Niagara Falls

So it's snowing outside, minus 2 or 3 degrees and Hayley and Miranda are having trouble sleeping because it's too hot .....??? I think perhaps it's because they are still excited about meeting new people.

We have had a slight change of plans as we are no longer stopping over in Albany with Trevor. A minor hiccup that was quickly solved by Peter. We are now staying an extra night with Sal and Clarissa (who have just been wonderful) and travelling for 8 hours on the train. We travel 4 hours in 'coach class' to Albany then swap to Business class for the remaining 4hours to New York. It will be a dash from the train station to the motel then to the theatre to see The Lion King, but we will cope!!! A HUGE thank you to the Galvano Family who has been so generous and allowing us to stay another day and night.

We are currently on our way to Niagara Falls on the Canadian side; apparently, it is even more spectacular from that side rather than the New York side. So Jacques Cartier packed our passports, made us put on our thermals, scraped the car of ice and cranked the heat up, and we have set off for another adventure.

Apart from being very pretty to drive around and through the snow-covered countryside, it is amazing how the 'council' keeps the snow off the main roads and highways. These roads are dry and easily accessible. However driving along, the snow which has remained on the roof of our car can suddenly dislodge and fall off. It's like a loud scraping sound and sometimes it falls onto the windscreen and scares the life out of the front seat passenger. Lucky Dick Johnson is calm under pressure.

We paid our tolls and with big smiles, we were all approved to cross the Canadian Border ..... stamp, stamp, stamp, stamp. We are in another country !!!!! Just a 90min drive and we crossed into another country. To think we can drive for 24hrs and never leave our own state!!

We looked on the website last night at the largest waterfalls in the world; Niagara is apparently the third-largest in the world. Well after seeing them in real life, I can only wonder in sheer amazement at how big number one and two are. What an incredible sight. Reading the information, on the walls as we walked through the centre before actually getting to the falls, told of a story when a young 7yr old boy who accidentally fell from a boat, went over the falls and survived. When you actually see the Falls it is difficult to understand how he could have survived; they are just amazing. I cannot describe the view or the size or the noise and pictures certainly don't do it justice; however, we did take plenty and some video to bring home.

A short walk further down from the Niagara Falls are the America Falls, and it is very true about the view being more spectacular from Canada as opposed to the view from the USA. We looked across to the other side and there is a viewing bridge further down; we, on the other hand, were standing right on top of the Falls. What a GREAT EXPERIENCE!!!!!!

We hopped in our car and drove up and in a little way (still in view of the watercourse) to have lunch at 'Wendy's', a traditional burger and fries place (much like every eating place) and wondered through the streets. Around lunchtime, the clouds cleared and we have had

sunshine for the remainder of the day, which meant some of the smaller icicles started to melt and drip on our heads as we walked. The larger mounds of snow which appear in the shopping centres and on the sides of the roads remain there until May when it is warm enough for them to melt......bizarre I know!! Miranda and Hayley found a large Hershey store and happened to convince us of their need to purchase an authentic American chocolate experience in which they have been indulging while we drive home. Back in the car, we took a quick drive to the whirlpool further down the watercourse and then back to Rainbow Bridge to cross back into the USA.

On this little adventure, we have also had to pay tolls, to a person in a toll booth; yes just like the "good old days". Remember when you actually handed your money to an actual person who says hello .... ! We went past Buffalo and yes there was plenty of snow; actually, there is plenty of snow everywhere, which has meant there has been hardly anyone around. Even some of the places in Canada have closed up for the winter season. We wanted to have lunch at Applebee's (a good value family restaurant); however, on the door, it said it was closed for the season and would reopen in March 2015. Obviously cheaper to fully close rather than only open for a few. This region must be petty green when all of the snow melts and Niagara Falls must be very impressive with additional water flowing.

Miranda and Hayley continue to enjoy the snow, running through it, picking it up, and throwing it. Hayley asked me if she could eat it ..... hmmmm. She thought Abbie would have certainly tasted it by now had she been with us.

A restful washing day tomorrow before our trip to New York.