Thirty years ago today...

[Scooter]

[ex-khobar Andy]

All hail the looney!

When I lived in Buffalo (go Sabres!) we were used to traveling into Ontario, especially for UK foods such as Marmite which were more easily obtainable there. We got used to the exchange rate whereby the US dollar was anywhere from 30% to 5% more valuable than the Canadian dollar while we were there. Most merchants at the Canadian malls posted their rates and would happily accept US and price accordingly. I say most: I well remember the time I wanted a cup of coffee at the Eaton Centre and they did not give a discount for US. Oh well, for a $0.90 coffee what does it matter. (This was probably mid eighties.). The rate was 30% at the time. So I gave her a US $20 and she solemnly counted out $19.10 Canadian in change. It wasn't until much later that day that math wizard Andy realized he had paid about $6 for that coffee.

[BoSoxGal]

Loonie, not looney.

[Lord Jim]

At the current exchange rate, the Canadian Peso is worth about 77 US cents:

https://www.google.com/search?q=exchang ... 8&oe=utf-8

It was only about four years ago that it briefly was actually worth more than a US dollar, but it's been pretty much downhill since:



Though it looks like it actually dropped as low as about 70 cents in mid 2016 and has recovered a bit since then...

This favorable exchange rate means that this would be a good time for Americans to visit Canada...

Assuming there's actually such a thing as a good time to visit Canada...

[Scooter]

It's always a good time to visit Canada.

The value of the Cdn $ is highly correlated to the price of oil, which accounts for most of the variation seen in recent years. It doesn't normally affect me except when booking vacations priced in U.S. dollars. But some of that difference may begin to evaporate as the Bank of Canada (our counterpart of the Federal Reserve) has signalled that interest rates are on their way back up in the next few months.

[dales]

I like BC.

[Bicycle Bill]

All hail the looney!

When I lived in Buffalo (go Sabres!) we were used to traveling into Ontario, especially for UK foods such as Marmite which were more easily obtainable there. We got used to the exchange rate whereby the US dollar was anywhere from 30% to 5% more valuable than the Canadian dollar while we were there. Most merchants at the Canadian malls posted their rates and would happily accept US and price accordingly. I say most: I well remember the time I wanted a cup of coffee at the Eaton Centre and they did not give a discount for US. Oh well, for a $0.90 coffee what does it matter. (This was probably mid eighties.). The rate was 30% at the time. So I gave her a US $20 and she solemnly counted out $19.10 Canadian in change. It wasn't until much later that day that math wizard Andy realized he had paid about $6 for that coffee.

Yeah, Andy, you got ripped off — although the difference probably went into her pocket, so you could look at it as just leaving her a $5 tip .... for a 90¢ cup of java.  Last of the big-time spenders!!

I went on a 3-day skiing weekend in Canada about that same time and bought something (breakfast at the ski lodge, as I remember) and paid with a US $20.  Cashier gave me a Canuck fiver, and then made Canadian change for the $20.  Might not have been exactly the exchange rate, but it was a damned sight closer than the way your waitress treated you.

-"BB"-

[Scooter]

What amuses me about these stories is that there isn't another country in the world whose residents would presume to be allowed to use their own currency in a foreign country at all, let alone receive a decent exchange rate.

[BoSoxGal]

Most of the northern US states let you Canucks spend your imitation quarters here at full value. Aren't we generous?

[Scooter]

Such generosity is the foundation upon which the relationship between our two countries is based.

[Lord Jim]

there isn't another country in the world whose residents would presume to be allowed to use their own currency in a foreign country at all

A testament of course, to world-wide confidence in the enduring value of the US dollar

[Scooter]

[BoSoxGal]

Happy birthday, Canada! Here's wishing you many, many more.

[Lord Jim]

[ex-khobar Andy]

60 years ago when Canada was just a 90-year-old stripling I was at school in Montreal. We learned to sing O Canada in French and English. Montreal was bilingual in those days, much more so than it is now. I can still do it in English but I struggle to remember the French.

[Gob]

What amuses me about these stories is that there isn't another country in the world whose residents would presume to be allowed to use their own currency in a foreign country at all, let alone receive a decent exchange rate.

You can use Scots money in England, NI and Wales, and vice versa.

[MajGenl.Meade]

What amuses me about these stories is that there isn't another country in the world whose residents would presume to be allowed to use their own currency in a foreign country at all, let alone receive a decent exchange rate.

You can use Scots money in England, NI and Wales, and vice versa.

Except that is the same country - the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Allegedly.

[Gob]

The Scots may choose to differ...

[BoSoxGal]

But they didn't.

[Lord Jim]

The currency of Scotland is the GBP Pound (£). One pound is comprised of 100 pence and coins can be obtained in 1p, 2p, 5p, 10p, 20p, 50p, £1 and £2 denominations. Bank notes are commonly divided into £5, £10, £20 and £50 amounts.