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Is Vancouver Canada really the "Paris of the North?"
- Thread starter Soapbox Killer
- Start date
I'm from BC, I've lived in Vancouver, and I've never heard that comparison before. Ever.
Vancouver is a lot of things, but Paris? Vancouver could only wish to have those urban bones. Paris, in my opinion, is the world's most beautiful city from an urban and architectural standpoint. It's pure bliss. Vancouver is stunning no doubt, but that's mostly because of the natural landscape it exists in. It still has a loooooooong way to go before becoming a truly great city.
I do think it's on the right path to become something special in the next 20 years or so though. The metro region just really needs to address the cost of living.
Vancouver is a lot of things, but Paris? Vancouver could only wish to have those urban bones. Paris, in my opinion, is the world's most beautiful city from an urban and architectural standpoint. It's pure bliss. Vancouver is stunning no doubt, but that's mostly because of the natural landscape it exists in. It still has a loooooooong way to go before becoming a truly great city.
I do think it's on the right path to become something special in the next 20 years or so though. The metro region just really needs to address the cost of living.
That's Montreal or Quebec City my man. But yeah both are great to visit, refer to the photos another poster posted. Quebec City in the summer is too pretty for words.
Vancouver has no culture, everyone goes to sleep at 10PM
Montreal has nightlife on the weekends to 3AM
Montreal has nightlife on the weekends to 3AM
Not gonna add to the dogpile because yeah it's pretty clear that it's not, but Soapbox Killer this thread might be relevant to your interests!
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Going to Montreal and Quebec City in a month
My girlfriend and I are driving up from Boston to Montreal first week in April to hang out. Wanna eat good food and see some cool stuff. Aside from getting free healthcare, what should we do as first time visitors?
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Since American tv has moved production there I've come to understand Vancouvers natural state is overcast dreariness. No direct sunlight, just fresh rain. They may act like it's June but those actors are freezing in their tshirts.
Paris? Lol no. We're like a smaller and newer Seattle. We do have some french speakers but you don't hear it everywhere.
If you can drive to Montreal, I'd say go for it. I'm from the UK and having spent most of my childhood vacations in France, I would say there's definitely a French feel to Montreal at least, if not always specifically "Paris".
As mentioned by others, Quebec City even more so; it really doesn't feel or look like any other North American city... if someone blindfolded you and put you there, I reckon you'd almost certainly think you were in Europe (well, until you saw a Tim Hortons!)
As mentioned by others, Quebec City even more so; it really doesn't feel or look like any other North American city... if someone blindfolded you and put you there, I reckon you'd almost certainly think you were in Europe (well, until you saw a Tim Hortons!)
Vancouver is a very nice North American city but it's wholly different and not comparable to anything in Europe.
In fact, comparing European to American to Asian cities is such an exercise in futility. They all stand on their own and are too different from one another to really compare. European cities have gorgeous Old World architecture but are mostly nothing special in terms of landscapes compared to American cities that are separated by vast tracts of land and Asian cities which are far more dense and teeming with people and buzz and even more ancient beautiful architecture.
In fact, comparing European to American to Asian cities is such an exercise in futility. They all stand on their own and are too different from one another to really compare. European cities have gorgeous Old World architecture but are mostly nothing special in terms of landscapes compared to American cities that are separated by vast tracts of land and Asian cities which are far more dense and teeming with people and buzz and even more ancient beautiful architecture.
They are... complete opposites? Paris is a great city but filthy. Go there for the culture.
Vancouver is a bad city but clean and beautiful. Go there for what is next to the city.
Vancouver is a bad city but clean and beautiful. Go there for what is next to the city.
This.
We need to stop being lazy with city comparisons. All it does is patronize other cities and asserts superiority to other places. Let the cities stand out on their own!
As someone who lives there, and as others mentioned, if you want something that make you think "I'm in Paris" but still being in North America, Quebec City is the best option. You'll come across more french too, since Montreal is like 50% French and English and Quebec is like 95% French. :P
It isn't however a big city(a little over 500k population) compared to Montreal. The european part is just a small part of the city, so you might be done with it after a day or two(if you don't rush and explore every corners/museums). It's up to you if that's worth 10 hours of driving.
The best times to visit Quebec City is during Christmas(there's a lot of pretty views with the Christmas lights and decorations)
There's also during the Carnaval, which is usually near the end of January or early February, where you can see ice sculptures and parades. Which could be nice for your kids.
Another thing (if snow and cold isn't your thing) is the New France gestival which is around August, which celebrate the old Quebec from 300-400 years ago, where you can often come across people like the old times, plus some other cool activities. Could be interesting too!
I live in Montreal.
It's Montreal. Vancouver is the LA/Seattle of Canada and Toronto is the New York
It's Montreal. Vancouver is the LA/Seattle of Canada and Toronto is the New York
Depending on the time you have, you could easily visit both Montreal and Quebec City in one trip, since Montreal is on the way to Quebec City.
Vancouver is a very beautiful city. The modern city + mountains combination is unlike pretty much anywhere else in the world.
It is nothing like Paris though. And literally no one speaks French.
wait a minute that looks EXACTLY like New York City. I've never been personally but I've watched Rumble In the Bronx maybe two dozen times. That's NYC!
Yep this is what I'd recommend. Make a 5-day or week out of it.
OP
OP
UPDATE:
He said "not" like Vancouver and I completely misheard him. He was talking about Montreal and he said like Paris up north since it's almost directly north of Philadelphia. In my defense I was working and wasn't completely listening.
My bad however, I will be going to Montreal later this year so that's a plus.
He said "not" like Vancouver and I completely misheard him. He was talking about Montreal and he said like Paris up north since it's almost directly north of Philadelphia. In my defense I was working and wasn't completely listening.
My bad however, I will be going to Montreal later this year so that's a plus.
In Montreal, you can live and get by without speaking a single word of french, as soon as you drive 30min+ away from the island, english will be scarce. Quebec city is around 2.5hours away from Montreal and as far as I remember, not many people speak english there.
Well I feel I have to defend my country's honor here Tromsø in Norway is the only Paris of the north
I hear more English than I would have first thought when walking in the old parts of Quebec city(which is a few times every year), but that's probably because it's filled with tourists all year long. So yeah, even if you don't speak a word of French, as long as you stick to that part of town, you should be fine. Going to the grocery store in the more modern parts of town would be another story. :P
I'm from Montreal myself and some of my good friends have been born and raised in Montreal and can't make 2 french sentences in a row but they manage just fine being in the city as people from all over the world live here but my father is from a town 6 hours away from Montreal and almost no one speaks english there and I suspect a some of them have never been in presence or someone from another race than caucasian.
