Niagara – lots of water!
I was very excited to be going to Niagara as it was part of
(one of many) my bucket list. It was a rush to get from the hotel to the
airport in Boston to get the plane on time, and then discovered that Dave had a
seat number but not me! Slight panic but app. It happens all the time in
America, some people get allocated seats, some don’t and you have to get your
seat number at the gate before boarding! Not a comfortable feeling on my part I
can tell you. Yes I did get a seat.
Our hotel in Niagara was on the Niagara river looking out
over the river, just before the rapids start. It is very wide, and once the
rapids start, quite swift. We went for an early morning walk along the river,
which is all part of a state park.
We had booked a tour, and it was us and two others with a
lovely tour guide called Nick. He was great, and I was able to sit in the front
seat with him to get a better view.
We were on the American side. We started at Terrapin point,
which was our first view of the Horseshoe falls (the one you see in the
pictures) and the place you can get up to them on the American side.
There is
also the Amerian falls and Bridal veil Falls which are on the American side as
well. We went to the Cave of the Winds, with a movie to start with explaining
the history of the falls (popular tourist attraction since the 1800”s). and
then down a lift which the shaft had been cut out of the rock way back early
1900’s. this takes you to the bottom of the American falls and the Bridalveil
Falls. You get a poncho and sandals as you WILL get wet! Water was crashing
down so fast and there was a place where you can back into the water falling
from the cliff above and over you! I loved it and thought I was going to go
crashing over, the force was so powerful as well as the noise! Fantastic!
After that was the ‘Maid of the Mist’ – the boat tour that
takes you right up to where the Horseshoe falls fall over. Our first real view
of those falls in all their glory. Once again, down a lift, ponchos on and
right into all the mist and water. It was amazing how close you got, you
thought you would be right under it.
Then it was to the new viewing platform, way up high and
hanging over the river to see the falls. Quite windy, and Dave swore he could
feel it move in the wind, but it was solid concrete and very well reinforced.
Luckily this was lovely weather and not many tourists really, but we could only
imagine how horrible this place must be in the summer!
After our tour we decided to walk across the bridge over the
river that takes you to the Canadian side, as everyone said that is the better
view and nice gardens etc., and they were right! The Canadian official was
rather blaze’ about entering. We had a lovely stroll along the river side, and
the view of all the falls was much better. At the end you were right at the
side of the Horseshoe falls as it went over the cliff, and you could see how
much water was going over.
We decided to do the Canadian Cave trip, which took you down
tunnels (poncho again!) and out at various places down the cliff face. The end
part was actually behind the falls with the water pouring down in front of you!
Very loud and wet, but all you could see was pouring water!\
Getting back into America was the easiest so far! You paid a
$1 each to walk back across the bridge (great money earner for the Govt. as
thousands would go across each day) and then the immigration guy looked at our
passports, asked if we were bringing anything in (I said a moose – did he want
to see it? Toy moose). He just smiled, and thought who the hell are these idiots! And let us through!
A very big, but satisfying day at the falls. The weather was
warm so it didn’t matter if you got wet, and not too many people. Our guide
said that they would start closing things down after Oct. as the weather got
too cold.
Very tired that night – needed a nana nap while Dave chatted
to two guys at the bar.
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