Canooknic said:
I'm intrigued, what is it that you dislike about Edmonton? My fiancé works with someone who is very vocal about hating it there, but she can't understand why we would want to leave the UK because she lives it!
Well, it of course depends what you compare it too. I also know a bunch of people who really like it here, so I am sure it's all relative and a matter of "taste:. I have lived in for years in Vienna and then Zurich, which are both very beautiful cities full of charme and atmosphere. So I guess it's hard for Edmonton to live up to that....
But personally I honestly can't find anything nice here. The city is ugly (the only nice building is the Legislature), most of downtown is not a good place to be (Edmonton has one of the higher crime rates compared to other Canadian cities). And most importantly I feel there is just not much to do here (as in the city doesn't really offer a lot to its residents I find).
Moreover it's all about cars (50% of people drive huge SUVs or pickup trucks), and there is no pedestrian area at all.
The Rockies are somewhat close, but it's still a 4-5 hour drive and hence you gotta do a least a weekend trip. Edmonton is in the prairie, and I personally am not a big fan of flat landscapes. But that's just personal taste again...