Canada province/city impression thread

[sggg]

Ok, from what I've seen in this thread, I can come to this conclusion:

Torontonions just accept that they live in the centre of the universe, because that's what the rest of Canada sarcastically calls the city. "Whatever."

Montrealers are positive their "super-cultured" city deserves that title, and are totally bitter about it.

Nah, that's definitely not true. Most people are proud of the city and it's culture but it's very laid back and self-confident place, not unlike NYC in that regard. It's just the way people are.

I'm only going on and on about it because we're discussing it, and I'm neither a native Montréaler or French Canadian so I would not make that judgement based on me.

[Matt]

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.

Montreal is unique because it's the one city on Earth where you can experience French-Canadian culture without having to learn the language. And why would you want to experience French-Canadian culture? Because it's unique - there's nothing else like it in the world. Sort of like France, but sort of like the rest of North America too.

Whether or not this is interesting enough to make you want to visit is another matter. It's a very nice city as far as cities go with plenty of cool stuff, but of course there are dozens of other cities on the continent to go to so that hardly sets it apart.

As for why you haven't heard of it, I imagine there's some sort of isolationist thing going on over there. I never heard too much about what happened there when I lived in Canada, even it was common knowledge that Montreal was cool. You have to go there to find out, I suppose.

I took this photo last time I was there. I think it summarizes the city perfectly:

Great food in Toronto?!

Damn right. Eating is the thing I look forward to most when I visit.

[Diff-chan]

Whether or not this is interesting enough to make you want to visit is another matter. It's a very nice city as far as cities go with plenty of cool stuff, but of course there are dozens of other cities on the continent to go to so that hardly sets it apart.

Yea, that's what I figured.

As for that picture... snow? Blah!

[Tones]

What I find amusing is the constant usage of "European" as a description for Montreal; it sounds like the city with an identity crisis. From what I gather in this thread, it is trying too hard to be on the other side of the Atlantic. Why can't it be described as "North American"? And you crazy Canadians make such a big deal about how arrogant Americans are, yet say "there aren't any cities in the US that can possibly equate to the super-awesome Canadian ones!" Apparently Canada is a country that is highly acclaimed internationally, yet, I haven't seen anything in the headlines about you recently.

Now, don't think that I'm knocking Canada here. I've never been, but I imagine that there are many places to go, and many thing to do. And yes, I know that it's very clean, probably many times cleaner than the average American city. Hopefully I can see it sometime.

[icepop]

Apparently Canada is a country that is highly acclaimed internationally, yet, I haven't seen anything in the headlines about you recently.

Probably because we haven't dropped bombs or invaded anything recently.

[Diff-chan]

Or... maybe it's just not really internationally acclaimed. I'll tell you that people from San Francisco think a lot more of their city than anyone else does, so maybe, just maybe, Canada has the same affliction.

[sleeve]

If you want to go to a "European"-style city in Canada, just go to Quebec City. It's pretty cool.

Personally, I've wanted to go to Montreal for many years. My grandfather lived there for a brief period. It has one of the oldest Jewish communities in North America.

I also hear that the women are really fucking hot.

[Kenshin]

Apparently Canada is a country that is highly acclaimed internationally, yet, I haven't seen anything in the headlines about you recently.

Well, seeing as negative news is de rigeur nowadays, I'd hardly say that's a bad thing.

There's an old expression that goes "Sometimes the best news is no news."

[Diff-chan]

I also hear that the women are really fucking hot.

They are really hot where you live now, dude.

[sleeve]

Point taken, but here it's all blonds and sorority girls.

I dig the Euro chicks, the Audrey Hepburn look, that sort of thing.