Niagara and Toronto

Saturday morn we headed up to Niagara falls. We started off on the American side. We had only seen the falls frozen before, so they looked totally different this time and very beautiful. There is so much water pumping over the falls and it is flowing so fast - it is incredible! Something like 183 billion litres flow over the falls per minute (in summer. 63 million in winter).

The top of the falls on the American side

Looking over the falls to Canada - there is a Maid of the Mist boat under the rainbow

After looking around for a while, we boarded the Maid of the Mist. This is about a 1/2 hour boat cruise that takes you right up to the falls, so that they are about no more than 20 meters away from us. We were bobbing around in the water for a few minutes getting soaked from the spray of the falls. It was a really great ride - we had a ball.

Judes had a bit of trouble getting her poncho on...

Part of the American Falls

On the Maid of the Mist up close with the falls - there is water spraying everywhere, hence the dots all over the lens when we took the photos. We were about 20m away from the falls here

Up close with the falls. The water below is extremely choppy - the boat ride took us right in to the rough water. Good times.

Bruce and Judes in front of the falls

We then drove over to the Canadian side. We were all hungry so we stopped off for some burgers at Hooters. We walked down to the falls and had a look around and grabbed some drinks while over looking the falls.

Part of the Horseshoe Falls looking from the Canadian side. This was also our view whilst sipping on a few cold bevies

Looking at the bottom of the falls and the bridge that links the USA and Canada

Family shot in front of the Falls

We then done the Journey Behind the Falls - this is a tunnel that goes behind the falls and you can look at the back of the falls. It was very average and not very exciting. So we left and drove another hour and a half to Toronto.

We stayed at the very swish Hilton Hotel. We went for a walk through the town and stopped at a bar called Philthy McNasties for some drinks and a couple of games of pool, then found a really nice Indian restaurant for dinner. If anyone wants to try a really nice shot, then try this: Blended mango with Kahluah - Yum!

We then stumbled across the Toronto comedy festival, and met some interesting characters roaming the street.

Shame the position didn't help Brucey win any games of pool!

Judes with the Comedy Fest Character

Ryan with a Comedy Fest Character

Kristy with another character

Sunday morning we walked down to Lake Ontario and went for a stroll - it was really pretty. We went past the CN Tower (the worlds tallest building) and had a quick look inside, then over to Chinatown and the Kensington Markets, which are very alternative - they sell everything from fresh produce to Jamaican clothes, to fairy outfits. There were also a few pirates roaming the streets!?

Bruce and Judes in front of the CN Tower

Down on Lake Ontario

Jamaican Fellas in Kensington Market

After a delicious lunch in Chinatown, we headed back to our car. Bruce and Judy headed up to Montreal for 2 nights and we returned home. On the way home we were stuck in a traffic jam for over one hour. It turns out that they were diverting the entire freeway at one particular exit. There were absolutely no detour instructions telling us where to go, but somehow we managed to do the best possible track to get back on the freeway! We then got stuck for about another 45 minutes trying to get back in to the USA.