Toronto, Canada

Toronto is great. Sade is greater. I suppose this is what happens when you listen to her for three days straight, your conscious and subconscious can't think of anything else besides her lyrics. "How was your holiday?" "Every day is Christmas, and every night is New Year's Eve!" "What are you doing for New Year's?" "Oh, finding the one who rules the way I move." ("The Sweetest Taboo" and "Cherish The Day" if you're curious.) Sadly, those weren't my spoken replies because I censor this type of shit all the time -- WHY?! Something to work on in the new year? I think so. Now that we've established the higher order of my brain currently, I can finally explain what makes Toronto great. It's one of those rare cities where it doesn't feel like everyone is "sick and tired of scratchin' a livin'".

Montréal, Canada

In the ways Los Angeles is better than New York City, Montréal is better than Paris. But don't take my word for it. No, really, don't. 'Cause I've never been to Paris. It's just what I tell myself to feel better. I don't think any New Yorker is going to tell you outright that Los Angeles is better, and I'm not entirely sure if it is. Yet, when you visit L.A. and see how they live: patios, good Mexican, colour -- you begin to question some things. Coming across the same (two) in Montréal and learning of an architect who designed apartments with a "garden for everyone", I'll continue to holler for the westside. Hey, it is west of Paris. 

Québec City, Canada

Sometimes, I want winter to last forever. Yeah, yeah, it finally feels like April (A and B conversation so C your way out California... and Texas... and Florida), but hear me out. When we waddle around like penguins from January through March, time too waddles around. Hell, for three months we're giving it flight: Ground Hog's Day, Valentine's Day, St. Patrick's Day, and why isn't Congress recognizing National Nothing Day? Imagine how s. l. o. w time would pass until spring without these "holidays". So what to make of a city when you have to pack a coat for it in July? La belle vie, n'est-ce pas?

Victoria, Canada

I want to rave about Victoria like everyone else. I really do. Sometimes I wonder if I should just lie to others -- and myself. "It really does look and feel like England!" Or, "Forget Vancouver, Victoria is more charming!" Instead I usually begin with, "I froze my ass off in August, so pack accordingly. Most restaurants are closed on Mondays, so plan accordingly."

I'll admit, it was my fault for not bringing a jacket when I lived less than hour south of the Canadian border -- I knew better. But it was August, and I was visiting an island. In my world (which doesn't include Iceland and Greenland apparently), that equates to balmy weather. Restaurants being closed on a Monday however, that one was a doozy. Still, we trudged on like good American tourists. 

Vancouver, Canada

Drive across our northern border and it doesn't feel much different from home. McDonald's is a given, but there's also Target, Wal-Mart, and I recently read that Nordstrom is planning to open a new store in Toronto. I'm sure they'll tack on a maple leaf somewhere on their logo like every other U.S. corporation, but they don't need to. It took me one visit to conclude that a Target in Canada will never be like a Target in America -- they sell British chocolate. Long live the Queen indeed.

Crunchie, Aero, Maltesers, my friends were everywhere (you better believe I smuggled each one south of the border). Forget Canada's untapped oil, in my eyes, a country that stocks Peanut M&Ms and Maltesers on their impulse counter displays is rich beyond comparison. And Vancouver, simply sumptuous. Imagine glass skyscrapers greeting you as you enter its harbour, only to be humbled by the mountains towering behind them... Even though we're in a different country, alas it's still the Pacific Northwest. Yes, that means fog and rain with the occasional parting of the heavens.