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OleSouthernBelle |
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Posts: 2750 (06/15/09 21:06:56) Member |
Canadian apology? Is that like, "Hey you could'a come & took part if you wanted to???"
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Gardenridge |
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Posts: 2464 (06/16/09 01:10:12) |
Nope, we are accused of saying sorry and not meaning it. Sorry. Oops. Okay, I think it's funny. I admit it. Sorry.
Endo, ncgrrl is another geocaching fan. You need a hand held GPS and nothing much else. You download the caches near where you are and you're on your way. They are supposed to be a place of interest or great scenery, so we do them when we travel. We've been steered to some very amazing places that we'd never ever have found under tourist circumstances. Ncgrrl was supposed to come, but circumstances interfered. Another time we'll meet up with her. |
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OleSouthernBelle |
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Posts: 2753 (06/16/09 06:58:16) Member |
Well, both Marion & I are testament to the general courtesy of you Canadians & it rubs off of apparent visitors as well. For example, people stop
& INSIST on you crossing the street in front of them (in a car). I waved a couple on, but NO, I had to go first. Very nice! Just one example that we
observed often.
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MikePinTucson |
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Posts: 4846 (06/16/09 09:55:52) Board Moderator |
I would agree, OSB. I was struck by how nice, and polite, everyone was. I think the most surprising thing was that no drivers seemed to use their horns at all.
VERY common here.
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Gardenridge |
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Posts: 2466 (06/16/09 13:22:07) |
I have to agree about horns, Mike. When I picked up OSB, I had a large truck car carrier turn left in front of me. His section of the truck made it easily, I
had to slam on the brakes to miss his trailer of cars. What a fine mess that would have been for my new American friends. Then we had two other idiots do
stupid things on the short trip home. I didn't honk. I figure if you honk, you might wake up the offender and s(he) might get startled into doing
something worse. Let them continue to sleep walk thinking they are the best driver in the world. It also saves on bouquets of fingers being offered to the
victim.
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OleSouthernBelle |
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Posts: 2754 (06/16/09 19:06:03) Member |
The one day I drove, I did experience a honk or two - both from one of those blue cabs downtown Victoria. He obviously wasn't pleased with me being
courteous to some people crossing the streetas I was turning & not moving quickly enough in general, I assume.
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patash2 |
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Posts: 3736 (06/17/09 11:57:01) |
Speaking of honking, I spent the first few days of driving in Canada curious if you are allowed to turn right on red -- some places you can, some places you
can't. I specifically sat there when no one was coming assuming that the guy behind me would honk if I could go. In fact, I did that several times. Since
there was no honking at me to go, I assumed (wrongly, I later discovered) that you are not allowed to turn right on red. No, they just didn't bother to
honk at me. Vancouver was like Victoria -- pedestrians really have the right of way. I had to watch as a driver -- because the pedestrians have learned to just
go without looking.
Meanwhile, that school bus incident in Washington reminded me how worthless honking really is. I was laying on the horn when she continued to back into me, crumpled by car, then started to drive away, ignoring it all together. But if I were a betting man, I'd still wager she had IPOD earphones firmly implanted! By the way, at Seattle last weekend, Budget insisted (when I went in just to confirm I had all the accident report stuff I needed) that I switch to a new car then for my final week. I now have the brightest blue PT Cruiser I've ever seen, which has the BEST cruise control I've ever experienced. Even through the mountains of southern Oregon, it wouldn't vary by two miles even going up long, steep inclines, or downhill. |
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Meesthare |
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Posts: 697 (06/17/09 13:50:59) |
Stephen and I have identified what we call the "Victoria Move." The first time I noticed it, when I came out here on vacation before we actually
moved from Toronto, I thought it was just an isolated incident but it's been repeated so consistently - and we haven't seen it so consistent anywhere
else - that we decided it has to be a local phenomenon. It goes like this: driver entering from side street or driveway is checking oncoming traffic. He sees
your car as you approach. He has lots of time to make his turn, but he waits until you're close enough to make eye contact with him. THEN, he cuts you off
by entering the stream of traffic directly in front of you. We often warn visitors about the Victoria Move but they think we're being ridiculous, until
they see it for themselves.
A variant on this move is for the driver to slow down as soon as he has cut you off. The rationale for this is that it's OK because he's only going a mile or two before he turns off the road again. However, this is not universal, nor is it as endemic to Victoria as the first bit. Have fun with your PT Cruiser, Patrick - I got a purple one once, from Avis. I sort of liked it. |
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Gardenridge |
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Posts: 2470 (06/17/09 13:52:41) |
Yes, you can turn right on red in BC and pedestrians do have the right of way in all circumstances. Now, in Montreal, I think you get points in heaven and
deductions on your income tax if you hit a pedestrian--particularly English speaking ones. They are beyond rules.
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LaBama Girl |
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Posts: 2 (06/22/09 22:24:51) |
Hey to all of ya'll I met in Victoria, this is Marion. Is it too late to post my pictures?Just wanted to let you know how wonderful it was meeting you and
seeing beautiful BC.
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Gardenridge |
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Posts: 2485 (06/22/09 23:13:48) |
Can't wait to see your view of our area! Post away, Marion! Big hug sent your way so get ready for it....here it comes!
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patash2 |
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Posts: 3742 (06/22/09 23:42:06) |
Hooray! A new poster here! Welcome Marion. It was great meeting you in Canada and look forward to seeing your pics.
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OleSouthernBelle |
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Posts: 2778 (06/23/09 05:41:21) Member |
It's never too late to posts pics here, LaBama_Girl! So, get started.
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LaBama Girl |
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Posts: 3 (06/23/09 20:42:26) |
Here are my pictures from Bellingham, Wa
http://www2.snapfish.com/thumbnailshare/AlbumID=1136101007/a=23473046_23473046/otsc=SHR/otsi=SALBlink/COBRAND_NAME=bellsouth/
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OleSouthernBelle |
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Posts: 2780 (06/23/09 22:17:03) Member |
Thanks for posting them, LaBama_Girl! I think the baskets at the market may make an interesting painting as well as the church? I suggested on the US Canada
thread that you may want to post your link to your pics under "Travel Photos" so you can relocate them easily. It's kind of nice to have them
all in one general location.
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OleSouthernBelle |
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Posts: 2787 (06/25/09 16:51:04) Member |
GR &/or Meetshare: While visiting there, mention was made of filing for reimbursement of the GST (tax). I'm checking into doing this, but it appears
that it is no longer available:
http://www.cra-arc.gc.ca/...gf/gst176/gst176-07e.pdf |
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patash2 |
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Posts: 3744 (06/26/09 09:44:50) |
Yes, OSB, I had learned that those huge refunds of hotel tax I used to get in Canada are no longer available.
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OleSouthernBelle |
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Posts: 2788 (06/26/09 11:09:16) Member |
OK - thanks for confirming.
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Gardenridge |
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Posts: 2490 (06/26/09 12:27:47) |
I couldn't find anything about it, sorry OSB.
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OleSouthernBelle |
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Posts: 2789 (06/26/09 14:16:56) Member |
No problem. It doesn't tarnish my experience in Victoria one little bit.
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