Top 10 Canada

10. 'Eh!'

It's no stereotype, they really do say it a lot here. It's said to be a politeness marker, making regular statements into questions, as a way of seeking agreement.

Examples
1. I need my toque* before I go out on my skidoo, eh?
2. Don't suck maple syrup out of the tree, a bear might attack you, eh?

*'Toque' - Canadian term for beanie

9. Quebec

Canadians everywhere just started throwing things at their computers. The rebel child of Canada is hated by a lot of Canadians because they want to separate from Canada, but keep all their government funding. Frankly, I don't care. The Quebecois drink more, smoke more, work less and have more sex. They are a confusing mix of French arrogance and Canadian politeness. Quebec has better food, better beer and better coffee. And that's why it's on my list.

8. Tim Hortons

Named after a dead hockey player, this coffee shop is EVERYWHERE! Every product of Tim Hortons is a Canadian rite of passage.

I was talking to a Nova Scotian about Tim Hortons recently.
"Have you tried Tim Hortons?" he asked me
"Yeah"
"Have you tried the donuts?"
"Yes"
"The Canadian maple one?"
"Yes"
"How about the maple dip?"
"Yes"
"Have you tried Timbits? You've gotta try Timbits?"
"Yeh, I love Timbits!"
"The chilli?"
"Yep"
"The chicken wrap?"
"Yeah, I've had the chicken wrap."
"An ice cap?"
"No, actually I haven't tried an ice cap"
"WHAT??? You haven't tried an ice cap???? Oh, you HAVE to try an ice cap!!"

2 minutes later we were in a Tim Hortons,
"Hello" he said to the boy behind the counter " I need a large ice cap supreme with an extra shot of chocolate. This girl is from Australia and she's NEVER had an ice cap."
Shocked looks from the workers at Tim Hortons. "We'll make i very special" the boy said earnestly.
3 Tim Hortons employees worked together to create this master piece pictured above.

7. Winter

Haha. No. just kidding.

7. Flip Cup

I like drinking, but I'm not the biggest fan of drinking games. That was until I discovered flip cup. A relay based drinking tournament, this 'game' gets pretty competitive. You might forget everything about the night, but you'll still remember if someone cheated at flip cup.

6.Maritime Hospitality

That's Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland and Labrador. I'm leaving out New Brunswick. Not that they weren't nice; it was just more of a ' don't stay in the park after dark or you might get raped' kind of hospitality.

The rest of the Maritimers were ridiculous. I couldn't go anywhere without being invited to stay at someone's house (or their cousins), offers to drive me wherever, to feed me etc. The only time I ever saw cars honk was if they saw someone they knew.

5. Kitchener-Waterloo

Canadians may be scratching their heads at this one. It's kind of like saying Bathurst is your favourite place in Australia. Most people think it's OK, but nothing to write home about. Well I'm writing home about K-W. I love it, and I don't need a reason.

4. Ice Skating

I've always considered myself a decent skater (by Australian standards at least). The first time I went skating in downtown Kingston, someone asked me if I knew how to stop.
"Pfft. Of course I know how to stop. I'm not THAT bad."

Then I realised the outdoor rink had no walls to crash into. And that's when I discovered I had no idea how to stop.

Nonetheless, I loved ice skating. I carried my $7 skates with me wherever I went, even if it meant my school books would no longer fit in my bag.

3. Vancouver 2010

Yeah I went. It took me 76 hours by bus to get there, but it was worth it. It was worth it the second I got off the bus and saw the streets buzzing with people high fiving each other and singing 'O Canada'.

Canada put on a great show, even though they are not exactly the most competitive country in the world. I was near a Canadian and an American watching the first Canada vs. USA hockey game (the one Canada lost). 20 minutes into it, the Canadian turned to the American and said "Wow this game is so intense, eh? I'm so into it, it's taken me this long to introduce myself". O Canada.

Special thanks to my mate B for making my Olympic experience the greatest of all time.

2. Queen's Bands

This one isn't in the Lonely Planet, but this club made my year. This 100 piece kilt-wearing, pipe-playing, beer-guzzling, whisky-skulling, tiger-skin-lovin', hotel-destroying, football-heckling, Christmas-parading, liver-wrecking, reggi-checking, final-count-downing, flip cupping, bus-singing marching band was insane. Insanely awesome!!!!

1. Poutine

I love my family. A lot. They mean the world to me, but if I had to choose between my family and poutine; I'd really have to think about it.

Hot chips sprinkled with cheese curds and covered with gravy. So. Good.

If anyone has any information on where I can find poutine or cheese curds in Australia, please let me know immediately.

For more of my favourite things, try playing my sporcle quiz