Myths, Stereotypes and RV’ing
Travel, Canada
When talking with friends and family about RV’ing across Canada, one question that often comes up is, “What’s it like travelling in Quebec?” Unstated but implied is their real query, “What’s it like to travel in a province where the principal language that people converse in, that road signs are displayed in, that menus, tourist brochures, maps, etc. are printed in, is not English.” This unstated question usually arises from a multitude of myths, misconceptions and stereotypes surrounding Quebec, its residents and their attitude towards English speakers.
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When most RV’ers think about heading to the East Coast, visions of the Maritimes dance in their head. Their destination might include Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, P.E.I. or perhaps even Newfoundland. Seldom considered is the other East Coast – the Gaspé. Although part of Quebec, the Gaspé offers landscapes, scenery, ocean vistas and attractions rivaling the best found in the Maritimes. That was what my wife Maureen and I discovered during a recent trip through eastern Canada.
It was the title of the brochure that caught my eye, – “Route Des Navigateurs”. I had been wandering around a Montreal tourism office, perusing the racks of travel pamphlets and gathering information. Several weeks earlier, my wife Maureen and I had left home on a cross-Canada adventure. Now, we were in Montreal. After several delightful days of touring the city and surrounding countryside, it was time to move on, but where? I had a general idea but nothing specific. I was looking for inspiration, something out of the ordinary, a route less travelled. Could this be it?