Quebec, the French Language, and Quebecois Identity

[mousquet]

Originally Posted by Acajack

In general, I think the French are mostly indifferent to Florida due to the presence of other more accessible sun destinations for them.

My elder brother likes Florida.
He's been there at least 4 times or more, while I never have. He likes the supercar show-off on Ocean Drive, people showing off like random porn stars... He's an asshole. He is Cain and I'm Abel, and we've always been in a conflict.
I like CA better, cause it's wilder and more innovative IMO.

It's up to everyone's taste.
I'd like to go to the Keys, though. It must be a pretty place.

[New Brisavoine]

Originally Posted by Acajack

In general, I think the French are mostly indifferent to Florida due to the presence of other more accessible sun destinations for them.

There's been a big increase in interest for Florida and travels to Florida (at least for those who have the money). It's big on the list of "influencers" and rich kids nowadays. I've never quite understood it, since we have warm destinations closer to home, and Florida's weather is awful from March to November, but it is how it is.

That said, there was a 3 minutes news story on French television the other night (about Trump voters in Fort Lauderdale or similar location), and wow, seeing those manicured neighborhoods (green lawns, pretty houses, polished sports cars) drenched with sunshine in the middle of February I was like... some people really have it better than other...

America is just multiple times richer than Europe, it's insane (especially those wealthy neighborhoods in Florida).

[Acajack]

Originally Posted by New Brisavoine

There's been a big increase in interest for Florida and travels to Florida (at least for those who have the money). It's big on the list of "influencers" and rich kids nowadays. I've never quite understood it, since we have warm destinations closer to home, and Florida's weather is awful from March to November, but it is how it is.

That said, there was a 3 minutes news story on French television the other night (about Trump voters in Fort Lauderdale or similar location), and wow, seeing those manicured neighborhoods (green lawns, pretty houses, polished sports cars) drenched with sunshine in the middle of February I was like... some people really have it better than other...

America is just multiple times richer than Europe, it's insane (especially those wealthy neighborhoods in Florida).

It kind of puts things in perspective when so many Canadians talk about the US as if it was some kind of shithole.

(Obviously, some parts of the US are indeed shitholes. But vast areas of it are not.)

[lio45]

Originally Posted by mousquet

My elder brother likes Florida.
He's been there at least 4 times or more, while I never have. He likes the supercar show-off on Ocean Drive, people showing off like random porn stars... He's an asshole. He is Cain and I'm Abel, and we've always been in a conflict.
I like CA better, cause it's wilder and more innovative IMO.

It's up to everyone's taste.
I'd like to go to the Keys, though. It must be a pretty place.

I love California, lived there in the past for a little while, but the big downside as a beach destination vs FL is that the water is cold as fuck in CA.

[Acajack]

Originally Posted by lio45

While on the subject of the Journal de Montréal, it’s interesting to note that paper copies are available in Florida (not everywhere in the state obviously) but not in London, Ontario.

A snowbird reading the JdM daily would be less out of touch with modern Quebec than some expat who has little daily contact with what’s happening there nowadays.

The first time I went to Florida was on a spring break trip when I was in university in the early 90s. (I was an Ontario guy back then.)

It was a bit shocking to me and my anglophone Ontario friends that on the beach in Pompano there were newspaper hawkers yelling: "Miami Herald! New York Times! Washington Post! USA Today! Journal de Montréal! La Presse!"

[New Brisavoine]

Originally Posted by le calmar

Agadir is probably their version of Florida (though the contrast is not as significant as here I must add).

Marrakech rather, but it's not as warm as Miami in Winter. For that you've got to to Dubai or to the Red Sea resorts of Egypt. That's where the Germans and Scandinavians go in general (the French much less so). The French are more into Marrakech, but it's more like northern Florida/Carolinas in winter, not like southern Florida (for that you'd have to go to Mauritania or Senegal).

Many French people also go to Réunion/Guadeloupe/Martinique in winter of course. These are typical destinations.

