Friday, 4 November 2005

NIAGARA FALLS EXPERIENCE

Hello everyone,

Welcome to my Niagara experience.  I hope you will enjoy it!

 

                                               NIAGARA FALLS

                       ~ Since I first saw thee thundering on

                       There`s nothing of thy beauty gone

                      And although three years have passed away

                     Thou thunderest on with all thy spray ~

                            Charlotte Blanche Malcolm

                                               1847

 

When we arrived in Niagara Falls we were all very tired after a very long train journey followed by a two hour coach ride.  But all thoughts of resting were swept away by the sight of the Falls that dominated the whole of our vision.  To say they are immense is an understatement, to say they are majestic and breathtaking is only to convey what I really felt upon seeing them for the first time.  I don`t think it is too sentimental to say that I felt privileged to gaze upon this awesome wonder of the world.

                  The American Falls and The Bridal Veil

If you look to the right of the Falls you will see a small section of water cascading down.  It is called The Bridal Veil because of it`s appearance and because Niagara Falls at one time was a haven for honeymooners and a poplular place to marry.

Jim and I went exploring straight away and as our hotel overlooked the American Falls we wandered along the path overlooking where the Niagara river flowed swifty by.  We had our camera and just could not stop taking photos, when talking to other people on the tour they all said the same thing. It takes ages to walk the distance to the Horseshoe Falls, the Canadian Falls which are even more magnificent than the American.  Though just across the river, the American Niagara apparently doesn`t have the same views are Canada and there was lots of American tourists there to prove it.  How lovely to be able to pop over the border for a day or a weekend, which was what a couple of elderly American ladies told us, well they came to visit the casino as well as see the Falls!

Ah yes, the casino and all the town behind the Falls, you would think you were in another town, not minutes from one of the most beautiful sites in the world.  Let`s say if you`re British, it`s just like Blackpool and the only place I can think of to liken it too in America is Las Vegas, only much smaller.  We just didn`t like this commercial side of it, we came for the beauty so we stayed out of town as much as possible.  What we did like to watch was the resorts resident tightrope walker.  Twice a day, everyday of the season he walked across a highwire from one skyscraper hotel to another, apparently he has being doing it for over 25 years and he is at least sixty!  When we watched him with our necks craned upwards, all we could see was thislittle dot.  He has been wanting to cross the American Falls for years but the authorities won`t let him...too dangerous they say....so if he were to fall from the highwire between the hotels, that would be safe....yes?!!!

This photo was taken by Jim while we were on the `Maid in the Mist`, just before we were told to put our cameras away because of the spray.  The Spray indeed!  More like being caught in torrential rain!

 

To be Continued.

 

14 comments:

Anonymous said...

Sandra they are just awesome - went thro' them twice - thanks for sharing your holiday with us - I'll bet the noise was deafening....glad to have you back tho'...Ally

Anonymous said...

Those are absolutely beautiful Sandra, Thanks for sharing. Wish I could experience that in person. Helen

Anonymous said...

Wow stunning!!

Anonymous said...

WOW!!!!! what fantastic pics and they are stunning.... i have never realised that they are within an actual town/city...Need to put them on a to do before am 80 list <gg>    Caff xx

Anonymous said...

very lovely , closest I'll ever get to seeing it!! thanks!
~Julie

Anonymous said...

Beautiful!

Anonymous said...

Beautiful, thanks Sandra.
Sylvia xx

Anonymous said...

What an entry ,my daughter Sharon was there at the time of september eleven ,so it sort of spoiled their trip ,she has pictures, but nothing like yours ,splendid ,Sandra they are awesome ,she bought me back a little bottle of water from the falls! and a paper weight ,Icant wait to show her ,this entry,...........Jan xx

Anonymous said...

I want to go there some day.

Anonymous said...

Stunning photos, I think I would have stayed away from the town too. I like looking at natures work, there's nothing to rival it, is there? Jeannettexxxx.  http://journals.aol.co.uk/jlocorriere05/Welcometomytravels

Anonymous said...

I have always wanted to go to Niagra Falls! Megan went with her Godfather. What a wonderful experience for you and Jim. I love the pics!! Love, lisa

Anonymous said...

Oh it looks breathtaking Sandra!
I can't imagine what it must be like to actually be there, seeing the falls up close, hearing them and feeling the spray - torrential rain, lol - fall on you.  What an experience that must have been.
Sara    x

Anonymous said...

Wow it must've been breath taking you lucky things :-) Can't wait to read more

Anonymous said...

What a wonderful experience Sandra, something you will remember all your life.  There were so many places I wanted to travel to and see if only things had been different.  Beautiful photos.  Looking forward to the next posting.

http://journals.aol.co.uk/jeanno43/JeannettesJottings/