Back in Ottawa: central library on Metcalfe.
This picture reminds me of two more differences I noticed on my recent road trip to the USA:
- We didn’t see any beggars in the places we went. But panhandlers (and hobos) are everywhere in Canada.
- In the United States, lots of people say hello and good morning to strangers. It’s nice; it makes you feel good. Not in Canada.
(For the other things I noticed, please see Yellow piano.)
Oh, and don’t forget these things:
- They are crazy about freeways. They clog up mid-sized towns like Lancaster, PA with masses of freeway interchanges when simple roads would do just fine for getting you where you want to go. This keeps everyone in a frenzied state of high-speed travel readiness at all times.
- They pack sugar into every meal, especially breakfast.
I had fun visiting the US but I’m still very glad to be a Canadian. We’re so much more sensible!
A year ago today:
Pic 560
Walk don’t run
August 31, 2009
Two years ago:
Pic 207
ABUS
August 31, 2008
5 Comments
I don’t think its a Canada US thing, I think it depends on size of community. My son’s girlfriend visited him in Ottawa when he was there visiting his dad this summer. Her commentary on Ottawa was VERY interesting.
“No one says hello or chats with store clerks or servers If you do say hello or even make eye contact with some people it’s taken as an invitation for abuse. Where on earth have they hidden all the old people? Its creepy, there aren’t any downtown at all! Everyone looks unhappy and in a rush. It was kinda the same in Halifax whjen I visitted there but there were still old people and you still got nods and smiles when you said Hello.”
Rural Nova Scotia and rural Pennsylvania are very similar I think.
Funny, my friends & family that visit Ottawa (from Toronto and the U.S.) always remark at how friendly people from Ottawa are. It kind of freaks them out. That was one of the first things that struck me when we moved here, everyone is so friendly.
Powerful photo Robin.
Thanks Laura, glad you like it :)
I too have found Ottawa very friendly at times. Strangers say hello, line ups in the grocery store go slowly as the cashiers get into extended conversations with customers, on the other hand, I would not say that Ottawa folks are keen to make new friends. They are polite but private. And about the old people – I also found the opposite – tons of them – especially driving. And there is a huge population of 40-60 year olds. In fact the only place dominated by youth is the Market.