29/11/2009
Bit of a funny fact while at the Niagara falls.
We had parked the car all the way behind the falls and we had walked back until the bridge that connects the two countries. It's a pretty long walk, so we decided to hitchhike back to the car. Yes, the ride would be about 5 minutes, but we were feeling lazy enough to do it. It was around 1pm, on a very sunny day and lots of people were around, enjoying the wet view, but we were in a hurry to go for a winery tour.
We got off the bridge, started walking on the road and when a car appeared, I quickly raised my thumb. To my surprise, the dude stopped straight away! Never before had I managed to hitch a ride with the very first attempt!
We open the door, get in the car and both myself and H. get overwhelmed by a very strong smell of weed! "WOAH" we both thought. I look at the driver and it's a guy in his early 30s, smoking a joint! I remind you, it's pretty early on a sunny sunday afternoon.
Very friendly and jolly guy and without hesitation, he proceeded to explaining about how in Canada one is allowed to grow and own weed for medicinal purposes. Of course, the talk lasted a whole 3 minutes until we arrived at the car park where I had my car.
We get out, he drives off, we look at each other and we go: "Yeap. THAT just happened!"
M.
29/11/2009
The following day I left D.C. and drove up north once again. Next stop: Niagara falls.
However, the way to the falls is a turning point, as I will be no longer traveling alone for a while. As pre-arranged, as made a quick stop at JFK airport, where my friend H. was gonna be arriving, in order for us to join forces and travel together.
We made it to Niagara, and Canada more specifically, where we stayed for a night with E., a friend through CouchSurfing that I had never before been lucky enough to meet in person.
Entering Canada...
I've been violated!
Going to Niagara falls has always been a dream of mine. However, I was never especially passionate about it. I wanted to go there, mainly because everyone would mention these falls every so often. They would be used as a metaphor to show great water flow, or as a form of exageration. Also, it would always be an attraction that would get mentioned whenever someone would talk about a holiday in the USA: "Oh yeah, and the Niagara falls. You have to see those...". Visiting the falls, I realised that Canada has an equal share (if not a better one) of the falls as the US do.
The bridge that connects the USA with Canada
Straddling the two countries
After a number of attempts, we gave up on the idea of trying to fit both of us AND the falls in the same photo
Now, being close to the moment that I would see them, I was prepared for dissapointment. I was not expecting to see anything breathtaking nor new. And indeed, I was not proven wrong.
Behind the falls
Yeap. Lots of water indeed...
Niagara falls itself, in my humble opinion, is nothing to write home about. The falls form the natural border between Canada and the USA and other than the fact that millions of gallons of water flow through that border on a daily basis, there isn't much more to say about them. There's nothing really spectacular about the scenery and especially after having seen the Iguazu falls in Argentina, this to me was nothing more than a running tap...
This was the most beautiful image I saw out there. Funny how no part of the falls is portrayed.
What kind of human visits the niagara falls to have their photo taken in front of a photo??
So, Niagara Falls: check. Back to the US of A now and specifically to Keego Harbor, Michigan.
M.
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