Yesterday Whitney had her first day off and so we took a trip to Niagara with our friend Nikolai, who also studies medicine in Poland and is doing an elective here in Rochester. It is a short journey of just over an hour and the ride went without a hitch (save me trying to go through a no entry barrier at the toll booth). Listened to the new Arcade Fire and Band of Horses albums on the way down, which are both excellent, Arcade Fire probably pipped it though.
As we approached Niagara we could see a large plume of smoke curling upwards in the distance and we wondered what was on fire.
It was in fact the rising spray from the falls and we were completely amazed at how high it was. As we got closer, the road ran along the river bank and the speed and strength of the water became apparent, with the white rapids moving at a great pace. It put me in mind of a herd of wildebeest on a stampede (I saw it on the Lion King before you ask).
After parking and looking in the rather distasteful gift shop (also the worst smelling food hall I have ever had the misfortune to enter; imagine floor cleaner mixed with cumin and pork fat) we began to look around, making sure we left the main event until last. We crossed a bridge from where I snapped the Canadian side skyline and headed for the American falls; which are smaller than the Horseshoe falls, but still very impressive. I was actually blown away by it all. I knew it would be big, though I had no idea it would be that awesome (and I use that word in its true sense, not like, "that is an Ar-some hotdog". Having said that though, a 50ft hotdog crushing buildings a la Ghostbusters would be awesome).
The Horseshoe falls are hidden
around a cliff face from the
American falls which I think adds to the suspense quite nicely. There is an opportunity at this point to part company with a fistful of dollars, don a yellow poncho and rather embarrassing sandals, collect your belongings in a carrier bag and proceed to queue for an uncomfortable period of time, before being herded onto a boat (the Maid of the Mist) or trek down a slippery staircase to the falls themselves, only to become extremely wet. Nikolai was tempted, if only by the poncho and sandals, but we decided that we would decline this fine offer until next time.
I could speak here about what we saw but I think I will let the pictures do the talking. I will say this though. If you have the chance to see the falls then don't be put off by talk of them being commercialised, ruined and tasteless (which to some extent they are), because their true beauty and power are still spectacular and are well worth a visit.
N.B. Whitney says the Canadian side is best because you can't see the full Horseshoe from the States. Nikolai says the American side is best because they have two different colour ponchos.
