Sandbanks, Pollution, $165 bucks?, Niagara and Neon Lights

I am writing this with many thoughts in my head - well 4 really - should I study or should I work, or should I do both, and I should get some milk. As mentioned in the last post, I turned down that job offer so that I could do P.G in Public Policy - but have since received an email back from them asking me to reconsider - the package they are offering is very tempting. Putting the financial part aside, the study option would be better for us in the long term - ie back home in NZ. But doing both, even though it will be a lot of work, is also an option. Decisions.

Now from the present back to the past. Our trip to Niagara Falls, and other stops along the way. We left last Monday (a Civic Holiday in Canada - actually only in the Ontario Province), and drove South along the USA-Canada border to the Sandbanks Provincial Park on the shores of Lake Ontario (one big lake - but not the biggest - from the beach you would mistake it for an ocean, what with the sand and waves etc). As we were driving to Sandbanks, the road came to an end and cars were queuing to get on the small transport ferry. Before we knew it we were in the cue and then ended up on the ferry, not knowing whether it cost anything or where exactly it was going! It was a 5 minute ride across the water, we just followed everyone else out (ended up being free) and ended up in a nice small town called Picton, where we stopped for dinner. After the average meal (very average - it was still average when I was hungry, so it must have been pretty poor), we drove about 30minutes to our campsite (all campsites in National & Provincial Parks cost money - like back home, but more expensive) in Sandbanks Park (pics below) where we both had a painfall nights sleep in the tent (it's been a while since we tented it, and the hard ground didn't help).

The next day we drove all the way to Niagara-on-the-Lake (a little town near Niagara Falls-wine region). About 60km out of Toronto we hit a traffic jam - and ended up travelling 0-10km/h for 3hrs! It was all because an 18 wheeler had flipped and blocked part of the freeway. So we decided to bypass Toronto, mainly because it was getting late and also because we were in the middle of rush hour and a thunder storm (we will get back there, as it is only 5hrs down the road - it's just another big city). The traffic was amazing just out of Toronto - 6-8 lanes either side, full of cars etc - fumes everywhere. Speaking of fumes, we drove past Hamilton - the most polluted industrial place I have seen in a while - the smell was really bad - pic below.

So we arrived at Niagara-on-the-lake (NOTL) at about 8pm and looked for a place to stay. Firstly, NOTL is a beautiful town that has been restored to its 19th century glory. There are many wineries around NOTL - where some of the most famous North American wines are produced - including the unique ice wine. NOTL is also full of B&B's but they are somewhat pricey as we were about to find out.

Yeah, so it was getting late and we needed a place to stay. The tourist Information center was closed, so we had to drive around to look for a place. We stopped at a B&B and asked if there was any vacancy. The owner said no, and that many others were full. He kindly offered to call another B&B that he thought had a room available and came back to us saying that "there is one just down the road, Brian is making the room up for you as we speak" We asked how much, he said "the standard rate of $165 before tax". He gave us directions on how to get there - we ended up driving 20km down the road to the town of Niagara Falls, where we knew there were cheaper places - sorry Brian. Ended up staying 2 nights in a backpackers, in a huge old house run by a little old man who loved to talk. The price - $60 and free muffins, tea, coffee for breakfast - it was a B&B after all!

Niagara Falls. What can I say. The Falls are amazing but the beauty is spoiled by all the highrises, concrete and neon lights (at night the town of Niagara was like a mini Las Vegas). US multinationals (for those that don't know - USA is right across Niagara river) have come across to the Canadian side and set up shop - Starbucks, Hard Rock Cafes, Ripley's Believe it not Museums, Guinness Book of Records Museum, huge Ferris wheels, candy stores, IMAX cinemas and a shitload of other places you can waste your money on. The reason why these multinationals have taken it over, is because the best part of the Niagara Falls is on the Canadian side - the Horseshoe Falls. It is kinda sad really.

We went out on the boat 'Maid of the Mist'*** , which took us to within metres of the Falls - hence the boat name. It is one of the only times you see humans herded up like sheep. You buy tickets, more along a line, have your photo taken (you are super imposed on to a pic of the Falls), "smile, say cheese", cue up again, get given a blue jacket (more like a large blue plastic bag), cue up, wait for the boat to come back (there are 3 of them), boat is unloaded, you are loaded on, you are taken to the Falls, take a few photos, you are taken back to dock, you are unloaded, you cue to get on the lift back to the street, the lift takes you directly to the gift shop, you walk out of the gift shop, "would you like to see your photo", 'how much", "$25", "no thank-you", you are back on the street. This process happens every 15minutes all day, and the boats are packed like sardines in a can. Luckily we went early in the morning - by lunchtime you had to wait hours to board (and the temp. was in the high 30's - stuff being in those cues!). There were other tours you could take - like the cave walk under the Falls - but the wait was 2hrs 30mins and apparently you can only see the Falls through a small opening, and you only have 30seconds, so that the next person can have a look! So we flagged the idea.

Nighttime. The town was packed. There were fireworks over the Falls - which were quite good - it happens every week over Summer, and the Falls had bright lights shinning on them, which was quite cool. The town center, as I said earlier, was just neon and bright lights etc.

The next day (after two days in the area) we had decided to drive home. We took route 7, which was uneventful and kinda boring - but ended up back home by mid afternoon.

Summer is almost over. It has been pretty hot, but the Sun isn't as intense (and bright) as back home (ozone hole) - ie you don't burn if you are out in the Sun for a long period like you would back home. Fall isn't far away - looking forward to Gatineau Park and the new colours of the trees.

'Till next time.

***update (Aug 18) - later learned that the Niagara River is polluted - ie is full of piss - so the Maid of the Mist's mist wasn't nature's best - but was of the mellow yellow variety. We did go for a swim at Crystal Baeach afterwards - so hopefully it cleansed us of the polluting stuff!