey and is home to the most successful team in NHL history. The Bell Centre is (or "was"?) the world's largest indoor arena. Montréal hosted the 1976 Olympics and 1969 World's Fair (one of the two most successful World's Fairs in history along with NY's in 64). Many famous athletes have come from the city, countless hockey players like Rocket Richard, Mario Lemieux, and Martin Brodeur as well as F1 drivers Gilles and Jacques Villeneuve. Montréal is home to one of the most popular stops on the Grand Prix.

Historically speaking, Montréal was going to be the base for the British government if Germany had taken Britain in WWII. All of Britains assets including the crown jewels were stored in MTL during the war. When it was built Place Ville-Marie was the largest building in the world (in area). The Sunlife Building was once the tallest building in the former British Empire.

Ok, I'm getting tired of typing but you get the point. None of that really matters. What it comes down to is that you may not know MTL from a hole in the wall but it's still one of the 5-6 most famous cities in North America and the #1 city in Canada (sorry Toronto, you may have more people and more corporate HQs now, but people don't visit a place for those reason).

*yawn*

I should work for the tourist bureau. :p

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Originally Posted by Kenshin

I can get all that in Toronto too... minus the euro-ness.

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Great food in Toronto?! :p

Anyway, I'm not taking digs at TO. It's not so bad and like I said somewhere in this thread, has many nice features like the multi-culturalism.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Kenshin

Well... I CAN get that in Toronto, but I have to live in the fucking yuppie-infested burbs.

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Montréal has the lowest cost of living of any major city in North America. :)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by sggg

Historically speaking, Montréal was going to be the base for the British government if Germany had taken Britain in WWII. All of Britains assets including the crown jewels were stored in MTL during the war. When it was built Place Ville-Marie was the largest building in the world (in area). The Sunlife Building was once the tallest building in the former British Empire.

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I thought that was Camp X? That was in Ontario... sorry.