[le calmar]

Originally Posted by New Brisavoine

Marrakech rather, but it's not as warm as Miami in Winter. For that you've got to to Dubai or to the Red Sea resorts of Egypt. That's where the Germans and Scandinavians go in general (the French much less so). The French are more into Marrakech, but it's more like northern Florida/Carolinas in winter, not like southern Florida (for that you'd have to go to Mauritania or Senegal).

Agadir has the 'beach resort' vibes and temperatures in the low 20's in winter. It's also accessible by car. Hence my comparison. But yes, if one is willing to fly, they would probably go to the destinations you mentioned instead. Marrakech is definitely on the colder side and is inland. Very different vibes too.

[Acajack]

Originally Posted by New Brisavoine

Marrakech rather, but it's not as warm as Miami in Winter. For that you've got to to Dubai or to the Red Sea resorts of Egypt. That's where the Germans and Scandinavians go in general (the French much less so). The French are more into Marrakech, but it's more like northern Florida/Carolinas in winter, not like southern Florida (for that you'd have to go to Mauritania or Senegal).

Many French people also go to Réunion/Guadeloupe/Martinique in winter of course. These are typical destinations.

Marrakech is a fascinating place for sure, but not exactly a beach town.

Can you party decently in Agadir?

[New Brisavoine]

Originally Posted by le calmar

Harls mentioned last week while you were having a drink on the beach

I'm being told he was in the cold and damp jails of the SSP dungeon, for misconduct, not sipping a cocktail on some Florida beaches.

[Acajack]

Originally Posted by New Brisavoine

I'm being told he was in the cold and damp jails of the SSP dungeon, for misconduct, not sipping a cocktail on some Florida beaches.

¿Por que no los dos?

[New Brisavoine]

Originally Posted by mousquet

My elder brother likes Florida.
He's been there at least 4 times or more, while I never have. He likes the supercar show-off on Ocean Drive, people showing off like random porn stars... He's an asshole. He is Cain and I'm Abel, and we've always been in a conflict.
I like CA better, cause it's wilder and more innovative IMO.

CA can be very "show off" too, especially LA. Once we parked at a small car park in Venice Beach, and suddenly a rather beautiful Black lady arrived and parked her car next to us. Her license plate number was: "MS VISA".

You gotta love the Americans!

In the SF Bay Area you see very few customized license plates, but in LA you see a lot.

[Acajack]

Originally Posted by le calmar

Agadir has the 'beach resort' vibes and temperatures in the low 20's in winter. It's also accessible by car.

Do many people from France really pack up the car and drive to Agadir? I know there is a ferry from Spain to Tanger, but not sure if this is a common thing.

Anybody know?

[New Brisavoine]

Originally Posted by lio45

I love California, lived there in the past for a little while, but the big downside as a beach destination vs FL is that the water is cold as fuck in CA.

It's swimmable in summer from Santa Barbara to San Diego.

Swimming is overrated anyway. It's been ages since I haven't swum in the sea.
Ever since I've lived in CA, I've gotten used to just dip my feet in it, no more than ankle high, and that's fine with me.

Swimming in the sea leaves your skin all salty, it's nasty. Plus jellyfish and sharks. No thanks.

The real downside with CA is not the ocean temperature but the swimming pool temperature. Even in LA the swimming pools are cold due to the cool nights, so unless you have a piscine chauffante it's too cold to swim even in summer.

[Acajack]

Originally Posted by New Brisavoine

It's swimmable in summer from Santa Barbara to San Diego.

Swimming is overrated anyway. It's been ages since I haven't swum in the sea.
Ever since I've lived in CA, I've gotten used to just dip my feet in it, no more than ankle high, and that's fine with me.

Swimming in the sea leaves your skin all salty, it's nasty. Plus jellyfish and sharks. No thanks.

The real downside with CA is not the ocean temperature but the swimming pool temperature. Even in LA the swimming pools are cold due to the cool nights, so unless you have a piscine chauffante it's too cold to swim even in summer.

Summer in southern Quebec = or > Summer in LA ?????

