Les Portages Modernes
by johngayton
The largest single employer here in the Hull/Gatineau region is without doubt the government (both national and provincial). There are, according to the website below, a total of 37 government buildings in the area with the majority of them concentrated in an approximately 1km square on the north-west bank of the Ottawa river between The Alexandra and Chaudiere Bridges. This is the modern Portage complex - the name "portage" meaning a place where a river is impassable and its traffic has to be manually transported overland around the section and is how Hull became established initially.
There is something fascinating about this city within a city where well over 20,000 functionaires inhabit such a relatively small space for about 40 hours a week each, Monday to Friday and with all the amenities of a small city included. Within the interlinked office buildings there are shopping malls, hotels, bars and restaurants, doctors and dentists, dry cleaners, hairdressers, shoe repairers...the list goes on. Just like some Mediaval walled citadel, permenantly prepared for siege. Yes, definitely interesting and interesting too the politically diplomatic decision made to locate La Portage here in Quebec!! Website below has a list of most of the government buildings in Gatineau, along with some details of individual departments, their staffing levels and etc. -
http://www.ville.gatineau.qc.ca/dev-econ/edifices-ang.htm
Again I disagree with...
by Sprucebeer
Again I disagree with Lafourmie... Hull is not a boring place. I guess it depends if you're looking for an exciting nightlife or more of a nature/outdoor vacation.
I love living in this region, there are green spaces everywhere. Almost every home has planted trees and flowers. The Gatineau hills, small in comparison to the Canadian Rocky’s, surround the area and offer great scenery. The hills also provide an easy escape to the every day city life and a selection of wilderness to the avid photographer and outdoorsmen. There is an abundance of lakes to choose from; some right in the middle of the city, some 10 minutes away and others a couple of hours away driving towards the Laurentiens and Montréal.
Whether you are into photography, sailing, boating or more into game sports like fishing and hunting, we offer a variety of locations.
Smile
by Tailormeetains
It's the international language. I have no problem functioning in either official language; most people here are very helpful and do their best for tourists. I've met folks from all over the world in Hull and the only ones who seem to have trouble are those that come from Ottawa, looking for a fight. I have a good friend who moved to Hull from Viet Nam; he spoke neither English or French when he arrived but found the residents of this city to be very friendly. If you know any Frrench at all, try using it; most locals will be impressed with you for your efforts and will often switch to English if they can. A lot of conversation in Hull takes place in Frenglish anyway.
Driving in Quebec
by janika
The roads have many potholes and if you drive a car in Quebec, prepare your self for some bumpy ride. Another thing is driving style of the locals. Quebecers speed and cut you off at occasions. If you're walking on the sidewalk, better look around twice before stepping on the road. Even if the light is green for you. If you don't want to be a victim of another hit & run, keep your eyes open. In my personal opinion, they drive like maniacs. There are road signs reminding Quebecers of existing pedestrians. See image.
Cross-country Skiing From Hull
by johngayton
During the summer Gatineau Park makes for a great day out in its relative wilderness and much of the park is easily accessible by motor vehicles (tho' noting that on Sundays many routes become cycle only). During the winter however when the snow is several feet deep the only vehicular access is to the various car parking areas around the periphery or the section around Camp Fortune and Lake Meech. Upon arrival its a case of either get yer skis or get yer snowshoes on (and you can also, in a couple of areas, get yer skates on too!).
The park, as a whole, boasts about 200 km of groomed cross-country ski trails with marked routes of varying degrees of difficulty and experienced skiers also have the option of blazing their own trails.
From Hull the most accessible part of the Gatineau Hills is the area around the Relais Plein Air ( at the top of Mont Bleu ) in the southern part of the park with an excellent and relatively easy trail leading up to Pink Lake (which is actually white for most of the winter!!) and a gently exhilarating downhill stretch back down the main track. (For "gently exhilarating" read "only fell on ass twice"!!).
At the Relais is a nice warm cafe with a selection of beverages and snacks for sale but no BEER! You are however more than welcome to use the facilities and bring your own beverages and snacks (MEMO to self: REM to read this tip before going next time!). If you have your own skis then the parking lot is ideally located for the start of the trail. If you need to hire skis the Relais has a hire shop (which also does snowshoes) with prices ranging from $CD10 for an hour, $18 for 3 hours, $22 for the day and $75 for a week and staff are very helpful regarding boot fittings, ski and pole legnths & etc.
Publicity Material
Lasagne Della Casa
Salads
Daytime Pic Of Frontage
