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Post by mich64 on Oct 14, 2014 20:22:11 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Oct 14, 2014 21:51:25 GMT
Interesting to see all of that. I just passed through once and did not really have time to do anything other than take a look at the falls (on the American side) and get back in the car.
I was wondering if it is still a popular place for honeymoons or has that day passed?
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Post by mich64 on Oct 14, 2014 22:45:48 GMT
Kerouac although it may not be as popular as it once was in regards to honeymoons, I do think that more weddings happen there now than ever before. The region is full of Vineyards and Wineries that offer themselves as a wedding venue. From the intimate to quite spectacular offers are available. From our hotel in Niagara-on-the-Lake we drove along the river enjoying the homes sitting on the cliffs on both the Canadian and American side. Niagara Falls is much more commercialized that I had imagined.
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Post by bixaorellana on Oct 15, 2014 3:15:21 GMT
Just beautiful, Mich. No wonder people like to visit there. I've always heard the Canadian side is nicer than the US side. True? Let's meet there and go to the tea room, then shopping for clothes that make us look like the upstairs cast of Downton Abbey, okay? Are those pig skins in the pics right under the dresses? Looks yummy.
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Post by mich64 on Oct 15, 2014 11:22:53 GMT
That sounds like a lovely day Bixa! Tea and shopping together with you! That dress shop was amazing, there was such an unusual selection of dresses, skirts and scarves. Many of the dresses laced up in the back. I asked the shop keeper where they bought from and she said from a designer in San Francisco. Very expensive though, I could not even afford a scarf! but a few blocks down, across the street I found a very tiny shop that sold what looked like the same scarves for 75% less so I bought 2!
The first photo under the dresses is a Caesar salad and that being a extremely large crouton! The leaf lettuce was wrapped in a slice of bacon, there was a lovely cheese shredded over it as well. Delicious!
The next photo is nachos made from deep fried won tons wrappers, oh my!
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Post by mich64 on Oct 15, 2014 11:28:20 GMT
The photos are taken from the Canadian side, so our view was the American side. I do not know if the Canadian side is any different, we neglected to bring our passports so we were unable to visit the other side. We never thought of bringing our passports but regretted it once we were there. We had forgotten that they had changed the procedures at the border crossings, we used to be able to pass over with just showing your driver's license but passports or Nexus cards are now required. There was also a gondola that crossed over the river to the U.S. side that we wanted to do. We will remember to bring them on our next visit!
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Post by Deleted on Oct 15, 2014 13:41:24 GMT
What a lovely montage Mich. My eldest brother attended Niagara University and I remember the long, long drive there from Long Island, (10 hours!). Few people do not realize what a big state N.Y. really is. I was only about 10 or 11 years old. It was 1964, and I don't recall seeing anything in your pics that looks familiar, save the falls and some of the old Victorian houses, and, how cold it was! It appears quite gentrified, and also very clean. Those tea cups and the pastries in the storefronts certainly caught my eye. My memory of the falls, other than the initial sight of them was the incredible sound that they made. Almost deafening in some spots. Thanks for sharing these with us. Isn't it cool to discover photos that we had completely forgot about?
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Post by bixaorellana on Oct 15, 2014 16:43:41 GMT
Oh, I hope you have the same lovely weather when you visit again. Yes, don't forget the passports – the gondola ride sounds terrific.
I guess women who can afford those creations probably don't mind the lace up the back aspect, as they must have ladies maids to truss them up. I'd no doubt need a nice Victorian corset to get into the dress, as I know I'd go to town on the won ton (!) nachos & the dainty cakes. Good job on getting that scarf at a reasonable price!
Indeed, Casimira – I really didn't envision NY as being so large!
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Post by Deleted on Oct 15, 2014 17:03:31 GMT
It was going to Niagara Falls that made me realise how big New York was. On that trip, I drove from NYC to Atlantic City, Philiadelphia and then Niagara -- then on to Toronto, Montréal, Québec, and then down along the coast of Maine back to NYC via Boston. That was A LOT of driving.
One thing that has haunted me from that trip is the memory of hitting a dog in the dark somewhere in Pennsylvania. No way it could have survived. It's the only time I have ever hit a living thing with a car.