[New Brisavoine]

Originally Posted by le calmar

Agadir has the 'beach resort' vibes and temperatures in the low 20's in winter.

People go to Agadir in summer more than in winter. The ocean is as cold as in California. It's not warm like Florida. And air temperature is cooler than southern Florida in winter.

Marrakech has much more cachet than Agadir (which is essentially a new town without history), and it's big on the list of French travelers.

Originally Posted by le calmar

It's also accessible by car. Hence my comparison.

Nobody drives to Morocco, except the Moroccan immigrants every summer with half of their house on top of their car. It's a long trek. 3 days driving from Paris, plus you have to cross the strait of Gibraltar on a boat. I did it once, long ago, with my parents.

Originally Posted by le calmar

Marrakech is definitely on the colder side and is inland. Very different vibes too.

Actually Marrakech is as warm as the coast in winter, even warmer because they can warm up quickly on sunny days. The coast is like California, cooled by the cold ocean. And it's often very windy (although usually not in winter).

[New Brisavoine]

Originally Posted by Acajack

Marrakech is a fascinating place for sure, but not exactly a beach town.

Can you party decently in Agadir?

You can party more in Marrakech than in Agadir.

Anyway, if you guys are looking for the equivalent of south Florida (beach towns, warm sea, no frill, no history, party people), then Morocco is the wrong pick. What you're looking for is the Red Sea resorts of Egypt, like Hurghada, but the French seldom go there (it's the preserve of the Germans, Scandinavians, Russians, Italians). The French Jews go to Eilat in winter however.

PS: Personally I would never go to places like Hurghada, because I'm not a beach person, and there's nothing to do there except the beach (and a bit of snorkling, but beware of sharks, which kill tourists every year!). Eilat would be more interesting as you can do day trips to the Dead Sea, and also to Petra across the border in Jordan, which is more my thing (history and natural wonders). Morocco is also history and natural wonders, so more my thing too.

[lio45]

Originally Posted by New Brisavoine

It's swimmable in summer from Santa Barbara to San Diego.

If you’re used to Normandy, sure…

[New Brisavoine]

Originally Posted by Acajack

Summer in southern Quebec = or > Summer in LA ?????

I would definitely expect swimming pools in Québec to be warmer in summer than in California. Swimming pools in California are FREEZING.

It always shocks people when they discover people in LA have to warm up their swimming pools.

[Acajack]

Originally Posted by New Brisavoine

You can party more in Marrakech than in Agadir.

Anyway, if you guys are looking for the equivalent of south Florida (beach towns, warm sea, no frill, no history, party people), then Morocco is the wrong pick. What you're looking for is the Red Sea resorts of Egypt, like Hurghada, but the French seldom go there (it's the preserve of the Germans, Scandinavians, Russians, Italians). The French Jews go to Eilat in winter however.

PS: Personally I would never go to places like Hurghada, because I'm not a beach person, and there's nothing to do there except the beach (and a bit of snorkling, but beware of sharks, which kill tourists every year!). Eilat would be more interesting as you can do day trips to the Dead Sea, and also to Petra across the border in Jordan, which is more my thing (history and natural wonders). Morocco is also history and natural wonders, so more my thing too.

Yeah, we have German friends of the family who go to the Sinai peninsula of Egypt every winter. They always post pictures of themselves snorkeling among tropical fish.

EDIT: I think they go to Charm-El Cheikh.

[New Brisavoine]

Originally Posted by lio45

If you’re used to Normandy, sure…

More or less yes. I swam once in Santa Monica in July. It's doable!

But CA is a wicked place, because sometimes it gets so hot in winter. One year the day after New Year it was 28C in Orange County, and just for the heck of it we went to Huntington Beach and I went waist deep in the big waves of the ocean. It was cold but not icy cold like it would have been in Normandy on Jan. 2, and it was super fun. And we had miles and miles of beaches all to ourselves, not a single person in sight!

CA is really like nowhere else. Only Morocco comes a little bit close to it (same geography, same climate).