Nice

Judy. When I was a teen, my mom once threw up her hands and said, “What have I done to make you apologize all the time,” to which I responded, “I’m sorry!”  Maybe that’s why I feel so at home in Canada. It’s the only place I hear apologies as often as I give them out.

Canada is nice. That’s not news—articles have been written about how nice Canadians are. Robin Williams once said, “Canada, you are the kindest country in the world. You are like a really nice apartment over a meth lab.”

Being from the South, I’m used to nice. Being from Atlanta, I don’t always see it. Yes, I know, there are nice people and mean people everywhere, but some places it’s just more obvious. Sure, there are some crazy drivers here, but not many that I’ve seen. People stop their cars when we jaywalk. And if you’re concerned about crossing safely, many

Crossing flags

crossing lanes have orange flags in holders on either side: you can carry a flag with you so cars see you, then leave it in the holder on the other side.

Everyone says “thank you” when they get off the bus. A stranger we spoke to on the ferry to Dartmouth told us the best way to get on and off Prince Edward Island. The first time we went into St. Mark’s Anglican Church for services, four people walked up to the pew where we were sitting and welcomed us. The three ladies in front of us asked us to sit with them at the coffee hour. One day we commented to a woman who lives down the street about how beautiful her roses are. She told us to come by and cut some to take to our home. Small business owners take their time and talk to each customer. Those waiting don’t mind; their turn will come in a few minutes and they’ll get all the attention,

Buongiorno Caffe

The inimitable Frederico

Frederico, who owns the small coffee kiosk up the street met us once. Once. But today when we stopped by, he greeted us warmly and told us he saw us on the Dartmouth ferry on Sunday. He’s always full of smiles, and the line to the window is invariably long, but we don’t mind. When it’s our turn, we’ll get all the attention. By the way, he makes GREAT coffee.

It feels cozy here.

Colorful Lunenburg

Last weekend we drove along the South Shore to visit the Peggy’s Cove Lighthouse and some of the picturesque fishing (read tourist) towns along the coast. They were all

Peggy's Cove

sweet and quite lovely. We stopped in Lunenburg, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, for lunch. The couple next to us, actually from Connecticut, but who have a beach cottage up here where they stay much of the year, struck up a conversation, asking where we wanted to spend the afternoon and what we might like to see: more towns, or nature? They recommended some beautiful beach walks--in particular, Gaff Point.

As our conversation continued, we discovered we’ll both be in Croatia at the same time in October! Contact information was exchanged, and plans were made to meet there. Then Walter said, “You know, you can just drive to our beach house and park in the driveway. That way you don’t have to cross so many rocks when you walk the shore.”

Two hours later, we were walking with Mary Lou and their dog Otto, while Walt helped

Beautiful beachwalk 

a neighbor with a project. After a long walk through breathtaking scenery, Walt met us and they invited us in for coffee and tea. We just couldn’t stop talking about—I don’t even know. Everything! Since we’ll be back that way in July with our friends Gary and Sally, we suggested the possibility of all having dinner together. With that plan, we hugged them goodbye and headed back to Halifax.

The next morning we received an email from them inviting the four of us to spend the night, eat dinner with them, and enjoy a bonfire on the beach.

Mary Lou and Walt

Mary Lou and Walt are Americans—the US kind. They are open and generous, interesting and funny.

And they, too, are nice. Welcome to Canada, y'all!