Sherbrooke was an interesting stop—small, friendly, and a bit different from the usual places I end up. It’s deep in French-speaking Quebec, and while you can get by with English, there’s definitely a language barrier in places. That said, people were helpful, and trying to navigate in broken French added a bit of character to the trip. The town itself is quiet but has a decent mix of food—some surprisingly good cafés and bakeries, plus a few solid dinner spots tucked into older buildings that give the centre a bit of charm.
I stayed at the Grand Times Hotel, which felt like it was trying to be sleek and modern, though parts of it leaned more towards quirky than cool. The lobby looked like it was designed for a nightclub, and the lighting made the whole place feel slightly surreal—but it was comfortable enough and in a decent location. Sherbrooke probably isn’t a major destination for most, but it had enough personality to make the visit worthwhile. Just don’t expect much going on after 9 p.m.
