It took us 90 minutes to cross the Lewiston bridge the other day -- quite frankly, I won't be in a rush to do that again. And once you get in the lineup, you're stuck: there's no way to do a u-turn or exit. And there's no sign warning you "90 minute wait ahead".

So ... I suspect once Americans have been through that, the word gets around quick enough.

I find US customs always faster and easier. We have only had one long wait coming into Canada at the Thousand Islands Bridge of over an hour in three years of monthly shuttles back and forth. Besides, the beer south is worth it and I need to feed the monster.

As long as certain US politicians continue to propagate false myths about Canada, things will not improve. Some of them are still beating the dead and long disproved hourse that some of the 9/11 hijackers entered the US through Canada.

You know, I do not think that is an issue for the folks that will be the travellers, expecially given the fact that only, what, 17% of Americans even support the administration any more. I think it is more that we do not give them reason to come or even let them know we like them and want to hang out. I will do my bit to recruit when I am at the NY State Fair this weekend.

Canada? Isn't that some sort of seltzer water or something?

Seriously, having lived within 30 minutes of the country and thoroughly enjoying it when I have visited, I have a high opinion of the place. Besides, "Gen X at 40" has kept me more Canada-conscious than any other form of media. The main that would keep me from living there is the weather. But I guess once you've survived a few Fort Drum winters, you can handle it anywhere.

Personally, when it comes to other countries besides the US, I am very much enjoying Kosovo. Relatively inexpensive, they use the Euro, and the people are very friendly.

Sure sure. Sorry to burst you little bubble, Brian, but next time you are out try finding decent maple syrup! Hah! Not a chance.<p>PS - how is the borscht?

17%? You've been developing an elaborate fantasy world over the last few months, Al.

I find this particularly funny because I was cursing Bush as an idiot in the border lineup, since effectively controlling your border is a core government function and quite obviously they're failing at it. In particular, I doubt it's much harder for Atta-class terrorists to get into the states and yet they severely harmed cross-border commerce and the air travel industries.

I know...it will be more like 12%.<p>Were you cursing the US customs, David? I relly have nothing but good things to say but we cross so often I think we have a huge track record that speeds the travel. We actually had one stick their head in and say "you don't exactly look like islanmo-fascist terrorists to me." Thousand Islands is also well set up with a separate truck lane that allows the small cars to whip through.

It was very funny -- the person controlling our line was taking up to 10 minutes on a single car (and 30 seconds on others). My sister opined that "it has to be a woman", i.e. because the most officious agents almost always are. Another 15 minutes later we find out we correct; and 15 minutes after that we find out we were correct but for the wrong reason ... she was _very very very chatty_.

In particular, after Trinity-Anne declared here citizenship to be "from Toronto", the customs agent started telling us stories about how people from Ohio always declare their citizenships to be "I'm from Ohio" and suggested that inbreeding may be the cause of this particular issue.

Canada is on its own, I'm busy thinking up Nova Scotia buzziness ... "We're Peninsular!"

I think the motto for the new Tantrama City was going to be "Think Isthmuth!"

And the natural theme song:

<blockquote>
Don't, don't you want me?
You know I can't believe it when I hear that you won't see me
Don't, don't you want me?
You know I don't believe you when you say that you don't need me
It's much too late to find
You think you've changed your mind
You'd better change it back or we will both be sorry
Don't you want me baby? Don't you want me oh
Don't you want me baby? Don't you want me oh
</blockquote>

Interesting, and ironic, (for me at least) since I have taken two short trips to Ontario's "West Coast" in the last few weeks, and I was thinking about the tourism issue.

The decline in tourism where I've been is evident - empty storefronts, quiet streets, motels with vacancies, etc. Chief among the things Ive noticed is an overwhelming lack of quality customer service in towns whose lifeblood is the out-of-towner. But I wonder if it hasn't become a chicken/egg sort of thing - is service bad because tourism is down, or is tourism down because service is bad. While I suspect it may be a bit of both, I think there's no question that people are travelling less. They're being careful with their travel budgets - and this means that they demand, and expect more for their money. And they'll continue to seek out destinations where that is the case. Unless and until the Canadian tourism industry (on average, there are always exceptions) understands that, things will continue to go south, in more ways than one.

I hope to muse more about this soon at my own blog, I'm still working on gathering my thoughts. (the HOUR that I sat ON the Bluewater Bridge this morning has left me muddled)

I must just love administrative processing as I find those moments idle in a line-up wonderfully reflective opportunities.

Canada - come for the fish, stay because it's a hassle getting back.

I should be in PR - oh wait. I guess I sort of am.

Actually we're all outta' fish, as well as cash-rich resource companies. So might as well go to 6 Flags.

