Niagara Falls via Buffalo

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Deciding to go Amtrak across America, I noticed that it stopped at Buffalo, and I thought I would grab the chance to visit Niagara Falls – they looked pretty close on a map!

Well, it is actually a $100US taxi fare and a border crossing to Niagara Falls Ontario. But I bit the bullet and thought “how many times in your life do you get a chance like this?”

The Amtrak trip from Chicago was great and mostly uneventful – the sleepers slightly different – with a minute handbasin and toilet in the room. Mostly uneventful? Well I was sitting at breakfast enjoying talking about the Democratic Convention and thinking I had an hour to go, when I was reminded that time jumped forward an hour while we slept and travelled east. Oops – I had to leave most of my breakfast and head back to the room to pack.

We arrived less than an hour late – I got a taxi and the driver Izzie was a student in nuclear medicine, so it was an interesting trip. I dropped my bags at The Lions Head (more on that later) and Izzie dropped me at the Falls for no extra charge. He assured me I had made the right decision to see Falls from the Canadian side.

Well the Falls took my breath away and brought tears to my eyes – like seeing the Great Wall of China last year, nothing prepares you for a moment like this – there is no other word than awesome. I walked back along the river, stopping every few yards to look at it from another angle. Thousands of other people too, but it did not matter.

I joined the Maid of the Mist trip – very well oiled tour – but still amazing. Supplied with raincoats, the boat took us right into the power of the falls – we got soaked and windblown and it was – there is that word again – awesome.

A walk back along the river to the Lions Head B&B This beautiful old home has a gorgeous deep verandah overlooking the river, with luxurious deep chairs inviting you to sit and enjoy. The Lions Head is rated as no 1 B&B in Ontario by Trip Advisor – and deserves the acclamation. Unfortunately I have an early start tomorrow, so will miss the 9am breakfast – but it looks good!

Was it worth the stop off to visit Ontario and see the Falls – Definately!