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SKI SEASON IN CANADA
Thursday 7 April at 5.00pm on Channel [V]
What could be better than earning a living shredding it up in the Canadian mountains? Billy hits the slopes of Whistler in Vancouver and shows you how to live the life B430 working all day as a lifty/ski instructor and then partying all night long. Billy's first stop is Montreal to show off a cool Canadian city.
Tips from our Block Jockey: Oliver Forbes
Montreal
- The locals always sit down and enjoy their coffee. If you want to stand out as a total tourist, get your coffee to take away and walk down the street, and enjoy all the funny looks you'll get.
- Be careful taking photos in public. The locals are VERY weird about being photographed, as everyone highly values their privacy. Ask permission before taking photos of people in public, and there's a 95% chance they'll still say no.
- Make sure you pack a shovel in your suitcase. If there is heavy snowfall, you'll be ploughing and digging your way out the front door of your hotel.
- You must tip at restaurants and bars, 15% is the miniumum, and 20% if you're really happy with the service. If you forget, don't worry, they'll remind you by saying "errr, the service is not included". They might even tie you up.
- You MUST try the token local dish, poutine (pronounced "pu-tin") - chips, gravy and cheese curds. The perfect snack at 4am when you're a bit boozed. Make sure you pronounce it correctly. If you say it like "poo-teene" you'll actually be ordering a prostitute with gravy and cheese curds. Not ideal.
Whistler
- Pack THERMALS! You're going to need these body hugging babies when you're up on the mountain, face first in the snow after you've been bowled over by a pro skier.
- When you're in the snow, if your toes get cold, it's actually so unpleasant that it can ruin your whole day. Go to the supermarket and you can buy these little tiny disposable heat packs that you put in the end of your shoes. Each one will last about 8 hours. Very toasty.
- Wear sunscreen! The snow reflects the sunlight and actually burns you quicker. You don't want to be that noob at the night club after skiing, with a lobster face.
- Be prepared to get boozy. Every night in Whistler, there's the "known" place to go, where you'll find all of those cute girls that you were eye-fucking earlier that day up on the mountain. (NOTE, if this is too inappropriate, change the last sentence to: "where you'll find all of those cute girls that you were playing footsies with in the chair lift earlier that day")
- Get a mini Go Pro HD camera. Some ski shops will hire them out for cheap for the day, you can strap them to pretty much anything - your skis, helmet, crotch - your imagination is the only limitation as to where you can put it. Take it out skiing or boarding, or onto the dance floor, or back to that random Swedish chick's hotel room? Maybe ask her to sign a waiver first.
Getting There
Approx. Travel Times
Depart East Coast Australia > + 13 hours flying time > Arrive LA > + 3 hours flying time > Arrive Mexico > + 1 hour flying time > Arrive Puerto Escondido
Accommodation
Option 1Mexico City
Hotel Condesa DF
www.condesadf.com
Approx. Cost $200
In Mexico you can live like a rockstar without having the money to prove it. Hotel Condesa DF has had celebrity guests that include the likes of U2 and Paris Hilton so you’ve gotta ask yourself a question, if it’s good enough for them? Is it good enough for me!? Located in the area of Condesa, it’s a great spot just outside the city centre that’s pretty hip and within walking distance of all the best bars, lounges, clubs and restaurants, not to mention that as well as being an amazing hotel, it is also one of the best bars you'll find in Mexico City.
Option 2Oaxaca
Mezkalito Hostel
www.mezkalitohostel.com
Approx. Cost $10 (in a 10 bed dorm room)
If you’re saving your cash to get to the coast, don’t worry, you can get a lot for your dollar in Oaxaco, especially when it comes to finding somewhere to stay to experience the Day of the Dead. Dorms at the Mezkalito Hostel are perfect is you’re travelling on the cheap and best of all it’s right near the city centre, giving you the complete Mexican experience.
The MezKalito Hostel has dorms from 2 to 14 beds or single rooms if you’re not keen on sharing with total strangers. Plus it’s so cheap you can spend all your money on something more substantial, such as Tacos and a Corona!
Option 2 (Part 2)Puerto Escondido
Hotel Rockaway
www.hotelrockaway.com
Approx. Cost $10 - $25
Hotel Rockaway is literally right in front of the infamous Mexican Pipeline, it’s the perfect spot to do your research or simply kick back and enjoy the scenery with an ice cold cerveza.
For around ten dollars a night you’ll get a bungalow right on the beach, or if you feel like living large you can get an air-conditioned room for $25. With its own pool patio and an outdoor bar it’s a hot spot for nightlife, and that means it’s also a great place to meet some like minded surfers.
