The wall facing the falls was glass, giving a very good view and the tables were set on different levels so that every table had a view of the falls. One of the hosts or waiters or stewards or whoever they were (all of them wore suits and looked like owners) led us to a table, offered to get beverages and directed us to help ourselves from the breakfast counters. The breakfast buffet included boiled eggs, scrambled eggs and omelette, chicken, bacon and steak, waffles and maple syrup, bagels, muffins, tarts, scones, cake, three varieties of bread, three varieties of cereals, milk, fruits, butter, jelly, cheese, tea, coffee and juice. I went around the counters looking keenly into the trays (there were many things I was seeing for the first time) as if going through the exhibits in a museum and ended up with toast, jelly, fruits and a cup cake. There were many who had huge piles on their trays and had huge bodies to accommodate all that.
By the time all of us had had our breakfast and were ready to check out of the hotel it was ten in the morning and in another ten minutes we were in front of the falls. The weather was still cloudy but it wasn’t raining and the mist had cleared. We had only seen the illuminated water fall the previous night and now we had a panoramic view of the Niagara in full splendor and it was wonderful. The walk way was full of excited tourists walking to and fro looking at the falls from various positions and trying to accommodate the falls as well as their companions in the tiny auto focus cameras.
I would have loved to just stand there looking at the falls and move up and down the walk way as long as my legs permitted but we had to take part in the obligatory activities connected with the falls viz a ride on the ‘Maid of the mist’, visiting the theater for ‘Fury of the falls’ show and undertake ‘Journey behind the falls’. Out of these I knew what a ride on the ‘maid of the mist’ involved. You get on to the ferry boat which takes you right in front of the falls and go for a very close look of the falls, covering yourself with disposable rain coats. But I had no idea what the other things were.
Maid of the mist goes close to the falls.
“Fury of the falls” was a sort of simulated film show where you were supposed to feel how it would be if you were thrown down the falls in a barrel. I found it somewhat childish and could not enjoy it. The floor heaved and shuddered now and then and water was sprayed on us by sprinklers to give a realistic effect which I could not appreciate. Not worth the cost or wait.
“Journey behind the falls” was better. You go through a man made tunnel about hundred and fifty meters long which opens right behind the falls but all you can see is a cloud of mist through a door like opening behind the falls in the rocks.
As it turned out, to me, even the ‘Maid of the mist’ which otherwise was enjoyable could not provide the visual feast that was expected. The mist collected on my glasses even as I kept wiping it, barring vision and if I took the glasses out, my vision was blurred anyway. All said and done the best thing to do at Niagara is to spend as much time as possible walking along the walk way, enjoying the view of the falls.
By late afternoon it started raining again and we were tired. We took the shuttle to the public parking lot which was in fact like a garden. It had a very nice spread of green and flowering plants all around the parking bays. We got into the frame around this beautiful tree to provide a contrast. If I get to visit Niagara once again in my lifetime, I would stand /walk in front of the falls as long as my legs allow me and spend the rest of the time in the parking lot.
Right now, it was time for us to leave. The thickening clouds and the mist were blocking the falls and the intensity of rain was increasing. I looked out as we passed by the side of the falls and could see only a cloud of mist and a wet and empty walk way.
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