a quick game of pooh sticks

This trip has taken me to several famous attractions: the Eiffel Tower, the Statue of Liberty, Platform 9 3/4 etc. The problem with such attractions is you have an idea of what you're in for. In some cases you've seen it hundreds of times and this gives you certain expectations. Times Square is a good example. In movies it looks like this fantastic place full of lights, life and fun. In reality it is simply insane and I spent most of the time there looking for the quickest way out.

Today, with my camera and expectations in tow, I ventured to Niagra Falls. Now I don't need to explain to anyone just what a sight this looks in pictures. In reality, it it's a lot smaller than I thought it would be. But what was surprising was the force at which the water roars over the edge. There's a barge shipwrecked not far from the edge. Apparently it's been there for a while. It's just too dangerous for anything to get in to fish it out. That gives you an idea of the verocity of the current. A woman was killed only a week ago. She climbed up on the barrier and had an umbrella. The wind caught her umbrella and over she went. Despite this, people still stood up on the barrier, or worse, lifted their kids up for a better look. The water moves at an incredible pace. It would be a very quick game of Pooh Sticks.

Uncle Mickey and I did the Journey Behind the Falls, where you ride an elevator down and can go out onto some viewing platforms or in some tunnels to see behind the falls. The falls sound like thunder and echo through the tunnels. After lunch I did the Maid of the Mist, which are the boats that cruise up to the falls. The boats push as far up as they can against the current. After everyone has had a good look they turn the boat around and it is dragged back. The current moves the boat like it is a twig. I was suitable blown about and a little wet (my Drizzle took one for the team there) when I met up with Lyn and Mick again. My Drizzle is bright pink so it was easy for them to pick me out against the sea of blue ponchos on the boat. The falls have eroded quite a lot in the last few hundred years. Unfortunately it seems this sight won't be around forever. I wonder what will happen to the casinos, hotels and amusements parks that are fuelled by the never-ending stream of tourists that visit this place. Apparently we'd come on a quiet day, and it was still hectic.

Then came the drive to Toronto. Although it's visible over Lake Ontario, it takes about 100km to drive around the lake to get to the city. Mick and Lyn dropped me off at my hostel (Mick goes back to work tomorrow) and I headed out for some dinner. To be honest, I'm not that fussed about being in Toronto and already plan just to run some errands tomorrow. It's not that I'm over travelling, it's just that reality is now only 48 hours away and I'm rather exhausted.