chip
Well-known member
PS following Chapmans remark, the landscape is like Wales but 50x scale. Mountains, amazing coatline and big skies.
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Anyone been to Canada ?
- Thread starter Uncle Spielberg
- Start date
REDLAND
Active member
The greatest thing about Vancouver apart form the obvious, that it has a huge punker bike/boarding culture, is that is you catch the weather right, you can spend the morning Boarding on Grassy Mountain then spend the afternoon sunbathing in Horseshoe Bay (cheers chip for the reminder)
BC Weed is something to try as well
BC Weed is something to try as well
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disgruntled h blocker
Active member
Vancouver is a great city. Been there a couple of times as I have some relatives on Vancouver Island. The bars are good, try and go to the ones that have Micro-Brewery onsite - tastes a lot nicer than the normal North-American beer you get!
There is a massive mall in Burnaby, which you can get to by the 'SkyTrain' (underground) - with a massive shop which last year only had one English soccer shirt in - a Port Vale one! (no kidding!)
If you manage to get time to goto the 'Island' get the ferry to Quadra Island, really picturesque.
If you're going in the summer, try out the Sea-Kayaking if that's your sort of thing...
The only problem I had there was the begging in the streets where they come up to you, which can be a bit annoying after a while.
There is a massive mall in Burnaby, which you can get to by the 'SkyTrain' (underground) - with a massive shop which last year only had one English soccer shirt in - a Port Vale one! (no kidding!)
If you manage to get time to goto the 'Island' get the ferry to Quadra Island, really picturesque.
If you're going in the summer, try out the Sea-Kayaking if that's your sort of thing...
The only problem I had there was the begging in the streets where they come up to you, which can be a bit annoying after a while.
Raphael Meade
Well-known member
a bloke i was talking to in a bar in toronto was telling me about the beggars in vancouver. he reckons they get on the train anywhere in canada looking for somewhere 'better' to go and cause vancouver is the end of the line they all end up there and never leave
Ex-Staffs Gull
New member
Went a few years back, and went to Vancouver , drove to Calgary over the Rockys (via Banff and Jasper) and then back.
Loved the place....... I am currently trying to emmigrate there, and have my application underway. (a job would be nice though)
Vancouver is a clean city with very mild weather (very little snow , a bit of rain and temperate summers. Very much like the UK. The Other side of the Rockys is Hot and V.V.V. Cold.
As someone else said, go north from Vancouver for a day, into the Rockys, a great trip..
Loved the place....... I am currently trying to emmigrate there, and have my application underway. (a job would be nice though)
Vancouver is a clean city with very mild weather (very little snow , a bit of rain and temperate summers. Very much like the UK. The Other side of the Rockys is Hot and V.V.V. Cold.
As someone else said, go north from Vancouver for a day, into the Rockys, a great trip..
Juan Albion
Chicken Sniffer 3rd Class
tinx said:
The Falls at Niagara are worth seeing of course (but you MUST do the boat trip to see them properly IMHO) but the rest of Niagara is the other pimple on Canada's ass, along with Hamilton. Niagara-on-the-lake is quite nice though.
BTW, any reason you are spelling Niagara like Viagra? Bit of a problem? You can tell us, we're doctors...
REDLAND
Active member
Raphael Meade said:a bloke i was talking to in a bar in toronto was telling me about the beggars in vancouver. he reckons they get on the train anywhere in canada looking for somewhere 'better' to go and cause vancouver is the end of the line they all end up there and never leave
A lot of the beggars on the west coast, Seattle included are Vietnam vets that the countries don't give a
about, its really sad I think, just another shining example of how America/Canada treats its war heros 
Try not to worry about the flight too much. By far the most dangerous part of your journey will be getting to the airport.
On the longer flights there'll be a lot more to occupy you than on a short hop to the Med - grit your teeth and go for it.. maybe a trip like this will help you overcome your fear of flying.
On the longer flights there'll be a lot more to occupy you than on a short hop to the Med - grit your teeth and go for it.. maybe a trip like this will help you overcome your fear of flying.
Stumpy Tim
Well-known member
Been to Toronto & Ottawa many times. Toronto is awesome, but Ottawa is very dull. My parents lived in Vancouver for a couple of years & they loved it.
Raphael Meade
Well-known member
redland said:A lot of the beggars on the west coast, Seattle included are Vietnam vets that the countries don't give a
didnt no that, assumed they were just bums
does seem a bit rich, especially when many were drafted against there will...
Stumpy Tim said:
Useless. No they didn't, they lived in Toronto.
Canada is a cracking place and is actually a country of contrast. Vancouver is a lovely place and very clean. It's reasonably warm all year round and of course is an hour and a half's drive from Whistler, one of the best ski resorts around. One downside is that there is not much near Vancouver - you've got Seattle (3 hr drive) and then Tecoma over the border, or drive east to come to Kelowna or Kamloops which are two very ordinary towns half way between Calgary and Vancouver (separated by a 15 hour drive).
