Then, … you get off the train at Niagara for the 14th Time …!

My title today refers to a lyric from the musical “Guys and Dolls” … however, none of us (Gerry, Lulu or I) had even been to Niagara even once! 🙂

We arrived on a Sunday night, but were staying in a B&B a little north of the Canadian side of the Falls, so we didn’t even SEE THEM until the next morning, but just crashed instead.

The following day, we purchased a 48 hour pass for a bus system ticket for only $12 Canadian (about 10 bucks), and it was the BEST. THING. EVAH!

This bus ran often & timely, and went EVERYWHERE we wanted / needed to go!  We were staying just half a block from the “Bed and Breakfast” stop!  There were a few small snafus … involving waits — and an usually early stop time (10:15 PM) … but overall, the best bargain in town!

Oh, and yes … stay at the Canadian side, if you visit.  I’d heard this from several people, but only a day before I went did I “get it”: When one is on the American side of the Falls, you are BEHIND the Falls, but on the Canadian side, you are LOOKING AT the Falls.  If you’re going to travel somewhere to look at a bunch of water, it seems to make more sense to be someplace where you may properly view them, yes?

Yes, that big white blur behind Lulu & I would be the Horseshoe (aka Canadian) Falls.  I also found out that there are TWO Falls … the American Falls & the Horseshoe Falls.

Lulu wanted a “selfie” with the Falls!

The mist fascinated Lulu!  Frankly, watching the water really _never_ gets old … but this spot did stink a little bit like pee, so we moved along.  All that water, I guess …. :-o!

Lulu never passes up an opportunity to pose with EVERYONE!

(She can be something of a Rule Breaker at times, though!) 😉

We saw a very interesting IMAX movie about the history & lore of Niagara.  Stories about Native Americans, and dramatizations of some of the crackpots who tried going down the Falls, and an amazing rescue of one kid who accidentally went over after a boating accident.  The “Daredevil Museum” afterward, however, was not exactly the most impressive thing I’ve ever seen … should have been called the “Daredevil Room” based on its meager size, but there were a few cool artifacts that Lulu found her way on.  LOL

I think that Lulu would have been a much more pleasant companion for Annie Taylor than that poor kitten she dragged in there with her!!!  (and ps~the dramatization of the Annie Taylor story was [unintentionally] hysterical!!)

On Full Day Two, we began by arriving at the WeGo bus stop about 30 minutes before it began running.  We probably would have just waited, but it was quite hot & humid … AND an air conditioned bus going in the opposite direction on our line happened along, so we decided to just hop on, and see what was up there.  As it was relatively early, the bus was not at all crowded, and it was time for Lulu to take an Homage to Starfish shot.

Explanation: My pal Tom kept a running FaceBook photo album, dedicated to “Starfish on the Road”. In an effort to share with his young niece some geography lessons, he’d pose Starfish in various places & situations, based on where he’d traveled on various tours.  I was forever intrigued AND entertained by the Starfish photos, and remember laughing a LOT at this particular shot (taken on the Seattle Monorail).  Lulu on the bus is complete and ultimate homage to Starfish … even though — there she goes again, rule breaking (NO STANDING ON THE SEATS)!!   I got the idea for Traveling Lulu from Starfish, and I’m glad Tom’s down with imitation being the sincerest form of flattery! 🙂

A few more “close encounters with the Falls” … on the boat ride (called “Hornblower”, not “Maid of the Mist” as it is on the American side), and a very cool walking tour called “Journey Behind the Falls” (above), where you get up close & personal with the water.  Lulu opted to stay in the bag AND under the poncho for these experiences … no chance for hair repair on this remote!

We did, however, find these two guys, in a shop called “Heroes and Legends”, who were VERY HAPPY to pose with Lulu!  This small storefront sells Niagara historical items, maps, etc. and apparently also offers history tours, in authentic Revolutionary War garb.    They were great!  … and when it was suggested that our request must have been the oddest they’d received, we were told of a time when one received a marriage proposal from the father of a well-to-do young lady.  Lulu, however, is NOT the marrying kind!  LOL

That evening, we traveled to the outskirts of Niagara Falls proper, to a dinner theater performance of a show called, “Oh Canada, Eh?”  (LOLOL)  It was as kitschy and silly and corny as one may imagine, but the performers were funny and talented and lively, and the food was good!  Family style eating & serving was a slight challenge seated at a table along with 6 Japanese nationals who spoke extremely (read: none) limited English, but we had a great time!  Our waitress (aka Susie, aka Anne of Green Gables) and her friend, the Canadian Mountie, happily posed with Lulu.  Fun times!

We ended our evening on the SkyWheel, and had some terrific views of the Falls at night.  Photos weren’t the greatest, but it was a really nice way to end the evening!

Thanks, Lulu!  Another fantastic trip!!

Until next time …