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Post by mich64 on Oct 15, 2014 19:12:36 GMT
Wow Kerouac! I could not make such a journey by car but envy those that can do it. You get to see so much more. Since my husband had back surgery some years ago, I now go on Via Michelin for driving directions to see how long the drives are when planning our holidays as he should not be sitting for long periods of time. I can understand how not knowing what happened to that dog would haunt you. Bixa those nachos were so yummy! I had never heard of won ton wrappers being used as nachos and was not exactly sure when they first put them on the table why they looked different. Casi we were there as they were cleaning everything, from lamp posts to replacing sod, in preparation for the long weekend crowds, which is the beginning of the summer season for the region. And yes, the sound of the Falls was quite loud! The tea cups were lovely, something else I will have to remember when back there.
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Post by htmb on Oct 15, 2014 21:44:51 GMT
Delightful photo report, Mich! I've enjoyed reading though and looking at your pictures very much.
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Post by mich64 on Oct 15, 2014 22:47:13 GMT
We also spent our lunch watching the workers in the Marina preparing boats to be launched into lake behind our Hotel. Thank you htmb! I am glad I came across these photos, reminded me of a wonderful few days away from the snow melt happening at home.
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Post by mich64 on Oct 15, 2014 22:51:05 GMT
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Post by lagatta on Oct 17, 2014 4:17:34 GMT
There is a huge difference between your climate zone and that of Niagara. Remember that much of Niagara and the wine areas are sheltered from bitter cold by the Niagara escarpment. It is really a warm microclimate.
Not that Buffalo for example is much colder but it gets a lot more snow - and the distance between the two is very small.
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Post by mich64 on Oct 17, 2014 11:18:22 GMT
Yes Lagatta, it is really a unique climate. We hear from family how good the weather is in Niagara and at the same time watch how Buffalo can be getting 25 cm of snow! I guess the winds blow over the escarpment, picks up all the moisture from the Lake and drops either rain and snow on Buffalo.
There is such a difference in what little we can grow here compared to the beautiful variety of fruits and vegetables that come from there. We drove by orchard after orchard in amazement. In August/September I always look forward to seeing the baskets "Grown in Ontario" knowing we are getting the freshest selection available to us.
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Post by deyana on Mar 18, 2015 17:42:40 GMT
Great photos of the Falls, mich. And the area surrounding looks interesting too.
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Post by lugg on Feb 19, 2017 18:27:24 GMT
Getting to this very late ...sorry Mich thank you for the great photos and info. I am in the early stages of planning for a potential holiday to Ontario end Aug/beginning Sept so am now searching the Canada section of AP . Of course we do want to see the falls if our plans come to fruition but plan just 1 night there. Is that about right do you think Mich ?
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Post by mich64 on Feb 21, 2017 2:10:55 GMT
Hi Lugg! I would say one night would be sufficient if your goal is to visit the falls. There is a nice promenade to walk along with gardens with different viewing angles of the falls. There is also one street there that has kind of a carnival atmosphere, Clifton Hill. How exciting that you are coming to Canada! If you have any other questions feel free to send me as many PM's as you like and I will try to assist.
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Post by lagatta on Feb 21, 2017 20:43:01 GMT
Lugg, if you are visiting the Niagara region don't just see the falls. That is about the best time of year for visiting as it is peach season! The microclimate is known as the "banana belt", no, of course they don't grow bananas but a lot of soft fruits that struggle where I live (and I live in a better growing area than Mich's, which I believe is part of the Canadian Shield with thin soil). Niagara wines, which used to be horrible things with sugar added, are now very good indeed, especially the whites (thanks to global warming as well as better methods). The peaches, plums and other soft fruit are excellent as well.
Many people from the area think the town of Niagara-on-the-Lake has become overly tarted up and twee. I can't imagine anyone except in the theatre wearing those retro dresses... The general Niagara area is very nice though. Indeed, tours of wineries and orchards (and related restaurants) are probably more popular nowadays than just gawking at the Falls. I think we are jaded about the latter...
