Where I've been

Sometimes I wonder where I've been, who I am, do I fit in

An 8:30am pick up for an organised coach trip to see the Niagara Falls was the next thing on my travel itinerary.  It was the first organised trip of my travels so I was finally on someone else’s timetable. The structure made a nice change to the (organised) randomness of my sightseeing to date where I had been in charge.  The small coach was already fairly full of couples or small groups by the time it picked me up. I think I was the only person there on my own and a few people gave me quizzical looks as I boarded. I normally would have felt self-conscious but I am getting used to being in my own company out in public.

Our driver gave us a little running commentary as we drove through downtown Toronto. He gave us a brief history lesson, pointed out various buildings and attractions as we went by them and gave us our itinerary for the day. Our tour would take in a local winery, a stop in Niagara on the Lake, and then finally the Niagara Falls for a trip on the Maid of the Mist and a couple of hours free time before the journey back to Toronto. I felt a little disappointed that the Falls would be the last thing on the itinerary as I had been looking forward to seeing them since before I even started my trip.

Niagara on the Lake

We arrived at the local winery just before 11am and were ushered into a large room where we got to sample the local red and white wines. Now, I’m not a big drinker so having to force down free alcohol that early in the day was a bit of a struggle. I managed it though. A few people on the tour bought some of the wine, and apparently spent enough for our driver to be given a free bottle for with his dinner that evening. We duly filed back into the coach, bottles clinking and made our way to Niagara on the Lake, a very quaint little town, where we had some time to wander round, see the lake, do some shopping. I got a few nice photos down by the lake and then found a great smelling bakery where I stopped off for a sausage roll and a scone. I think I must have been thinking of home. I ate the sausage roll while walking back to the coach and put the scone in my bag for later.

Once everyone was back on board (our tour were all very punctual and I don’t even think any of them were German) we set off for the Falls, stopping to see a giant whirlpool caused by the river bending at a 90 degree angle. We got the first glimpses of the Falls as we arrived into Niagara and parked up. Our driver took us all down to the Maid of the Mist ticket desk and handed us our tickets, telling us that we now had a couple of hours free time until the bus left at 4pm. I headed down to the boat, collecting a rather large blue pac-a-mac which I duly put on. It was a little warm in the sun and the pac-a-mac was nearly floor length so it was like walking around in my own little sauna. I prayed the queue would move quickly so that I could be out of the sun and into the cooling mist from the Falls.

American Falls & Bridal Veil

The boat headed out into the water and we saw the American Falls, the smaller Bridal Veil Falls and then on to the Horseshoe Falls (or as the Canadian person giving us the tour continually called them, the Canadian Falls). I managed to get a few good photos before the spray from the Falls became overwhelming.  I now know why the pac-a-mac was floor length. I had it hitched up a little so I could get some air circulating to cool myself down. Within seconds my legs were soaked. The sheer power of the Falls was just incredible. I have never seen anything so impressive and it left me speechless (not that I had anyone to speak to). After the trip on the boat and I had dried off, I walked around for a little while taking in the Falls from different viewpoints. The views are amazing and I would totally recommend it as a place to go for a day. You do only need a day there though. After you spend an hour or so looking at the amazing scenery and waterfall you then begin to spot the rest of Niagara – a mix of tacky tourist shops, fast food outlets and hotel casinos.

Horseshoe (Canadian) Falls

I spent some of the free time I had in Niagara sitting watching the waterfall, thinking about my childhood, reflecting. I think I had my first big realisation of the trip – that I am extremely lucky to be in a position to take a year off work to travel the world, and that I should make the most of every moment. I guess I already knew that but it really hit home at Niagara. I got to thinking about this as it occurred to me that when I was younger I used to go sometimes with mother to her work, at a police sports and social club called Niagara. I’m not sure how old I was but I used to kneel up on a stool to wash the dishes in a sink that was big enough for me to bath in. I never imagined back then that I would one day get to go and see the Niagara Falls, which I assume are where the club got its name. 

I got to thinking about my current travels compared to the family holidays we used to take. I know it is not really a fair comparison. As a child you never really appreciate the concept of money, whether you are rich or poor. I had a good childhood by comparison to many. We weren’t rich by any stretch of the imagination but we had a roof over our heads, food on the table and a foreign holiday once a year. We never truly wanted for anything. I think growing up my family probably sacrificed quite a lot to give us the things we used to have but I have no idea. It is not something we have ever talked about. I know though that my family have always been really supportive of me in everything that I do. I must remember to thank them when I get home.

"Sometimes I wonder where I've been, who I am, do I fit in"

Lyrics from Out Here on my Own from the musical Fame