We decided to head for Niagara Falls to spend the New Years Eve. Living just an hour and a half drive away, and the place is our nearest weekend getaway. Given the weather of ten below freezing quite convenient also. After office, went home, took a few print outs from google maps, just in case. Had booked rooms for me and friends at the hostelling international a few days back.
Traveling for me is a last minute affair, never used to meticulous travel planning that everybody does. Grab a few clean clothes, toiletries and I would be ready to go anywhere. After coming here nothing much has changed, except checking the weather before going out. I prefer to have a few layers of clothing, so depending on how good or bad the weather is I can add or remove some.
Packing is simple, deciding on all the geeky stuff to take along and the assorted chargers for each of them. Since this was a short trip I decided on taking along my Nikon and a basic zoom lens, my small n handy canon that I use for all those casual snaps went into my coat pocket, a GPS without which I would get lost – I am used to driving from chennai to bangalore and back without a map but I still can’t figure out direction is north here, unless there is a really cold wind . Forget about asking for directions on the expressways, and even on the country roads, finding people is difficult in winter. And circles, i hate driving around circles that are in use to enter and exit the expressways coz they make me loose all sense of direction. :)
After doing a quick check of my car, we set off. Reached Niagara around 6:00 pm. The weather was good for this time of the year, minus ten and windy. We took a cab to the falls and had dinner on the way. Since my friends have never seen the falls, we walked along the falls for some time. The water falls is actually two falls, the majestic horseshoe falls that you see in the pictures on the Canadian side, and the smaller American falls. It is nice to watch them at night as they get illuminated in different colours and everything else is comparatively darker. We got there just in time as the fireworks started for the night. See pics above. Not long before they were complaining about the cold. :)
After acting as a tour guide for some time, we headed back to a casino to try our luck. The Fallsview Casino is very famous here, though I have never been there. I spent some time checking out some games and slot machines. You can always get a good laugh at some other players who have no idea how these things work. After noting that I should should learn to play poker, those people on the tables seem to be engrossed in. Coz it is something that intelligent people play. It also helps that the dealer is a gorgeous young lady. ;-) I head for a nearby pub to see what the crowd on New Years is like. We meet and chat with a few guys from across the border, while my younger friend is busy getting his photos clicked. It is his first time out of India. I learn they are college students from New York, who are here to have fun. I guess only reason they are here in Canada is one needs to be over 21 to get into a pub across the border. I am quite liberal in poking fun at them on this note. J After wishing them a great year ahead we head for the concert near the falls. Seems Justin hines is playing some all time favourites tonight. I ponder over how the guy can sing and play his guitar in the freezing temperature. It is around 11 pm when we think it is time to grab a beer and are back at the pub, I see the National Hockey League is on the screens and it is easy to figure there are quite a crowd across the border as the Americans seem to be winning.
There is lotta clicking glasses and hugs as the New Year approaches and we head back to our room, it is almost 2 am. I notice that I have been careless and my feet are frozen cold and wet after walking so long in the thick snow. When you are tired, there is nothing that feels as good a nice bed.
Visiting Niagara
To visit you need a Canadian or US visa, and easiest way to get there is to take a bus from Toronto or New York, the view from the Canadian side is better though. If you plan on renting a car, check that it comes with a good navigation system, so you don’t get lost on the expressways.
The best time to visit is summer, as most of the attractions are closed during Canada’s harsh winter months. Book your accommodation in advance before getting here, as there would be quite a crowd during holidays.
Tourists come here for a view of the majestic falls. A trip on the famous maid of the mist ride is a must. My tip, take a position near the bow of the ship, and you would be surprised. It rides straight into the falls, soon the sound of the ships engines get drowned out by the roar of the falls, and all around only thing you see would be the white water rushing down and the everpresent mist. It is breathtaking. Note some pics were taken last summer. J
Don’t miss the fireworks over the falls on Sundays and weekdays with the falls illuminated in different colours in the background, would be perfect for a romantic night out. J
See photo below.
The best thing about Niagara I like are the Casino’s and pubs are open all through the nite. The Fall’s view Casino is the place to be, if you want to have some fun and gamble away some dollars. The buses run till 2:00 am and you can always walk, it is a small place. No one drinks and drives here you see. ;-)
The place is known as a favorite spot for honeymooners, but for all I have seen most people bring their extended families along. The crowd is usually young and quite hip hop, god it reminds me of good old days I spent in Amsterdam.
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