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| Oh Canada: That’s what it is all aboot, ‘eh |
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| Written by Sam Taylor -Argonaut | ||||||
| Friday, 07 October 2005 | ||||||
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They are a hockey-loving, socialism-embracing and pot-loving people.
They are the Canadians, and last weekend I was privileged enough to
spend a weekend in the great white north consuming Canuck brews. I love Canada, my aunt is Canadian and I’ve never been able to get enough of her accent and her happy ways. I’ve never seen her angry or sad. I don’t think it’s legal to be anything other than happy up there and I’ve come to the conclusion that they make it easier by drinking alcohol and smoking marijuana. I actually witnessed some of the indigenous people participating in that event in public while walking down the sidewalk in Nelson, British Columbia. I’m using my experience in Canada as my column this week. It’s been a while since I wrote last, and of course I’ve had some interesting times out at the ol’ pub (as they say in Canada), but this is a perfect opportunity to use an experience that I normally don’t get. Going to Canada is like going to some far-off alien planet. Did you know that you must show two pieces of picture identification to prove you’re not a minor up there? Did you also know you only have to be 19 in British Columbia to drink alcohol, and in some places it’s only 18 years old? Of course students know these things. I’m sure many college-aged men and women go up there to get around the legal drinking age of the United States. I would have too if I ever had a car back in the day. Alas, I did not, so I get to experience these things when I’m already 21. But it was a fantastic experience, nonetheless. I sampled the finest in hops, barley, wheat and oatmeal from the Nelson Brewing Company. NBC, which is located, of course, in the city it is named for, has a wonderful selection of beers. I’m here, however, to expose a horrendous injustice in Canadian tourism — and that is the egregious act of price markup. At Ainsworth Hot Springs, I paid $4.75 per bottle for Nelson beer, but it was worth it. Keep that in mind that’s in Canadian dollars, so it was basically like I was handing them a couple of seashells and getting a buzz in exchange. Yeah right, the Canadian dollar is quite close to the American one right now. What’s up with that? I want to know who decided to run our economy so low into the ground that I only get a little more than eighty cents per dollar upon conversion. That’s just wrong, is what that is. When my girlfriend and I actually got to Nelson and stayed at the New Grant Hotel in the downtown area of the city (I recommend that hotel highly, it had great service and a great old-time feel to it. No elevator, though, so either take your luggage up one piece at a time or drop the doughnuts now) the beer was far cheaper for the same thing. Needless to say that gave me an excuse to try them all. I am a fan of darker beers — stouts generally. Another interesting quirk about the Canada is that the cover bands at their bars are fantastic. At an Irish pub next to our hotel, I gulped down some Irish stout and listened to a band croon tunes from Michael Jackson, Cheech and Chong, the Beastie Boys, The Beatles and more. The lead singer, who we thought was female when we first got there, even belted out “Girls Just Want to Have Fun.” They don’t judge in Canada, you know. Canada is a great place to drink, and despite my colleagues’ lack of bar enthusiasm in the past weeks, I encourage everyone to go to different countries and experience their rituals for drinking and their local concoctions. Remember, also, to bring some sea shells.  Add as favorites (34) | Views: 1275
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