Food + Fun
Day of the Dead (Dia de los Muertos)
- Runs from the 31st October til the 2nd November every year.
- A celebration for Mexicans to honour their deceased loved ones.
- Celebrations are held throughout Mexico but Oaxaca (pronounced Wha-Ha-Ka) is most popular amongst the tourist crowd.
Spring Break Cancun
- Early Autumn (northern hemisphere Spring).
- The infamous week long break that many northern hemisphere college and university students take to let loose and party after three months of bitter cold.
- A one and a half to two hour flight from Miami in the USA.
Nightlife
Mexico City
- Lucha Libre Wrestling. Just like US wrestling you’ll never quite get it, but unlike the US version, Lucha Libre is rich in culture and history, and best of all not a toothless redneck in sight!
- Pata Negra. Open til midnight every night, this is a great little bar especially if you’re in to Jazz. If not though, don’t worry because the upper level has DJs every night of the week.
- Gruta 77 is local live venue specialising in rock, and it's out of the way of the main tourist haunts.
- Condesa DF Bar. This bar is conveniently located within the Hotel Condesa DF, drinks are cheap and it’s one of the best bars in Mexico City so it ticks all the boxes!
http://www.frommers.com/destinations/mexicocity/41_indnight.html
Oaxaca
- Zocalo. Oaxaca’s main plaze, it’s the perfect place to sample the amazing local cuisine, music and bars.
- La Casa Del Mezcal. Aside from Corona and Tequila, Mexico’s most famous export is Mezcal (it’s the one with the worm in the bottle). La Casa Del Mezcal is an amazing little Bohemian bar that is literally stocked to the ceiling with various Mezcal blends, definitely worth checking out if you’re in Oaxaca.
- La Cantinita. If you’re after that real traditional Mexican party atmosphere La Cantinita is it, this place gets so busy that during the early hours it will feel as if the whole town is dancing there with you!
http://www.frommers.com/destinations/oaxacacity/930_indnight.html
Puerto Escondido
- Bar Fly. Located right on Zicatela, Bar Fly has the ultimate position with perfect sunset views and a DJ that spins the latest tracks til 3AM seven nights a week
- Casa Babylon. A Bohemian beach bar, this place is perfect if you’re after a more relaxed vibe. With a book exchange and table games, there’s real relaxed surfer vibe.
- Cinemar. After a long day in the ocean sometimes all you feel like doing is kicking back with some popcorn and throwing on a movie. Cinemar is the perfect place to do just this, with a small book store, large screen, beach chairs and the obligatory popcorn you don’t need to go anywhere else.
http://www.frommers.com/destinations/puertoescondido/0920010030.html
Shopping
Mexico City
- Mercado de la Ciudadela. For a great selection of Mexican crafts, visit the Ciudadela, four blocks south of the Alameda Park on Balderas Avenue just south of Paseo de la Reforma. It's a semi-covered market that covers 16,000 square meters with more than 200 stalls. It's worth quite a chunk of time if you want the full tour. There are some great comedores if you need a pick-me-up snack or beverage.
http://www.oaxacaoaxaca.com/shopping.htm
Oaxaca
- Alcala, Garcia Vigil and 5 de Mayo. These are the three main shopping streets of Oaxaca, here you will find an endless supply of handmade crafts, from jewellery, rugs, right through to genuine fake designer goods. If you can dream it, chances are you’ll find it here.
http://www.oaxacaoaxaca.com/shopping.htm
Puerto Escondido
- Adoquin. The Adoquín holds a row of tourist shops selling straw hats, postcards, and T-shirts, plus a few excellent shops featuring Guatemalan, Oaxacan, and Balinese clothing and art. You can also get a tattoo or rent surfboards and boogie boards.
http://www.frommers.com/destinations/puertoescondido/0920010031.html
Events and Festivals
- Day of the Dead (Dia de los Muertos)
- Spring Break
- Top Five things to do while in Mexico
Eating Out
VJ Blog
SURF MEXICO - Danny
I may have left my heart in Paris but I left my taste buds in Mexico. The food i experienced on the trip was amazing... and sometimes a little bizarre like the crickets, worms and ants eggs washed down with enough chilli to kill Seabiscuit. But the real reason that I went to Mexico was to head to Puerto Escondido to surf Mexican Pipe line. It is an intimidating wave considering it breaks onto about 2ft but I managed to pull into a meaty wave and survive another day to experience Dia de los Muertos(Day of the Dead) a fantastic Mexican tradition of celebrating life and death. You will see children dress as ghouls, teens dress as all sorts of devils and grannies dress as death.