We were very excited because this was our first visit to the falls. I wasn't prepared for the awesomeness of them. Sandra grew up in the area, but she still gets a thrill when she shows off her home town to newbies. She says that every once in a while someone just gets up and jumps in, says they are so overwhelmed by the sight, the sound. I can understand. It was incredible.
These pictures don't really do it justice because they are small and it is SO BIG. They have no sound and the sound is mesmerizing. But this is the best I can do so here goes...
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| Mr. and Mrs. Winter graciously welcomed us to their home. Here is Sandra, her parents and one of her nephews. |
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| Being well acquainted with the area, Sandra found us a parking lot high above the falls, a short tram ride down to right across from the entrance to the Visitor Center. But here we are, high up the facing hillside, just as the first indians must have come across the falls way back when. You can hear the roar as you exit your vehicle and the sound draws you to the edge of the hillside. Of course, the falls is only 1/4 of it's original volume and there is alot of landscaping, etc. which makes the experience less than what was had by those early explorers, but it was awesome just the same. |
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| We are now on the Tram decending into the hussle bustle of the Visitor Center, where you can rent rain coats and take a walking tour close enough to get very wet, have some lunch overlooking the falls or buy trinkets galore to your hearts content. |
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| We by passed all the crowds and went straight to the BIG Falls. I'd say it was up close and personal, because the experience was something magical, mystical and somewhat spiritual. I could feel the roar in my body. It was increadible. When you leaned over the railing to get a really good look you almost felt the water pulling you in. I understand how someone might loose themselves and just go for it. |
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| We began walking down to get a ride on the Maid of the Mist. Here we are standing up on the sidewalk above both Falls, looking toward the Canadian side. The US side is on the left. |
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| Still walking down to get on the boat. Here is a straight on view of the US Falls. |
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| This is one of the Maid of the Mist cruise boats. It's coming back in to off load passengers. We're next. |
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| We are on the Maid of the Mist now. Approaching the US Falls. |
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| Here we are on the cruise. We are passing the US Falls. It is such a lovely day, still some people have not put up their hoods. |
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| Leaving the US Falls behind we turn toward our ultimate adventure. You can see an old power plant on the right there, as well as some of the tourist attractions in downtown Niagara Falls. |
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| Here we are just approaching the Canadian Falls. WOW! It is so magnificant. I couldn't take any more pictures because as we got closer we got wetter. Very wet. I kept wiping my glasses so I wouldn't miss anything. The power was intoxicating. The sound mesmerizing. It was a wonderful experience. I highly recommend it. We got very wet, but luckily it was warm enough that day so we dried after a while. I'm not even sure if a whaler's slicker would have kept us dry. |
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| On the Maid of the Mist. We are passing back by the US Falls. |
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| The excitement is over. We are going back to the dock. |
