On Thursday, Lee and I met my cousin Geof and his wife Jamie in Niagara Falls, on the United States side. Lee and I don’t have current passports (we are too cheap to pay for them), so are not able to go to the Canadian side.
Jamie says the Canadian side is much more crowded. I have the impression that the Canadian side has an almost carnival atmosphere, while the American side is very quiet in comparison. The Canadian side seems to be much more developed, possibly because of the superior vantage points. But that’s okay, I loved what we saw – the falls are spectacular from any location, especially if you don’t know any better.
I have seen photographs of Niagara Falls all my life, but as with many things, being there is far more fulfilling. Perhaps this is because it involves all the senses. The falls are loud, massive, and sometimes wet. I also now have a better idea of the configuration of the falls, of how the American side relates to the Canadian side, of the parks, the buildings, the crowds, and the river itself. All the parts contribute to the whole, whereas photographs are piecemeal.
I took a ton of photos, it can’t be helped, the falls are so beautiful. I will try to include here those views that one is less likely to see, rather than the standard shots. I have to add that the weather has been fabulous – about 80 degrees, low humidity, and clear skies dotted with a few clouds. One couldn’t ask for a more.
Here we are looking downstream. The white just above the treeline is mist from the falls. The buildings are on the Canadian side of the border.
Slightly closer view of same:
Geof and Jamie stayed in the Embassy Suites on the Canadian side, and had a spectacular view of the falls. The view from Canada is better in that one can see all of the falls at once. Here are my "little cousin" Geof and his wife Jamie, celebrating their 30th wedding anniversary!
Looking upstream from an island above the falls:
The falls are shaped like a fish hook. The American falls are at the top of the straight part of the fish hook; the Canadian falls are the curved portion of the fish hook. In between is Goat Island. The photo below was taken standing next to the top of the American falls.
Looking over the top of the American falls towards the Canadian falls:
Again, looking over the top of the American falls towards Canada and the Canadian falls. The mist rises from the Canadian falls:
Same view, although a little to the right, showing more of the Canadian cityscape:
I love this photo, of the "Maid of the Mist" hovering in the churning waters and mist below the Canadian falls:
The next installment of this blog will be from the "Maid of the Mist" itself!
