Re: How French is Quebec??
 

LOL! Well, lets just say that you were not in the best part of Ottawa. This area is known as the market, where a lot of the bars, tatoo and piercing shops are. Go a bit further down that road in the direction away from Parliament Hill and you would have been in Vanier. In Vanier, you can find a hooker on every street corner!

Re: How French is Quebec??
 

It's a pity to be that close to Quebec and never visit, especially based on a few opinions... I'd choose Quebec over Ontario any day. Montreal is vibrant, interesting and full of good food and cool bars. Quebec City is smaller, quainter, more romantic and a world apart from most North American cities. If you want to discover Quebec culture at it's best in Montreal, try Les Deux Pierrots in the Old Port on a Saturday night. Or if you want a glimpse of the diversity try the Plateau for restos, shops and bars.

I live in Montreal (currently waiting for my permanent res. papers to come through, I'm originally from Northern Ireland). If you ever choose to visit I can give you more specific places you shouldn't miss while here!

Re: How French is Quebec??
 

Thanks. Just the info I needed. :D

I'm moving to a small village near Ottawa, hopefully this summer. Now I know where I have to go for some pleasure.... :D

Re: How French is Quebec??
 

My husband, Jim, borne and raised in Montreal but of English heritage not French retired to Ottawa and lived there for many years before migrating to the US when we married. He said you were in the wrong part of town ;-) You were in the old town (Rideau Street) not Wellington.

He said there are two bridges leading from Ottawa to Hull and one is Wellington Street and the other Rideau Street. Rideau is the older part of town and if you were walking there you were lucky it were not night time as it is high crime.

Re: How French is Quebec??
 

As a US Citizen married to a Canadian borne and raised in Montreal but of English heritage although he does speak French, German, a bit of Italian and Hebrew, I have spent much time in both Montreal with my in-laws and in Ottawa where Jim owned a condo until last spring. I enjoy Montreal, the sights, sounds, food and architecture but I also found that I loved Ottawa far more. It is bilingual with less prejudices (at least from my experiences), diverse, cultural, and very progressive. Lots of interesting things to do and see from quiet walks and river cruises to theater and music to museums and art galleries and lovely promanades along Parliament Hill. Spark Street and Speaker's Corner was a gas. Great food much like New York City where you can enjoy food from around the world at any number of restaurants.

I've also spent time in Halifax, Nova Scotia and although it is a lovely little town and the outlying areas beautiful, I found it boring unless you are only into nature and much prefered New Brunswick for things to do and possible living. I found Halifax to be stunted in growth possibilities and am in awe of the number of Brits that are moving there as from my stepson I have learned that employment is difficult to obtain even with a degree and wages low and benefits almost non-existent. Perhaps it is that way only to Native Americans and Canadian born citizens. That is always a possibility.

All in all, however, I have always found the Canadian people to be friendly and welcoming not just to tourists but the foreign families of Canadian citizens.

At least that is this Americans thoughts on the subject.

I have to recount a little story. We always cross into Quebec province through the Lake Champaign POE. While waiting one summer to show our documents, a young man was approaching all the cars with brochures and saying: Welcome to my country, Quebec. My husband who served 36 years in the RCAF before retirement in '94, ripped him a new one when he approached our car. Told him that Quebec was NOT a country but a province and it is the country of Canada. And if he didn't want to find himself on the losing end of a lawsuit, he would change what he was saying.
Rete