Quebec, the French Language, and Quebecois Identity

[New Brisavoine]

Originally Posted by Acajack

I think they go to Charm-El Cheikh.

These places don't attract me AT ALL.

I'd like to go to Florida in Winter though. Not so much for the beach, but just to see the "démesure" of it all as only Americans can do. Ditto Las Vegas which I have regrettably not visited yet.

[Acajack]

Originally Posted by New Brisavoine

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.

Even lake water can get up to 25C in the summer in Quebec and Ontario.

It's not the ocean of course, but some of the lakes are pretty big and have nice beaches. Some of them even have waves.

[whatnext]

Originally Posted by New Brisavoine

The French do too (see the Paris-Miami planes full every winter). But the French also like to badmouth things that are better than what they have or that they cannot have. It's a trait of the national character that I've never liked.

There was a commercial a few years ago that made fun of that trait of the national character.

I think it's this one I'm thinking of (if you can watch it in your jurisdiction). The streets are North American (typical of car commercials for Europeans), but the content is extremely French, denigrating or criticizing what you are jealous of. I hate this mentality, but it's very French.

http://www.culturepub.fr/videos/skoda-fabia-le-probleme-des-jeunes/

How is Florida “better” than anything the French have?


It’s easily the tackiest most tawdry “tropical” holiday destination. I’ll never understand the fetishization of its horrible flat blandness peppered with American strip mall ugliness. Go to one of the safer Carribean destinations if you need winter warmth.

[Acajack]

Originally Posted by whatnext

How is Florida “better” than anything the French have?


It’s easily the tackiest most tawdry “tropical” holiday destination. I’ll never understand the fetishization of its horrible flat blandness peppered with American strip mall ugliness. Go to one of the safer Carribean destinations if you need winter warmth.

As I mentioned, Florida's main advantage is that you can drive there in 2 days, still have your car, and use all of your electrical and other devices as if you were still at home. Plus (at least in south Florida) it's year-round summer weather. Plus there is no language barrier, for Americans and most Canadians anyway.

It's also "first world" in terms of amenities.

There is nowhere in Metropolitan France or in continental Europe and the islands adjacent to it where you can do that.

(And no I am not a Florida "snowbird" BTW.)

[New Brisavoine]

Originally Posted by whatnext

How is Florida “better” than anything the French have?


It’s easily the tackiest most tawdry “tropical” holiday destination. I’ll never understand the fetishization of its horrible flat blandness peppered with American strip mall ugliness. Go to one of the safer Carribean destinations if you need winter warmth.

1- Southern Florida is warmer than any place in southern France in winter.

2- Southern Florida oozes wealth the way no Caribbean island does, except perhaps one or two islands in the Bahamas or Cayman, plus St Barth, but these are small places, and very expensive (to reach and to stay), much more expensive than Florida

3- Florida is BIG, does things on a big scale the way only the Americans (and perhaps also Dubai) do. Réunion would be the nicest part of France to go in winter (also St Barth of course), but it doesn't have the gigantism of Florida, the craziness of being able to do all you want to do, meeting anyone you want, etc. Of course Réunion has other stuff, like some of the most stunning landscape and volcanoes in the world, plus exquisite cuisine, but if you want to experience one week of crazy life, it can't beat Florida. Also, Réunion and St Barth would be more highbrow, whereas in Florida I can just walk bare-chested with sandals and nobody will care.

I wouldn't want to go to Florida EVERY winter, but going once would be fun.

For an idea of Réunion, this South African guy caught it well (although he went there during the rainy season, so it's not how gorgeously sunny it can be the rest of the year). If the French had the guts to make things on a grand scale, I think Réunion would have had the potential to be a Florida (especially the coast from St Paul to St Leu), but alas we're not Americans (if we were, you guys would all be speaking French since 1800 ).

(PS: the area I'm referring too, St Paul to St Leu, starts at 6:48 in the video)

• Video Link

[Acajack]

La Réunion really has amazing, Hawaii-style natural beauty.

[YOWetal]

Originally Posted by New Brisavoine

These places don't attract me AT ALL.

I'd like to go to Florida in Winter though. Not so much for the beach, but just to see the "démesure" of it all as only Americans can do. Ditto Las Vegas which I have regrettably not visited yet.

I am not sure of precisely what you mean but Florida has actually changed. At least Miami and environs isn't really peak America anymore. Las Vegas still is though in a unique way obviously. If you want to see something uniquely American (but still worth seeing as obviously you can see that at any Walmart in Kansas) head to Missouri and the Ozarks. Branson is a mecca of tourism nobody outside of flyover country is aware of.

[Acajack]

Originally Posted by YOWetal

I am not sure of precisely what you mean but Florida has actually changed. At least Miami and environs isn't really peak America anymore. Las Vegas still is though in a unique way obviously. If you want to see something uniquely American (but still worth seeing as obviously you can see that at any Walmart in Kansas) head to Missouri and the Ozarks. Branson is a mecca of tourism nobody outside of flyover country is aware of.

Though Orlando is most definitely Peak America.

[New Brisavoine]

Originally Posted by Acajack

As I mentioned, Florida's main advantage is that you can drive there in 2 days, still have your car, and use all of your electrical and other devices as if you were still at home.

Why would you want to drive to Florida when flying and renting a car is so cheap?

[New Brisavoine]

Originally Posted by YOWetal

I am not sure of precisely what you mean but Florida has actually changed. At least Miami and environs isn't really peak America anymore. Las Vegas still is though in a unique way obviously. If you want to see something uniquely American (but still worth seeing as obviously you can see that at any Walmart in Kansas) head to Missouri and the Ozarks. Branson is a mecca of tourism nobody outside of flyover country is aware of.

