patrick.net

Some observations of Canada from my 10 day house-swap with a Canadian family in Toronto:

Native Canadian people are helpful, but Canadian immigrants don't talk to strangers.
Most things are more expensive than in the US, like $6.50 Canadian for a Hagen Daas ice cream bar in Toronto Island park.
The Lindt chocolates are all forgeries, just crap in elite wrappers. Canadians are unaware of the fraud, since they've never had good chocolate.
Via Rail beats Amtrak by a long shot. Via Rail is clean, on-time, and cheap.
Tap water tastes pretty good.
There are two sales taxes instead of just one: provincial and federal.
Beer and wine in Ontario are sold only by the provincial liquor monopoly, at twice the cost as in the US. BYOB/W
Public pools are free, though run-down.
Immigrants in Toronto are the largest percentage of any city in the world.
The subway system in Toronto is efficient and inexpensive.
Milk comes in a bag rather than in a gallon jug.
Prostitution advertising is brazen and cheap.
There are many Muslim women, some completely covered in Burqas.
Women have more tattoos than in the US.
Marijuana can be smelled in the air on many major Toronto streets.
There is a visible gay population in Toronto.
There are a surprising number of Canadian flags on cars and houses.
The Canadian accent becomes more noticeable the more you hear it.