Montreal-The Paris of North America by Eden June

Montreal, the second largest city in Canada and the largest city in the rogue French-speaking province of Quebec, is often referred to as the Paris of North America. This reputation is well-earned: it is the second largest French speaking city in the Western world after Paris. Its rues (streets) are lined with cafés, shop owners with often greet you with a hearty bonjour, and the city has maintained its own culture despite continuous pressure to become more Anglophone. So, jonesing for Europe and with the memories of holiday disagreements with family members still fresh in our minds, my friend and I hopped a plane headed for Montreal shortly before ringing in the new 2006 year.

Our Travelocity last minute deal included airfare and four days stay in the swank Omni Hotel near Mont-Royal. The deal was amazing considering holiday travel usually more expensive than any other time of the year. Once we arrived in Montreal, we understood why the deal had been so cheap…it was freezing cold! The temperature in December and January in Montreal hovers between -10°C and -5°C (13°F and 21°F). Heavy coats, gloves, hats, scarves, earmuffs, and boots are necessities. I’ve heard that the city is gorgeous and pleasantly Mediterranean-feeling during spring and summer. Ville de Montréal was still stunning in the cold weather. Snow gently covered church roofs, kids sloshed around throwing snowballs at each other, and a steaming cup of espresso or tea was always a welcomed sight.

When we arrived in Montreal, my friend and I agreed we were definitely not in the States anymore. True to the Canadian reputation, Montreal is exceedingly clean. Like any well-conceived city, the core of Montreal is set up as a grid system meaning that most of the streets run parallel and perpendicular according to the cardinal directions. A grid system keeps a city walkable and easy to navigate (or hard to get lost in). The metro system in Montreal rivals any of those in Europe. It’s clean, efficient, and can get you to anywhere you need to go in Montreal proper.

"The Beauty of Vancouver." by Samuel Ratcliff

I will begin by stating that Vancouver is truly an international destination. This city stands as unassailable proof that if you maintain a low crime rate, offer a gorgeous skyline, combat the rigors of pollution, and choose the most dynamic geographical locale possible, such a place will walk away with the trophy for most livable city year after year. Vancouver is a well-dressed lady, steeped and overflowing with cosmopolitan flair and exuberance.

The city itself is majestically framed by the coastal range and the shimmering Pacific waters of English Bay. It’s no surprise that the birthplace of Greenpeace would support a natural playground that’s larger than Manhattan’s Central Park. This emerald shrine is called Stanley Park. Stanley Park clings to the notion that an urban existence can, and should, remain in touch with nature. Within the park, visitors will discover 1,000 acres of lush rain forest, a five kilometer wraparound seawall, which offers excellent walking and biking opportunities, and the city’s premier aquarium. Visitors can also enjoy breathtaking views of the downtown skyline, the North Shore area, Lions Gate Bridge, and the mountains beyond.

If one intends to follow the lead of the average Vancouverite, a daily itinerary might include shopping on Robson Street, savoring a tasty and delectable seafood lunch at either The Sandbar or Bridges, on Granville Island, and perhaps winding down with an eclectic stroll through Yaletown.

The city offers a variety of attractions and activities, including the Grouse Mountain Skyride, kayaking, hiking, the Lynn Canyon Park Bridge, windsurfing, and whale watching. I am inclined to mention that it would behoove those who are concerned about rapidly depleting funds to avoid the expensive Capilano Suspension Bridge, and opt for the Lynn Canyon Park Bridge, which is free of charge.

Sheltered by Vancouver Island and the coastal mountains, the city is normally warmed by the Japan Current, which creates a moderate climate throughout most of the year. However, Vancouver and Seattle share the same propensity for rain, especially during the fall and winter seasons, so it’s always best to dress appropriately.

Vancouverites are quite proud of their city, and they seem all too happy to receive intercontinental, as well as continental, guests. Vancouver is picture postcard perfect, and after multiple visits, I often contemplate the necessary number needed to complete the experience. I am compelled to believe that such an endeavor might require more than a single lifetime.

Exploring Victoria, BC.

I have enjoyed the privilege of multiple trips to Victoria, as I am a resident of the Seattle area. And, I would like to assure you that Victoria offers a charm and enigmatic splendor that is available nowhere else upon the North American continent.

Let us begin with the spectacular stage that is composed from Victoria’s Inner Harbor, which is centrally located in the downtown area. This shimmering body of liquid sapphire is teeming with life and activity. The harbor supports a broad variety of transport ferries, seaplanes, whale watching boats, privately owned yachts, kayaking enthusiasts, and water taxis. As these vessels actively navigate through this very busy inlet, we are entertained by a colorful assortment of street performers who are situated along the perimeters of the harbor itself. As we (my wife and two boys) strolled the area, the sound of public applause, associated with an endless succession of acts, resonates through the warm summer air. The endless drone of Scottish bagpipes joins the fray, and that helps me to achieve a “James Bond” moment without leaving North America.

There are three modes of travel that allow you to reach Victoria, which is situated on the southern tip of Vancouver Island: The seaplane, which requires the least amount of travel time, and provides the most dramatic views. A passport is necessary when selecting this option. The second option is the Victoria Clipper, which consists of a 3-hour boat ride from downtown Seattle directly to Victoria’s Inner Harbor. Passports are recommended, but a birth certificate will suffice for this mode of travel. The third option is the Washington State Ferry that launches from Anacortes for an incredible scenic cruise through the San Juan Islands to deliver you (and your car) to Sydney BC. This ferry route allows for the possibility of spotting one of the three resident orca whale pods that inhabit the San Juans. After arriving in Sydney, and clearing the Canadian customs station, it’s a short drive on Highway 17 to Victoria. (I should mention that the Coho Ferry also operates between Port Angeles WA and Victoria, but personally I don’t care for the haphazard way they tend to load the vehicles.)

As a black male, the Canadians greeted me, and my family, with a great deal of enthusiastic hospitality. I can recall a friendly encounter with a local, who expressed concern about our president’s foreign policy, specifically pertaining to the Iraq War. He desperately wanted to know how we (U.S. citizens) could support George Bush in a bid for a second term. I could only reply by stating that I didn’t vote for him. As I struggled with a wave of shame, during our lengthy conversation, he seemed to sympathize, and identify that my demographic, as a whole, is not responsible for the current circumstances in America. It was a very good discussion.

In closing, I must include that Victoria is not a good vacation destination to consider for children or for an extended stay. It doesn’t host a broad variety of appropriate activities for kids, and it functions best as an “add on” or supplemental destination when exploring Seattle or Vancouver.

Two to three days are enough to experience the following highlights: Butchart Gardens, the Fairmont Empress Hotel, Chinatown, and the Victoria Bug Zoo. I recommend avoiding the Royal BC Museum. Admission is rather steep, and the exhibits don’t really measure up with other museums in the states. Nonetheless, I am confident that most black travelers will find Victoria socially inviting and visually delightful.