As Juan says, Hamilton is a total toilet as are the towns of Niagra on either side of the border - so avoid them if you're going to Canada.
I think Montreal is probably my favourite Canadian City. Toronto is great too. Quebec City is up its own arse and in all honesty is as close to France as you can get without being in Europe.
Raphael Meade
Well-known member
ChapmansThe Saviour said:
got me a new one when i was at the air canada centre watching the leafs a coupla weeks back. you save about your airfare in the shipping they charge to UK!!
...and talking of baseball, did anyone see the cubs florida game 6?! that bloke is gonna get lynched and his house burnt down!
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bhaexpress
New member
Canada offers most of the benefits of an American lifestyle without most of the drawbacks. Like us they have a national health system and a decent social services system. They, like us, pay more tax that the Americans but thus have a much healthier society allover. It has a completely different atmosphere than the US and frankly a rather different attitude.
I've been in the US four times this year so far and Canada (Ontario) twice and, were it not for the truly appalling weather up there I'd say it beats the US into a cocked hat. Oh, plus the small fact that my wife is very American (they're not all bad by a long chalk). However, she visited Canada and loved the place. Next year her two eldst kids will be going there.
Yes, I'd go there in heartbeat, great place and great people (you should avoid French speaking areas like Quebec as they don't even like the French let alone English speaking Canadians).
I've been in the US four times this year so far and Canada (Ontario) twice and, were it not for the truly appalling weather up there I'd say it beats the US into a cocked hat. Oh, plus the small fact that my wife is very American (they're not all bad by a long chalk). However, she visited Canada and loved the place. Next year her two eldst kids will be going there.
Yes, I'd go there in heartbeat, great place and great people (you should avoid French speaking areas like Quebec as they don't even like the French let alone English speaking Canadians).
Have to agree with all the positive Canadian comments. It is a great country in every sense of the word. People are really welcoming and generally like the Brits but not the Yanks, except Quebec which is like French Folk everywhere. They think they are the superior race.
Agee about Hamilton and the drive round the QEW being an industrial wasteland but it leads to Niagara. Now the Falls are a truly awesome and you can get real close but do take the Maid of the Mist. The parkway is how public roads and gardens should be but the town of Niagara is a run down version of Blackpool. Mind you the US town of Niagara is even worse. However Niagara on the Lake is well worth a visit. It used to be the capital of Upper Canada and around there is where we beat The Yanks when they tried to seize Canada from Brit control.
Also good is Lake Huron going north but for great scenery then you have to go West to the Rockies and Vancouver.
As for a long flight don't worry most people just get bored and doze after the meal and a glass or two of wine. If you can afford consider travelling with BA in Premium Economy (World Traveller Plus) Well worth the extra for a bit more comfort.
Enjoy!
Agee about Hamilton and the drive round the QEW being an industrial wasteland but it leads to Niagara. Now the Falls are a truly awesome and you can get real close but do take the Maid of the Mist. The parkway is how public roads and gardens should be but the town of Niagara is a run down version of Blackpool. Mind you the US town of Niagara is even worse. However Niagara on the Lake is well worth a visit. It used to be the capital of Upper Canada and around there is where we beat The Yanks when they tried to seize Canada from Brit control.
Also good is Lake Huron going north but for great scenery then you have to go West to the Rockies and Vancouver.
As for a long flight don't worry most people just get bored and doze after the meal and a glass or two of wine. If you can afford consider travelling with BA in Premium Economy (World Traveller Plus) Well worth the extra for a bit more comfort.
Enjoy!
bhaexpress
New member
Maid of the Mist is a truly awesome experience, one not to be missed if you get the chance.
Beware, it's snows like a bastard in the WInter although the Canadians are far better than most at clearing their roads. However, last winter it was so cold that Lake Huron was supposed to have frozen right across, it was certainly pretty frozen up at the end of March when I was there.
Go there !
Beware, it's snows like a bastard in the WInter although the Canadians are far better than most at clearing their roads. However, last winter it was so cold that Lake Huron was supposed to have frozen right across, it was certainly pretty frozen up at the end of March when I was there.
Go there !
Sullycanuck
New member
As a born and bred Canadian, it does my heart a lot of good to hear these comments by all of you. I wish they would allow more British citizens to immigrate here. I have had the pleasure of meeting many Brits here. For the most part, they love it here but get homesick and go back to Britain only to realize once they get there that they want to come back. I wish a lot more would! You guys make me proud to be a Canadian. Come on over! First pint is on me! 
Every survey I've ever read on the subject puts Canada in the top two of "best countries to live in" - it tends to run neck and neck with Norway, depending on how "standard of living" is categorised.
Either way, it shits on the US (and the UK for that matter) yet the Americans still think it's hilarious that the C$ is worth less than their own.
Strange.
Either way, it shits on the US (and the UK for that matter) yet the Americans still think it's hilarious that the C$ is worth less than their own.
Strange.Sullycanuck
New member
Americans are an enigma and something I don't want to get started on otherwise I'd be here all day.