portereight

Both the Ferry and fixed link are free on the way to the island. You only pay when you leave the Island.
Most people on Cape Breton do not speak french. There is an Acadian population on the west coast surrounding Cheticamp, but the rest of the island is very english. Most Cape Bretoners can trace their origin to the Scottish Highlands. You can still find a dwindling number of native Gaelic speakers in the Highlands, in and around the Mabou / Margaree area.

I just spent the last few days in the Cape Breton highlands recharging. My most recommended new find is that there are two companies offering whale watching on small (50' ish) schooners. One operates out of Ingonish right below the Cape Smokey Ski hill and the other out of Bay St. Lawrence on the Islands north coast. If you know of a better way to spend the afternoon than sailing on a wooden ship off Cape Breton I'd like to hear about it.