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QuebecQuebec'''Quebec''' (French: ''Québec'') is a province of Canada. ==Regions== *Abitibi|Abitibi-Témiscamingue *Bas-Saint-Laurent *Eastern Townships *Centre-du-Québec *Charlevoix *Chaudière-Appalaches *Duplessis *Gaspé Peninsula *îles-de-la-Madeleine *Lanaudière *Laurentides *Laval *Manicouagan *Mauricie *Montérégie *Montreal *Nord-du-Québec *Outaouais *Quebec Region *Saguenay-Lac-St-Jean ==Cities== *Gaspé *Gatineau *Granby *Laval *Lévis *Longueil *Magog *Maniwaki *Montreal *Mont-Tremblant *Quebec City *Rimouski *Saguenay *Shawinigan *Trois-Rivières ==Other destinations== ==Understand== Although most Quebeckers are proudly Canadian, more than a few feel antagonised by "English Canada" and may not respond well to anglophones regardless of their descent. Do not become flustered if you are unable to find someone who speaks English right away. It is highly likely that the people to whom you are speaking do understand you, but lack the confidence and command of the language needed to answer you in your language of choice. The potential separation of Quebec from Canada is also a contentious issue; avoid discussing politics with strangers. Use discretion when discussing the Canadian flag, as its overt display may inflame tensions in some areas. ==Talk== As Canada is officially bilingual, most official documents, signs, and tourist information will be in both French and English. Staff at retail shops, restaurants and tourist attractions will often speak correct English, especially in Montreal. About 8% of the province's residents speak English as a mother tongue, and an additional 31% consider that they can get by speaking it. The official language of Quebec, however, is '''French''' -- or, more specifically, ''Quebecois'' French. Isolated from France for centuries, and unaffected by that country's 19th-century language standardization, Quebec has developed its own dialect of French. The continental variety -- called "international French" or ''français international'' here -- is well-understood, and something closely approximating it is spoken by broadcasters and many businesspeople. While Quebecers understand European French, European tourists may feel lost until they grow accustomed to the local accent(s). There are a few main differences between Quebecois French and French-from-France. One is that in Quebec it's relatively common to ''tutoyer'' (use the familiar ''tu'' second-person pronoun) for all and sundry, regardless of age or status (though there are common exceptions to this in the workplace and the classroom). In asking questions, one uses inversion (''Aurais-tu du sirop?'') more often than ''Est-ce que'', and sometimes just inflection (''Tu aurais du sirop?''). Finally, there are a number of vocabulary words that differ, particularly in very informal contexts (for example, ''un char'' for a car, rather than ''une voiture''), and some common expressions (''C'est beau'' for "OK" or "fine"). Overall, however, pronunciation marks the most significant difference between Quebec and European French. Probably the most puzzling difference in Quebec's French is that one will often ''sacrer'' (blaspheme) rather than using scatological or sexual curse words. Terms like ''baptême'' (baptism) or ''vierge'' (virgin) have become slangy and taboo over the centuries in this once fervently Catholic culture. ''Hostie de tabarnac!'' ("communion wafer of the tabernacle!") or just ''tabarnak!'' is one of the most obscene things to say, and more polite versions like ''tabarnouche'' or ''tabarniche'' are equivalent to "darn" or "fudge!" Although ''sacre'' may seem funny, be assured that Quebeckers do take it seriously. Don't ''sacrer'' any time you don't really mean it! See also: French phrasebook ==Get in== ==Get around== To tour Quebec extensively, a car is essential. Note that most signage is French-only and that road conditions are notoriously poor by North American standards. Drivers also have a well-deserved reputation for aggressiveness and impatience: when driving on a multi-lane road, keep to the right unless you have every intention of being the fastest thing on the road. Passing on the right and driving across solid lines, though permitted elsewhere in Canada, are not tolerated in Quebec and will earn you a fine. Also note that speed limits are, as elsewhere in Canada, posted in metric. Major highways usually have a posted minimum as well as a maximum. Traffic often flows about 25% faster than the maximum. VIA Rail offers train service along the St. Lawrence river, up the Saguenay and in the Gaspé Peninsula. http://www.viarail.ca Within cities, public transit tends to be good by North American standards, though showing the signs of funding cuts in recent years. ==See== *'''Provincial Parks''' Quebec has 22 provincial parks (known as ''National'' parks in French and in official English documentation). They vary from smallish, easily accessible preserves to massive tracts of remote near-wildnerness and everything in between. See http://www.sepaq.com. ==Do== *'''St. Jean-Baptiste''' ('''Fête Nationale'''), province-wide. June 24. The saint day of John the Baptist is also the "national" holiday of Quebec. With origins in France, the holiday took on major importance in the New World since it coincided with the summer gathering of fur traders. Many Quebecois celebrate the beginning of summer with backyard barbecues and parties at home, but there are also large public events in almost any town in the province, and huge public concerts in Montreal and Quebec City. A great day to see what makes Quebec so special. ==Eat== '''Maple syrup''' (French: ''sirop d'érable'') is the sticky, drippy giant on Quebec's culinary landscape. Boiled down from sap of the maple tree in sugar shacks (''cabanes à sucre'') around the province, it's got a more tangy flavor than the corn-based pancake syrup you may be used to. Different types of candies are obtained by pushing the boiling process further and are popular gifts during springtime. Also don't miss taffy-on-the-snow (''tire sur neige''). In Quebec, the syrup is used for more than just pancakes, though. You can find it as a glaze for pork and beef, mixed in with baked beans (''fèves au lard''), or in desserts like ''pouding chômeur'' ("welfare cake") or ''tarte au sucre'' (sugar pie). It's also made into loose sugar and candies. Syrup is on sale practically anywhere you want to go, but if you really want to take some home, stop into a farmer's market or a grocery store rather than a tourist shop. You can get the same high-quality syrup as at the souvenir stand for about half the price. No visit to Quebec is complete without at least one plate of '''''poutine''''' (maybe from English "pudding"). This unique dish is a plate of French fries, drowned in gravy, and topped with chewy curds of white cheddar. There are variations on the theme -- adding chicken, beef, vegetables or sausage, or replacing the gravy with tomato and beef sauce (''poutine italienne''). Poutine can be found in practically any fast-food chain restaurant in Quebec, but higher-quality fare can be found at more specialized poutine shops. Befitting the province's sub-arctic climate, Quebecois cuisine favors rich, hot foods with more calories than you want to know about. '''Tourtière du Lac-Saint-Jean''' for instance is a pie, typically from the Saguenay region but popular everywhere, made of various meats (usually beef and pork) and diced potatoes, stewed for a whole day then baked together in a flakey pastry shell. It's comfort food for a Quebecois -- just like ''Maman'' used to make. ==External links== *[http://www.bonjourquebec.com/ Bonjour Quebec], the Official Web site of Tourisme Québec *[http://www.sepaq.com/ Sépaq], The official Website of the Société des établissements de plein air du Québec {{stub}} fr:Québec WikiPedia:Quebec Dmoz:North America/Canada/Quebec First page | Prev | Next | Last page |
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