Or so it seemed to us after spending a few days exploring!

Winnipeg is… drinking beers on Osborne St, 1am and still 30 degrees celcius.

Art and history surprising you around every corner

The Slurpy capital of North America.  7/11s are filled with people queuing to refill their bucket-sized slurpy cups.

Friendly people offering up their pools, a cold beer, some Manitoba strawberries…

Freshwater beaches, with trees and sun-dappled grass just metres away from the sandy shores.

We joined with hundreds of locals at Lac du Bonnet to celebrate Canada day.  There was a carnival and beer garden, fireworks on the beach, and we stood for the national anthem for the first time. 

Then the next day, we got to celebrate Canada day again - this time on Osborne St in Winnipeg city.  I wore a Canadian flag as a cape.

The street was filled with homos and hipsters; it was fantastic!  Like a big gay street party with free hugs, happy drunks and red and white accessories everywhere! 

And you know, all this great stuff happened BEFORE the Winnipeg Folk Festival; which (along with catching up with some amazing friends) was the whole reason we drove all the way out here!

You know, I’ve never had as much fun in a Canadian city as I had in Winnipeg.  It may have been because we had a few pearler friends to show us around and tell us a little of the history of the places we went.  Or it may have been because it reminded us so much of Wellington, with its cafes and patio bars crammed full of cultured bohemian types.  I think it was a combination. 

Winnipeg is classy and open-minded while also being relaxed and humble enough to let me bum around in bare feet.  Winnipeg doesn’t judge, it shrugs, smiles and joins in.

Thanks to Bre and Randi for putting up with us, and to Braden, Quinn, Grant, Ben, Al, Johnny, Brenlee, Lindsay, Alicia and all our other new friends who made Winnipeg such a great experience! 

Next up, the awesomeness of the festival.