Canada

[Tom Joad]

Been here since Thursday. In New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. This is gorgeous country. And the people seem for the most part more laid back, friendly and happy than in the US. Probably part of the reason is they don't have to worry about being bankrupted by medical bills if they get sick or hurt. There is almost no litter here. I mean yeah, there's some, but it's rare. I doubt there is 1/10 the litter that you see back in the US. And they actually let you pump your gas and then go in and pay for it! Can you believe that! I've had to pay cash for everything because even though I called the credit card people and told them when and where I was going and got there assurance that they wouldn't stop my card, as soon as I tried to use it in Canada it was declined. I'm gonna have a few choice words for them when I get back.

Fortunately I carried quite a bit of emergency cash. That's another thing. I've had no problem using American cash for stuff. I've used $100 bills too, so I could get change back in Canadian. I've had no problem with that either. They've always given me a fair rate of exchange, about a buck and a quarter Canadian for a buck American, and they don't even hold the $100 bills up to the light to check them! And the Motels have been fine with taking cash. Try to rent a room in the states without a credit card.