Canada, oh Canada

Toronto

The tour commences.

I think I speak for everyone when I say that when we saw our plane at Washington Reagan Airport we were a little shocked. It was the same size as the one I caught to Dubbo a few years back. However, it was a great flight, hardly any turbulence and strangely, plenty of leg room.

The Toronto region is very flat, the roads running straight to the horizon and our view of the great lakes from above was stunning. Our first night in Toronto we found a neat little bar, we thought it looked seedy from afar, and ate and downed a few nice drinkies, jugs of a good local ale. It used to be a library, the books are still lining the walls.

Fairly basic hotel for our first night of the tour in Toronto, but we will just be here for sleepies, so no matter. Our tour began with our guide, Gemael, introducing herself with a little orientation tour of Toronto, a fairly plain old city. Then we were off to Niagara Falls. Grabbed some shut eye on the way, one of the things that coach tours are really good for, then after a few stops we lobbed in Niagara Falls.
Incredible.
They falls are mind boggling. Beautiful, awesome. The volume of water charging down the river towards you, then tumbling over the falls, is extraordinary. It’s a camera frenzy with a million people trying to get the perfect shot.

The boat cruise takes you right under the falls, poncho clad, the noise and the power really hits you, along with tons of spray.

One of the strangest things about Niagara Falls is the town. Overlooking the falls, one of the seven natural wonders of the world, is a town resembling The Royal Easter Show. A giant King Kong swings above the Spongebob Squarepants 4D Ride, a wax museum, a house of horrors, a regular side show alley. When asked about it, the coach driver said “People gotta eat don’t they?” I would say “only in the U.S.” but it ain't. It’s on the Canada side.

Back to our hotel, then the best meal of the trip. Right next door to our hotel, Thai to die for. Michele, not the biggest fan of Thai raved and I, a big fan of Thai, have never had better. We over ordered, but just about finished the lot.


Ottawa
Second full day of the tour was a fairly long, peaceful drive to the nation’s capital, Ottawa. There were some nice little stops along the way, including a Thousand Island Boat Cruise which was spectacular (need new adjectives, desperately).

Also a pretty place, Kingston, on the St Lawrence River. Enjoyed a Canadian hot dog here on the waterfront.

The boat cruised amongst The Thousand islands, in fact 1800 or more, many of which are individual homes. They have power and sewerage and are of course, very pricey. The river freezes in winter and the residents skate or toboggan home. A weird neighbourhood. No stray cats.
Finally we made Ottawa. It is a really pretty city, only the fifth largest in Canada despite being the capital. We had a little orientation tour, a meal in a pub, then we shot over to Parliament Hill to watch the light show. It depicts the history of Canada through lasers projected onto the building, Vivid style, but with more depth and high quality sound. When they played the national anthem at the end I felt like I wanted to take up citizenship. Excellent.