I like 6 Flags, and lots of other southern attractions (numero uno has to be all that beer). Following along with Shelley, there is a noticeable difference between the whole "culture of customer service" thing between the two nations. Retail and hospitality must be a higher profile thing in the States because they definitely know how to do it right. Seems like a "detail" here.

I have my eyes upon a trip to the six flags at Lake George NY and the indoor water palace there. The kids pressed their noses up against the glass this summer and lost the power of speech.

Me and the wife wanna head north to party at Alan's house, but her passport is AWOL, somewhere in the post-move mess. I have crossed Quebec-Vermont several times in the last year, and from October till this summer the security at the same booths, US side, has quadrupuled. The crossing is tiny, no other cars around--you get the steely look, the no BS questions, the 'passports please, where have you been blah blah blah', and that is trying to get back into MY country. On the other hand, Canadian officials roll out the red carpet and wave you through, hoping you will spend generously. We are told down here that security returning to the US will be very strict, and requires a passport, which only about 10 % Americans possess. No more quick runs over to the duty free and back....

I thought that passport business was a maybe for the future. We always have gotten by (the last time two weekends ago) with birth certificates and drivers licenses, both ways. In fact, our last trip north they just rattled off the usual stuff (citzenship/where are you going/how long/bringing anything in) and that was it. Getting into the US was just as easy.

I've had some interesting experiences getting into Canada at Thousand Islands....once en route to Montreal, the guy asked me why I was going there and when I said to see hockey he asked if I was a referee. Headed to an Expos game one Sunday morning, a Quebecois (I assume..heavy accent) border monitor asked my wife, who was driving, our destination and she said "Canada." My daughter and I were laughing and the guy was trying to seem officious but was smiling just a little, another quick pass through. Last fall I went to Montreal yet again and changed some money at the Duty Free (Sunday morning, no banks open don't you know). Once outside I realized I'd been shorted $10 and went back in to try and get it, figuring my chances were about 1 percent. The girl went right behind the glass and gave me the $10, no questions asked, and smilingly told me I could hit her if I wanted since she'd made a mistake. I told her to have a nice day.

On the return leg of last spring's "Ottawa for a game and work the next day" sojourn (circa 11:30 p.m.), the other two guys handed their licnses over and I was about to do the same when she said, "No need sir, I know you're not someone they picked up off the street up there."

Also, you should try crossing over from New York to Quebec at a place called Trout River sometime. After a stop at the cheap-gas Akwesasne Rez you come to the crossing, which is like the drive-in at a bank, seemingly at what used to be the kitchen window of someone's house. I swear the guy we dealt with lived there.

T-Bo: My understanding is that US law is going to require a passport to return. I think January 1 or something.

I am shocked not to see what I believe to be the reason tourism is down in Canada. Anti-Americanism!
I was in Canada on a ski trip in 2003 for the first and last time.
The Citizens, Media, and Politicians are relentless in their disdain for America. Why would I spend my money and time there when there are so many fab places in the US and the rest of the World?
I admit, I have a negative view of Canadians which was created solely from Canadians themselves. And I'm not the only one.

That is unfortunate and something which Canadians do trouble themselves with but on the other side of the coin "anti-Americanism" is something that is wielded as a very broad brush. I used to be careful in my discussions with my pals in Maine and Central New York before we were as palsy. Especially about politics. Now I understand that many of them are much more against their own Federal administration's policies and actions that I might be. Yet if I voice any comment which is a mere tepid shadow of their opposition, it can be labelled anti-American.

So it is important to never say anti-American to detail what offended to find out if someone is just stupid or validly anti-Republic or validly anti-corporate mangement or anti-Hollywood and TV to learn if there is a real gap in knowledge or whether the policies of a Bush or an Enron or a Fox has created a valid opinion that is slanderously labelled as "anti-American." You would also have to look into your own soul to find out if you react this way to any little thing.

That is never to say rudeness is part of hospitality. And for me, you can rest assured that I love the interstate system of highways, the superior local snack foods, local government having strong jurisdiction as well as the loverly diversity which are the state flags. Ohio, I say...Ohio.

Stef, was it when you went to Montreal and called the waiter 'garcon'? Maybe it was after you loudly remarked 'stupid Canadian frog, why can't they learn English?' Or maybe you went to Toronto and saw a gay couple and said 'no wonder those two got together, nobody else would want them'. Did you tell the guy at the hotel that since Canada is the 51st state, they should take the Queen off the money? Perhaps you don't like the idea of health care for everyone. Or maybe you think that their less than enthusiastic support for a war in Iraq was unenlightened?
I dunno Stef, I am laying it on thick, but it sounds like you had a bad trip, and you are correct in taking yourself to vacation elsewhere. I would agree with you that Labatt Blue is a rude and impolite beer, but I don't let it color my opinon of the whole country.

Just for the record, gr is a US citizen and unable, therefore, to be anti-American.