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Post by tod2 on Feb 25, 2017 12:33:15 GMT
I was awestruck by the Canadian side of the falls. I remember standing against a railing and feeling the misty drops falling on us. It is also very special place as this is where I had my first ever Waldorf salad! I was blown away by the combinations of sweet and salty, crunch and creamy dressing. The thing I remember about it the most is that it had finely shredded red cabbage in it.
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Post by lagatta on Feb 25, 2017 16:52:08 GMT
Finely-shredded red cabbage adds a nice touch to many salads, even plain green ones. Here is the official website for Niagara (Ontario, the Canadian side): www.visitniagaracanada.com/For the US side, Niagara Falls and the towns downstream (flowing towards Lake Ontario) are in Niagara County NY. And despite the poor reputation of the city of Buffalo just south of there (Erie County), there are some attractive historical neighbourhoods that are well worth a visit. In Ontario, the city of Hamilton, like Buffalo, was also a major steel-producing and generally industrial centre, and those cities are having to redevelop after the death of that industry and major employer.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 25, 2017 17:32:45 GMT
Tod, your post made me think that we probably need a thread in "After Dinner" about our memories of the first time we tasted certain items or dishes.
Back on topic: I was wondering if I had ever crossed the border at Niagara Falls, and I am nearly certain that I did so in 1989. I was travelling with a friend back then, starting from JFK. We had been through some of New York state, New Jersey and Pennsylvania, and then we drove up to Toronto, so Niagara Falls seems to be the obvious crossing point, since I know that we went there and I have photos. We went all the way to Québec City before driving down to Maine to get back to New York.
As usual, I annoyed a very close friend by going through Boston without contacting her. Of course she did not know about it until a couple years later when she came to Paris and we had dinner at a restaruant with my travelling friend and he spilled the beans. I could see that she felt a bit betrayed, but she did not hold it against me because she had done so much crazy shit in her life that she easily pardoned other people.
A few years later, I tried to fly to Boston to see her before she died of uterine cancer, but I didn't make it in time. I was contacted by her sister with the news, and she also sent me a poem that she had found in her sister's papers that she had written about me. Damn, I wish I knew where that poem is. I know I printed it out and put it somewhere.
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Post by tod2 on Feb 26, 2017 12:59:33 GMT
Kerouac - Are you talking about Donna..?
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Post by Deleted on Feb 26, 2017 20:08:13 GMT
No, Donna was from Pittsburgh. This was my friend Jane. Just for the record, just about all of my female friends die prematurely, but at a great distance from where I am so it isn't my fault!
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Post by lagatta on Feb 27, 2017 15:08:39 GMT
I hope you aren't bad luck for the lovely ladies you joined in Mexico!
And should I really look you up when I'm next in Paris?
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Post by tod2 on Feb 27, 2017 17:31:06 GMT
I'm not fazed...I'll go when I'M ready!
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Post by lugg on Mar 19, 2017 10:15:00 GMT
Thanks for the info . Sorry took me a while to get back to post although I had caught up with the thread a week or so ago ; ( had my knee replacement 3 weeks ago and just starting to feel half human again) Anyway plans and arrangements mostly made. We are coming slightly later mid September - first week based in Toronto , one night in Niagara Falls as we did want to see them at night as well and then last 4/5 nights in Prince Edward County. Its the film festival in Toronto so that is an added bonus. Got to decide on the hotel at NF ( its the only night we are staying in a hotel) otherwise accommodation and flights booked .
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Post by bjd on Mar 19, 2017 12:36:30 GMT
Mid-to-late September is the best time to go, Lugg. Usually nice weather, not too hot and humid but often sunny days with cooler evenings. And fewer mosquitoes. If you are lucky, the first trees should start changing colour too.
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Post by mich64 on Mar 19, 2017 16:05:22 GMT
Hi Lugg! Just wanted to let you know there is a festival called The Grape and Wine Festival in the Niagara Region in mid September so it adds to the challenge of finding accommodations so you might want to look soon. Mid September is an absolutely beautiful time to visit Niagara Falls!
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Post by lugg on Mar 20, 2017 8:46:03 GMT
Thanks for that encouragement both ; we were hoping that the weather would be good. Mich - Thanks I will book the hotel at NF sooner rather than later then thanks. We are keen to get a room with a good view of the falls.
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