Canadian Notebook

Press, 7 October 1980, Page 13

Canadian Notebook

Further jottings from the diary of the travel editor.

By

Les Bloxham

■ Canada is so vast that it. is virtually impossible to absorb and appreciate all that it offers in a visit of a mere two or three weeks. The discerning traveller will, therefore,. settle on an itinerary to allow him time to enjoy a leisurely trip in a specific area. It might perhaps be the Maritime Provinces along the Atlantic, or the cultural centres of Toronto, Montreal and Quebec. Outdoor types will undoubtedly set their sights on the magnificent Rockies and the wild splendour of British Columbia and western Alberta. Each of these areas deserves at least 10 days in its own right, so unless you have a month to spare, zero in on one and

keep the rest as an encore to be savoured another year. « ❖ « Talking of size, I was surprised to learn in Ottawa that almost the total .of Canada’s population of 23 million live within 160 km of the United States border. In other words they have congregated in a strip no deeper than the distance from Christchurch to Timaru, but stretching almost 5000 kilometres. And that is about as far as Christchurch to Perth. * * ft When in Quebec it is easy to forget that you are really in Canada and not on the other side of the Atlantic. The province’s French heritage

lives on as strong as ever, even. to the degree that English-speaking “foreigners” can have difficulty in communicating in some of the smaller villages off the beaten track. If you should experience problems, seek help from younger people:; they are bilingual and usually only too pleased to help. =;< * # Quebec City itself has lost none of its quaintness and charm, but like so many other high-density tourist areas in the world it has become a paradise for touts. Indeed, visitors virtually have to run the gauntlet on the footpath outside the famous Chateau Frontenac where the caleche operators

vigorously vie for passengers. Personally, I don’t see how they can justify a charge of $2O for 40 minutes. At least they can’t blame it on the rising cost of fuel. There are many delightful villages away from the city and these can easily be seen by hiring a car (remember, rental cars are comparatively cheap in Canada and driving is safe and easy. If you have mastered driving in Christchurch, then you can drive anywhere in the world except, perhaps, Cairo and Bangkok). However, if you can’t drive, a range of inexpensive coach tours is available.

With CP Air’s new direct air link from the South Pacific to Toronto, Ontario is becoming an increasingly popular port of entry for New Zealanders and Australians. The service eliminates the need to transit through Los Angeles and saves hours of flying time and airport hassles. The flights stop at Nandi, allowing Kiwis a chance for duty-free shopping while connecting with their flights to Auckland.