This article is classified "Real"
To Canadians, Canada is "just zis country, you know." To visitors,
it is the coldest country on the planet (with an average year-round
temperature of -5). While Canadians take distinct pleasure in
travelling to a city, say like Chicago, and watching the entire
population get traumatized and see all of the city's infrastructure
grind to a halt when the temperature dips below -10 (centigrade) and
they get 2 inches of snow, it is interesting to note that these same
people, say from Chicago, take a distinct pleasure in the Canadians
taking a distinct pleasure in watching them suffer. It seems to go
something like this:
Canadian: (observing snow, and -10 degree temperatures)
"<Chuckle>....<snicker>.....<gufaw>...."
Chicagoan: (scratches head)
Canadian: "Look at that bus...<snicker>...get a load of the
huge coat that lady is wearing...."
Chicagoan: (wonders what is so funny)
Canadian: (hears on radio that school is cancelled - begins
loud obnoxious laughing)
Chicagoan: (realizing what the Canadian finds so funny)
"I wonder what kind of arctic deep-freeze hole this
guy must be from to be enjoying this. Poor guy."
At this point, the person, say from Chicago, chuckles softly and walks
away. The interesting thing is, that while it actually is the coldest
country on the planet, it is not, in fact, an arctic deep-freeze hole.
It is actually one of the most naturally beautiful, and diverse,
countries in the world, with climates ranging from arctic to semi-
desert, and arid to semi-tropical.
For the hitchhiker interested in natural beauty, there are many places to
see all over the country including:
1) The Buchard Gardens in British Columbia for flower and
garden lovers. The best cultivated garden in the country.
2) Waterton National Park in southern Alberta for mountain
lakes, forests, and several beautiful small waterfalls.
3) Lake Laronge in northern Saskatchewan sports some of the
best lake fishing in the country, along with some very nice
secluded island cabins.
4) The Great (albeit now dirty) Lakes offer virtually limitless
boating.
For those that enjoy urban travel and riotous parties, try the pubs and
clubs of Toronto. Or, if you like French women, try Montreal or Quebec
City. The women there have all the accent, but none of the armpit hair,
of Paris women.
And for those who like rustic, back-home, down-to-planet people and
communities, there are the east-coast provinces (Nova Scotia, New
Brunswick, Newfoundland, and Prince Edward Island). In these provinces
the hitchhiker can enjoy some of Canada's oldest and friendliest
communities. There the discerning hitchhiker will find some of the
richest and most mature culture in the nation (not to mentions pubs
that one would swear were teleported straight from the U.K.).
All in all, a very surprisingly diverse country. Just don't visit in
January.