Monday, July 27, 2009

This made me wet


In the interest of posting something related to our trip, I'm skipping a few states.  Eventually, I'll share the glorious details of Devils Tower, WY, Mt. Rushmore, SD, The Corn Palace in SD, Madison, WI and Ann Arbor, MI.  

Our story continues as we enter Canada yet again, this time encountering a humourless young woman at the border of Ontario. I thought all Canadians had a sense of fun. Then again, most of the ones I've encountered were comedic performers - Eugene Levy, Mike Myers, John Candy, Rick Moranis, Dave Thomas, Catherine O'Hara - so perhaps my impression is slightly skewed.

Customs girl asked me "Where are you going?" to which I replied "Niagara Falls."

She then assumed an intent interrogatory stance: "What are you going to do there?"

"Um...look at the Falls?" Was this a trick question? Was she unfamiliar with that area and its sightseeing potential? She seemed slightly disgruntled, but waved us through.

We zipped along until we reached Niagara Falls and discovered it had changed a bit since our honeymoon 24 years ago. Huge casinos dominated the skyline; even more tacky haunted houses and wax museums and junky souvenir shops littered the blocks. We got a bit lost, carried out the obligatory finger-pointing blame game, and made it to our hotel. The clerk told us we could take their free shuttle down to the falls area, leaving in 2 minutes, or wait an hour.

We opted to dash to the shuttle.  Once it dumped us out near the Clifton Hill area, we quickly walked through the crowds to the Falls.  If you've never been, you should go.  We watched as the sun set and the light show began, illuminating the water with many colors.  Then we enjoyed a great fireworks display over the Falls.  Back to the hotel for much-needed sleep.

The next morning, we lined up for the Maid of the Mist boat ride.  MotM departs from Canadian docks past the base of the American Falls, then into the basin of Canada's huge Horseshoe Falls.  

Professor X and I had taken the boat almost a quarter of a century before on our honeymoon  Cliched, eh? Humph.  We thought it was pretty neat.  

The kids were excited to get spaces next to the railing on the upper deck of the boat.  We looked just like the travel guide pictures of visitors garbed in our "recyclable souvenir raincoat provided free with admission to help keep you dry from the mist and spray" as the boat left the dock.  We were mighty glad that we'd put on our raincoat hoods, as the seagulls flying overhead gifted us with a shower of white poop.   As the boat moved in close to the Falls, the spray was incredibly strong.  Our faces quickly became water soaked, and the raincoats were washed clean.

We headed down the road for our next adventure.

13 comments:

Bee said...

We went to Niagara Falls in February, but as the children refused to get out of the car (it WAS freezing), I'm not sure that we got the best of it. I was appalled about how much Tacky had been allowed to take over.

The title of this blog post was a trifle double-entendreish. I have a feeling that was deliberate (memories of honeymoons and such).

Fantastic Forrest said...

Hey, when we went to Stonehenge, it was subzero, but we all trooped around the thing. Your kids are wimps. (Never mind that they just biked their buns off in Spain, something I wouldn't DREAM of doing. Wimps, I tell you, wimps!)

Double entendre? Moi? I think you just have a dirty mind. It is why we are such good friends.

Jason said...

This is a great site you have here. I have a humor blog myself and I would like to exchange links with you. Let me know if this is possible. Until then, I look forward to reading some more of your posts. Take care.

Fantastic Forrest said...

Hi Jason,

Thanks! Hilarious Headlines looks like a great site too. I'll be glad to link to you in my blogroll. It may take me a few days...off to have more adventures!

Kathryn Magendie said...

I have never seen Niagra falls - can only imagine how awesome it must be

Mandy said...

There I was thinking how lovely and romantic it still was after 24 years and kids and all. Then I got to the bit about seagull poop.

Still. I've now added Niagara to my slightly long list of "Reasons I Need To Go To USA LIke Today, Right Now, Immediately".

Fantastic Forrest said...

Emm, don't forget to visit the western half of the US. We have some wonderful country out here! :)

Mandy said...

heh. My list for the west is even longer than my list for the east. Off the top of my head (and excuse any geographical errors) I'd say: Rocky Mountains, Grand Canyon, Redwood Forests, Las Vegas, San Diego, San Franciso and Golden Gate Bridge, Portland Oregon, Seattle, Space Needle... and so it goes. Long, long list.

Barry said...

A beautiful side trip, once you're at Niagara Falls already, is to the little village of Niagara-on-the Lake.

Hope you've dried off from the Maid of the Mist and sorry about the humorless woman. She's the only Canadian without a sense of humor and we are planning an intervention for her any day now.

Bill Lisleman said...

I took my youngest daughter to the falls and Niagara-on-the Lake. The power/jet boat ride you can take from that village is amazing. I assume that boat ride is still there. The boat plows through a wall of water higher than the bow. It's such a thrill.

shrink on the couch said...

I was there in 1983. Not a honeymoon but it was a journey of love, nevertheless. I don't want to go back if I have to see a casino laden skyline. Sigh.

dianne said...

I have just been looking at your photos, such beautiful places, I'm pleased to hear you're having a great time on your adventure. ♥

momiji said...

I would love to visit Niagara Falls. I regret it so that I did not get that chance when I was in the USA. But then, this is one good reason to go back there one day! :-)