I was walking down St Catherine on my way to exchange my money when I passed by this middle aged guy. He looked in my direction with this sort of disdain on his face and said "get out of here go back to where you came from!" I wasn't sure if he was actually speaking to me and just kept walking. A minute or so later while waiting to cross the street another guy that was walking near me at the time said "ignore that jerk..he's just being a racist." So yeah..my first mean Canadian lol
Met my first mean Canadian yesterday
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I assume you are black or Asian or a member of some visible minority so I can't relate to that type of meanness. I haven't run into anyone in Canada like this. But on my recent trip I went to the SAQ and the guy there knew I was an American and started talking about the election and very directly asked me what I thought about it and I really didn't feel like discussing that topic at the moment. But the guy was young and very polite and told me he was a college student studying political science so I told him what my thoughts were. I wouldn't have been so charitable with my thoughts but for his polite demeanor.
In 15 years going to Canada I had an argument only once and it was with the manager of the Chamos Sports Bar on St. Laurent probably 10 years ago. I paid my bill, cussed him out and walked out of the place. I used language I can't repeat here and I was incensed in part because I had around $1000 in cash on me at the time and was shocked the guy treated a first time customer that badly for second guessing the amount of liquor they put in my drink. They left some money on the table and I never went back there.
In 15 years going to Canada I had an argument only once and it was with the manager of the Chamos Sports Bar on St. Laurent probably 10 years ago. I paid my bill, cussed him out and walked out of the place. I used language I can't repeat here and I was incensed in part because I had around $1000 in cash on me at the time and was shocked the guy treated a first time customer that badly for second guessing the amount of liquor they put in my drink. They left some money on the table and I never went back there.
I have a number of relatives from Quebec and they are *fascinated* by the recent election. But they're all polite!
Don't worry. There are a lot of crazy people walking on the street in Montreal. You'll see them on the street and inside the subway stations. Major mental illness issues. I also haven't been to a city that has so many street people/beggars.
I agree, walking some streets of Tenderloin neighborhood of san-francisco makes you think you are in a zombie movie
Love the city tho!
Cheers,
Well, come to Vancouver, it exceed Montreal by far (Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside)
Cheers
Booker
Obviously the Doc has not been to the inner cities of Baltimore or Dallas (where I spent way too much time) or just about any major U.S. city. One of the main reasons I enjoy coming to Montreal is walking around, especially on a sunny weekend day and enjoying the sights. I rarely get hassled. Try spending a weekend day in the French Quarter of New Orleans. What a shit hole. Most U.S. cities are riddled with crime and poverty in the downtown areas. As a tourist you can still have a good time by seeing the sights - but just hanging out and enjoying the scenery - not so much! I haven't been to NYC in a few years, but I heard Mayor Diblasio allows the homeless to sleep wherever and inhabit the Subway stations including Grand Central Station. What a pity.
I think Diblasio's proposed "Shoot-up" zones will help matters. LOL
Baltimore is a shit hole. I don't like Atlanta either. You had better stay in the 3 to 4 blocks that are considered downtown and then they role the streets up because of crime. In Comparison, if you want a bite to eat at 2 am in Montreal you can do so.
Funny, where I live, everyone is very willing to apply the Parisian stereotype to the Quebecois. I don't understand why? I have met a few rude Quebecois but mostly they bend over backwards to be kind.
I'll have to tell you my Paris story someday (not now). Funny thing, I trained a guy from France. He said he hated Paris and that Parisians hate everything including each other so do not take it personal. If a Parisian is rude to you, just say something nice about the wine and/or the cheese and smile and move on. This is good advice. Outside of Paris the attitude is totally different. And then you go to Ste Mere Eglise and some of those towns in Normandy that were liberated by Americans and the streets are named after American heroes - many who never left France (see the cemetery overlooking Omaha Beach).
My advice is to ignore them. For every rude person you will find 9 others that will be extra kind and helpful if they know you are not from there. That is my experience.
Doc, for the most part the homeless people in NYC do not pester you. I haven't really been bothered by the ones in SF either (visited several times) but I have a friend who said she was bugged by several when she visited. Both cities are fantastic places to visit..the food in NYC is unmatched and SF food comes pretty close as well. Lots to do in both cities..don't let the homeless keep you away.
Thanks. I've always wanted to visit SF. A then-popular indy sp once toured there a few years ago and i nearly accepted her invitation to travel with her during her tour in the area. I should have went.
Maybe its because im a country guy, and there is literally NO BEGGARS here at all where i live. But man does it take a toll on me at time in MTL. At first i was donating to them, but now i simply politely say hi if they do so and add "sorry no change" . I mean what bothers me is that 3/4 of the peoples that do so does not appear like they need it. Maybe my vision of of an homeless/beggar is not true to reality but i imagine a very skinny, dirty person that have not showered for a while, that need to eat badly.
I literally get ask for change from guys that have nice Nike shoes, sometimes buffed like they hit the gym...
I tend to see those mostly at the subway holding the door... Im sorry bro but i can open a door myself ... Im not gonna give you money for this.
Like i said maybe its my perceptions that are off, but i have a feeling 8/10 of the people asking for cash in MTL are people that want to get drugs or booze... If i see one that truly does look like he/she need help, need to eat etc, thats a different story. There was one old lady once, she look REALLY poor. Her cloaths where terrible, her teeth where dirty/crooked like she hadn't use a toothbrush in years, i really took pity on her. I gave her a decent ammount... she seem legit...
I literally get ask for change from guys that have nice Nike shoes, sometimes buffed like they hit the gym...
I tend to see those mostly at the subway holding the door... Im sorry bro but i can open a door myself ... Im not gonna give you money for this.
Like i said maybe its my perceptions that are off, but i have a feeling 8/10 of the people asking for cash in MTL are people that want to get drugs or booze... If i see one that truly does look like he/she need help, need to eat etc, thats a different story. There was one old lady once, she look REALLY poor. Her cloaths where terrible, her teeth where dirty/crooked like she hadn't use a toothbrush in years, i really took pity on her. I gave her a decent ammount... she seem legit...
You seem like a good guy Halloween Mike. The one thing that stops me from giving beggars money is exactly what you espoused. Not sure what they're planning on using it for. I'd much rather buy them some food at a nearby store if they're hungry.
Yes and when they refuse... well you know they are not really in need. If i was on the street and have not eat in a day or 2, i would happily take whatever you give me, no matter wich store/restaurant it come from.
I had one dude once stopping me and my friends, it was after a GG party(ancestor of VIPs) , he literally said "look man ill be honest, i need money for weed" ... LOL ok props for being honest but im not gonna give you my money so you can get stoned... :/
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