Niagara Falls: Lots of Pictures

Back from a week in Western New York State and Ontario.  I thought I would make this a photographic journey.  Later I will blog about my run and eating in Tourist World.

First we had to get out of Brooklyn.  I was glad I did not have to go toe to toe with the Production Ass. who where saving spots for the never ending filming of Boardwalk Empire.  I bet if Steve Buscemi  lived in Boston, they would film HBO show about  Atlantic City in Boston.  It is only cool when they make a movie in front of you house once.

Check back later when I blog about our meanderings outside of Niagara Falls, the fact that there was much to much bad food and my epic international run.

450 miles to the North and West we checked into the Niagara Falls Hilton.  The kids absolutely freaked out when they saw the view from the room.

This is the view from the toilet.  There was a giant window (with an electric shade) separating the bathroom, with a jacuzzi from the main bedroom

This was the pool in the hotel

Anyway, who cares about the hotel.

We had a lot of this, from the Canadian side

We walked back over the Rainbow Bridge

My shadow was back in Canada but my feet where in the US.  Walking across the border was kinda weird.  Going back to the US, the costume agent fist asked my kids if we were their parents.  They said yes.  Then he asked if they were sure, because this was their change to get new ones.  A little funny.  Then he asked me if I had a firearms or grenades.  I let the man in the body armor make all the jokes.

After lunch in New York we walked back to Ontario.  The Montie asked my wife when was the last time she was in Canada.  She said this morning, we just waked over for the day.  He snapped at her "Let's just pretend that I was not here when you left and just answer the questions!"  Sorry S., but I let the man with the big gun and the ability to separate us from our car and clothing, treat you like shit.

but we did see this from the US side

It is probably going to be years before we go back to Niagara Falls (if at all.).  So we had to do all the touristy things.  I told my kids that they probably won't go back till they have kids.  I added that I hope they would consider taking their decrepid parents too.  My daughter said that I should not worry, in 40 years I will still be in shape to handle all the walking Niagara Falls required.

But I don't know about many of the other people who were visiting the Falls.  Many of them looked like the longest walk they ever take was from a good parking spot to the front door in their local Applebees.  It really jumped out at me how so many of the other tourists were totally overwhelmed with simple pedestrian acts. Entire families would come to a dead stop when they exited an elevator, or got to the top of a flight of steps. Often, entire families would just get that dear in the headlights look when I was just walking towards them.  Come on people, you are on a sidewalk, pick a direction and go, or step to the side.

Anyway, we rode the Maid of the Mist

Took an elevator down to Journey Behind the Falls, where if you want you can get totally soaking wet.

We also went on the White Water Walk, which consisted of an elevator ride down to the edge of the Niagara River about a mile down stream from the Falls.  We got to walk along Class 6 rapids, "Class 6 rapids are considered hazardous even for expert paddlers using state-of-the-art equipment, and come with the warning "danger to life or limb."  Exhilarating, but I will post a photo of the wall of gum that was alongside it.








We also took the Whirlpool Aero Car.  It gave us a great view of a very sharp bend in the Niagara River. It was kinda like the Roosevelt Island Tram, but instead of taking you over the murk of the East River, it just hovered you over the vortex of cold water.  However, it did not photograph very well.









We did wonder over to Clifton Hill, the official tourist area of Niagara Falls.  I did not take any photos.  It looked just like Times Square but without the giant office buildings on top of the tourist traps.

I look forward to going back, maybe next time in the Winter.