Florida will always remind me of this I think. Train in the winter night running from icy cold Chicago to sunny Florida. It must have been so much fun to travel through the US back then.

• Video Link

[Acajack]

Originally Posted by New Brisavoine

Why would you want to drive to Florida when flying and renting a car is so cheap?

It depends on how much time you have. Retirees or people with more time on their hands go down for longer periods, from one month to six months "less a day". The latter being the maximum stay for Canadians down there. In that case it's nice to have your own car with you.

You're right that for a shorter stay it can make more sense to fly, though if you're a family of four or five it is probably a lot cheaper to drive down. (Gas being quite cheap in the US, especially once you hit the southern states. And even in the northern states it's already cheaper than in Canada.)

[New Brisavoine]

Originally Posted by Acajack

Though Orlando is most definitely Peak America.

For some reason I'm not attracted to Orlando at all. Never been to Disney whatever in CA either.

In Florida I'd like to see West Palm Beach, Miami, Miami Beach, and drive to Key West, essentially. Perhaps a rocket launch at Cape Canaveral also. Everglades not so much (I don't like swamps in general). Oh, and of course have a look at Mar-a-Lago too now!

[Acajack]

Originally Posted by New Brisavoine

For some reason I'm not attracted to Orlando at all. Never been to Disney whatever in CA either.

In Florida I'd like to see West Palm Beach, Miami, Miami Beach, and drive to Key West, essentially. Perhaps a rocket launch at Cape Canaveral also. Everglades not so much (I don't like swamps in general). Oh, and of course have a look at Mar-a-Lago too now!

I understand completely.

Though Orlando most definitely is L'Amérique de la démesure.

Ranking up there with Las Vegas and Times Square.

[New Brisavoine]

Originally Posted by Acajack

It depends on how much time you have. Retirees or people with more time on their hands go down for longer periods, from one month to six months "less a day". The latter being the maximum stay for Canadians down there. In that case it's nice to have your own car with you.

You're right that for a shorter stay it can make more sense to fly, though if you're a family of four or five it is probably a lot cheaper to drive down. (Gas being quite cheap in the US, especially once you hit the southern states. And even in the northern states it's already cheaper than in Canada.)

Driving on the East Coast is a bit dull in terms of scenery, plus you can't drive at 130 km/h like in Europe (although in California I would drive at 100 miles per hour, but I don't know whether they check the speed more these days...).

[New Brisavoine]

Originally Posted by Acajack

Though Orlando most definitely is L'Amérique de la démesure.

For kids. I'm not a kid anymore. Never been to Disneyland Paris either.

PS: Times Square is "meh!..." Never understood the point (like Piccadilly Circus). Whereas Place de la Concorde is WOW... (at least before the recent destruction of it by the total jerks running this city)

[Acajack]

Originally Posted by New Brisavoine

Driving on the East Coast is a bit dull in terms of scenery, plus you can't drive at 130 km/h like in Europe (although in California I would drive at 100 miles per hour, but I don't know whether they check the speed more these days...).

They have increased the limits in a lot of places now. So there are a lot of stretches which are 65-70-75 mph. Surveillance seems to be less strict than it used to be, and of course you have Waze which is pretty good for warning you about speed traps.

I just did some quick calculations and your typical Québécois family can probably get down to Florida for about 300 Canadian dollars in gas, one way. Add to that one night in a reasonably-priced hotel. The second night you're already at your destination. Price is the same whether there is 1 person or 5-6 people in the car.

Airfare can't beat that. Not even close.

[Acajack]

Originally Posted by New Brisavoine

For kids. I'm not a kid anymore. Never been to Disneyland Paris either.

PS: Times Square is "meh!..." Never understood the point (like Piccadilly Circus). Whereas Place de la Concorde is WOW... (at least before the recent destruction of it by the total jerks running this city)

As I said, it's démesure. Not everyone's cup of tea but definitely... big.

[New Brisavoine]

Originally Posted by Acajack

They have increased the limits in a lot of places now. So there are a lot of stretches which are 65-70-75 mph. Surveillance seems to be less strict than it used to be, and of course you have Waze which is pretty good for warning you about speed traps.

I just did some quick calculations and your typical Québécois family can probably get down to Florida for about 300 Canadian dollars in gas, one way. Add to that one night in a reasonably-priced hotel. The second night you're already at your destination. Price is the same whether there is 1 person or 5-6 people in the car.

Airfare can't beat that. Not even close.

You don't have Ryanair, that's why?

As of right this minute, for instance, I can buy a one-way ticket from Paris to Agadir (which is the same distance as Montréal-Miami) on March 3 for the grand total of...32.5 Canadian dollars (with just a small suitcase in the compartment above the seat).

[Acajack]

Originally Posted by New Brisavoine

You don't have Ryanair, that's why?

As of right this minute, for instance, I can buy a one-way ticket from Paris to Agadir (which is the same distance as Montréal-Miami) on March 3 for the grand total of...32.5 Canadian dollars (with just a small suitcase in the compartment above the seat).

OMG. That does not exist here. Not at all.

(Yes I am aware of RyanAir, EasyJet, etc.)

A really good deal on a Montreal-Miami ticket would be around 350 Canadian dollars per person (aller-retour).

[New Brisavoine]

Oh, and apparently if I want to go to Miami THIS VERY WEEK, from Paris, the cheapest Paris-Miami round-trip ticket I can find costs only 709 Canadian dollars (departing from Paris tomorrow at 11am, with a change of plane in Lisbon, and returning from Miami on Wednesday next week, also changing planes in Lisbon).