Cultural politics

As our road trip continued to Québec City, the sensation of being in Europe got even stronger. This pretty little town could almost anywhere in Central Europe. Reminds me of old Tallinn, for instance. As for the language barrier, we've still managed with English, especially when we've been careful to demonstrate that we're not English by mother tongue. It's kind of a weird thing, how the French-speakers sometimes look nastily at those who speak English with each other. Like you could help it, if it happens to be your first language!? I do think, though, that we have a bit of the same thing going on in Finland in terms of Swedish and Finnish. And I think it goes both ways, too.

Another thing I've noticed here is that the Quebecois are keen on presenting their "Native" heritage. I don't think I've seen this many "Native art" shops anywhere else in North America. Most of the shops or "galleries" advertise being distinctly Quebecois but seem to offer just as much West Coast "artefacts"...