Since Sarah's first few days at Syracuse were spent in a pre-orientation program, I took advantage of the chance to take a side trip of my own. We have friends who live in Lewiston, NY, a town right on the border of the US and Canada, just beyond Niagara Falls. A three hour drive from Syracuse, it was a perfect opportunity to reconnect with friends from 30 years ago and see some sights at the same time.
Mark and Susan were kind enough to offer me the use of their spare bedroom, and I enjoyed getting to know their dog and at least two of their cats. I'm not sure I ever met the elusive third one...
Mark and Susan are active volunteers (and Susan is Board member) with Meals on Wheels. While I was there, as luck would have it, they were both called in to attend to an emergency situation, leaving me on my as a tourist. Thus, I set out, passport in hand, and crossed the bridge into Canada, specifically, Niagara Falls.
Niagara Falls on the US side is nothing much in the way of tourist attractions. Ther are some nice parks and trails, but the falls themselves are best viewed from the Canadian side. And Canada takes full advantage. It is a tourist's paradise. If you can't find it in Niagara Falls, Ontario, you probably don't need to do it. Restaurants, shops, casino, waterpark - you name it, it's there.
There was even an homage to the recent high wire walker strung across the street.
The falls were breathtakingly beautiful. I took so many pictures; the views just kept getting more and more impressive. The "straight" falls are the American Falls. The Horseshoe Falls are named for, duh, their horseshoe shape.
I was overwhelmed by the sheer power of the water pummeling the rocks below. This video I took of the American Falls is an attempt to capture just that power.
I crossed back over the Rainbow Bridge, returning to the US, and made my way back to my home away from home.
Back in Lewiston, Mark took me on a tour of their village. I was quite impressed by the Artpark, a visual and performing arts complex featuring public sculptures and indoor and outdoor performing sites.
Mark and Susan were kind enough to offer me the use of their spare bedroom, and I enjoyed getting to know their dog and at least two of their cats. I'm not sure I ever met the elusive third one...
Mark and Susan are active volunteers (and Susan is Board member) with Meals on Wheels. While I was there, as luck would have it, they were both called in to attend to an emergency situation, leaving me on my as a tourist. Thus, I set out, passport in hand, and crossed the bridge into Canada, specifically, Niagara Falls.
Niagara Falls on the US side is nothing much in the way of tourist attractions. Ther are some nice parks and trails, but the falls themselves are best viewed from the Canadian side. And Canada takes full advantage. It is a tourist's paradise. If you can't find it in Niagara Falls, Ontario, you probably don't need to do it. Restaurants, shops, casino, waterpark - you name it, it's there.
There was even an homage to the recent high wire walker strung across the street.
The falls were breathtakingly beautiful. I took so many pictures; the views just kept getting more and more impressive. The "straight" falls are the American Falls. The Horseshoe Falls are named for, duh, their horseshoe shape.
I was overwhelmed by the sheer power of the water pummeling the rocks below. This video I took of the American Falls is an attempt to capture just that power.
I crossed back over the Rainbow Bridge, returning to the US, and made my way back to my home away from home.
Back in Lewiston, Mark took me on a tour of their village. I was quite impressed by the Artpark, a visual and performing arts complex featuring public sculptures and indoor and outdoor performing sites.
That night, we drove back across the border (back and forth to Canada twice in one day!), and ate dinner at a casino restaurant with a lovely view of Niagara Falls lit up at night. Beautiful!
(Picture to come)
Thanks, Mark and Susan, for being such welcoming hosts! Now, let's not wait another 30 years to do this again!
Good pictures of the Falls. No you never saw our third cat - we don't call her spook for nothing(or because we're racist.) Your'e welcome back any time, there's still a whole lot you didn't get to see. Mark
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