Oh, Canada, here I come!

[cap_scaleman]

Last summer I went away working for about 4 weeks. This summer I will be away (but not working) for 6 weeks. For two weeks I will be in Canada. On Vancouver Island to be exact, on the eastcoast close to the American border. It will be fun and it will be many photographs. We are going there because of an invitation from relatives - whom I haven't

Comments

[lostincandyrain]

Make sure you go to Victoria! I've always loved it there.

[cap_scaleman]

My relatives have probably thought about that too. :) Do you visit Canada often?

[lostincandyrain]

Nope, though I've been to Victoria quite a few times, I only did mainland Canada once. And Vancouver and Vancouver island barely count as Canada because they're so close to the US that the culture is pretty similar, and the island is quite touristy, especially Victoria (though it's beautiful enough to make up for it.)

I don't know what kind of shops you have in Sweden, but last time I was there they had a lot of shops that were very different from the ones here, and I'm a lot closer than you are, so they might not be the same...

[cap_scaleman]

Oh, well, I thought that I might try and live in Canada at least sometime in my life (though not in Vancouver). I want to skip the touristy parts...

Well, that is one thing I shall try and find out. I was mainly thinking of fashion shops. Fashion in the west is not far from the European fashion in the larger markets. They do have H&M, right?

[ameinias]

I know a lot about Canada. I've lived there all my life! I've only lived in Ontario and only been as far west as Winnipeg, Manitoba, but maybe I still know some things? Things I have heard about Vancouver/Vancouver Island/B. C.: It's very crowded. It's very, very beautiful. It has weather like California except that it tends to rain a lot. There are a lot of heroin junkies. Prostitution is legal except only in brothels? (I am not sure about this one?) They have laxer laws on marijauna than the rest of Canada. (But I'm not sure about that, either.) Driving over the Rockies (the mountains out there) by yourself during a thunder storm is a bad idea and you'll probably die, so don't do it!

The Canadian music scene is really awesome right now, and mostly they tour in B.C. and southern ontario so you're in a good place!

My UBC attending friend says Vancouver has excellent Jazz clubs.

[ameinias]

oh, and bits of southern BC are tourist traps for americans who come up and take advantage of our previously awful dollar.

[cap_scaleman]

Interesting facts. I might compare the amount of Ganja around in my hometown to the one in and around Vancouver. Ganja is starting to spread even more and tons of people I have met talk about drugs. Hehehe, quite interesting but alarming.

I'll hope for some time to look up those jazz clubs. Are they nightly or 24/7 open?

The rain I've heard of, yes, but that is just nice. We have had several days now without no real raining... It is frustrating.

I shall watch out for the prostitutes, yes.

[ameinias]

The prostitutes are apparently in discreet buildings? I don't know!

I'm not sure about Vancouver, but in Toronto clubs are generally open until 2am or so, not 24 hour, but if you ask around enough there's after hours dives you can go but they're really, really seedy. Some are open as restaurants in during the day and others just open in the afternoon/evening.

Weeds pretty big here, and even bigger, I've heard, in Vancouver. I've also heard they have the best weed in Canada? but i do not know, i am not a connoisseur.

[ex_newironsh15]

I've never been to the Rest of Canada but from what I can tell it's just like a smarter, more smug America.

[cap_scaleman]

I've met Americans that asked for polarbears and if they walked around the streets of Stockholm. On top of this is that common meta-joke about Swedish girls walking nude, what in the schell, don't they know that naked Swedish girls are the favourite meal of polarbears? That is why they don't walk nude!

[ex_newironsh15]

Americans are really repressed, you know, because their women are so cold... so you have to forgive a little insanity on their part

[cap_scaleman]

Yeah, reading how you should act in a bar around the US is quite interesting. You can't drink with a straw for example, but that is only a nono for males since it is soooo femaaaaalelelele...

[lula_neith]

Have a great trip! I live in OR, which isn't too far south of BC. I'll have to get up there sometime.

[cap_scaleman]

I'll be reporting with a photoblog during the time I am there. I will surely write something when I get home too. Be so sure.

[myani]

Wait... So you'll be on Vancouver Island, yes? I'm confused because everybody keeps commenting on Vancouver B.C., which is not on Vancouver Island. (Why on earth do they use the same name for different places!?)

Victoria is absolutely beautiful (if you're going to spend any time there), but there are a lot of tourists. I've been there a few times, since I live in the Puget Sound area of Washington and it's a short ferry ride away. Canadians are awesome... much nicer than most Americans, haha. Then again, I think people from Seattle are nicer than most Americans, too. You should come visit! :D

Most of the shopping I've done when in B.C. was inland -- I don't know very much about the rest of Vancouver Island, just the Victoria area. If you are actually going to visit Vancouver B.C., though, there's a lot of interesting stuff to check out. It's a very cool city and is much less touristy.

[cap_scaleman]

Yes, I'll be at Victoria... Sorry for the confusion("ahem, ahem").

Yeah, I've heard a lot about the difference. I have met Americans before and I know many Americans through here. No hate towards Americans really!

Seattle eh? Hmm, if it is getting rid of it's smog. What I dislike with America is that I've so much of about their "love of nature".

Well, time will tell, shopping is not my misson. It shall be meeting people, shaking hands and experience interesting food and drinks... Like Root Beer.