Parc du Mont-Megantic, Quebec

As a Canadian, I find it pretty sad that this part of the world is just as unknown and foreign to me as Africa or Antarctica (apart from the national love of hockey and beer, that is), so I just might be taking up my own advice and reaching out to Eva for some tips on the eastern end of the Great White North.

Eva has an MA in History and her writing on topics as diverse as travel, indie movies, music and books can be found in a number of Canadian publications, World Hum, Not Coming to a Theater Near You, and, of course, right here on the Matador Network.

Her M.O. is backpacking alone, staying in hostels and catering for herself (though she is quick to point out that she doesn’t think this lifestyle is superior to any others). She quotes Ferris Bueller and Stevie Wonder et elle parle du français aussi.

More on Eva:

I’ve lived in Ottawa, Halifax, Saskatoon and Toronto, and traveled to all ten provinces at one point or another (plus one territory – Yukon and Nunavut await!). The areas I know best are Ontario (especially the south east), the Atlantic Provinces (especially Nova Scotia), and parts of Quebec.

I’d be happy to help out with some off-the-beaten-path suggestions (smaller towns, outdoor areas), logistics of transport, and specific dining/nightlife recs for Ottawa, Kingston, and Halifax. But feel free to send any question you like – even if it’s not my area of expertise I’ll do my best to help you figure it out!

Places I want to go: These days I’m jonesing to head to South Africa, the Yukon, back to New Orleans, back to California, Cuba, India (ideally for a solid six months or more), back to my old stomping grounds in the UK.

There’s still a ton of the ol’ US of A to see, and one of these days I’d really love to take the train across Canada. I’d also like to go back to Italy, this time with my mom. I just want to go EVERYWHERE, really!

Sports I do: rugby, rowing, hockey

I felt the most immersed in a foreign culture when: When I visited my dad while he was living in Kuala Lumpur, and I was away from all the touristy stuff and just spent my days wandering around the suburban malls and people-watching.

Also anytime we went to the pub while I was living in England, or when we just sat around the house watching Eurovision or the World Cup or Celebrity X-Factor.

Before I die I’d like to: See all 1000 places in that book?? Nah…

To find out more about Eva and to barrage her with your questions, find her at her Matador profile (deva). Be sure to pop by her website too!

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