FamPeeters

For several reasons Miriam didn’t sleep too well last night. The bed wasn’t too great and she couldn’t quite find her ideal position. Not very surprising then that she was awake very early this morning.

Today we leave for Canada to go to the Niagara Falls there. From Canada you have the best view on these magnificent waterfalls.
But first some breakfast and then a bit of ‘Miriam shopping’ to do!
The breakfast was a small, simple buffet, but it looked nice and well organized.
We enjoyed the food (Miriam says the cinnamon rolls were really delicious!).

After breakfast we stuffed ourluggage back in to the car and we went on our way again. First to the Wal-mart to buy a (simpel) cooler and then to the Hobby Lobby. But… we couldn’t find the Hobby Lobby! We did find a really big Jo-Ann store. So we headed in to that one first to browse around (and buy a few yards of fabric …).
In the shop we struck a conversation with a very nice salesperson. Whe was the Husqvarna Viking representative, and once Miriamtold her that she has the Designer I at home, the ice was broken instantly! A nice conversation, and she cou;d also tell us where to find the Hobby Lobby: at the opposite side of the road.
I don’t think I have to explain that Miriam wanted to “quickly”go there as well (and purchased a few more yards of fabric …).

After that we really went on our way to the Niagara Falls, which was a little over an hour’s drive. Just after noon we arrived at the border. We crossed the river over the Rainbow Bridge and drove in to Canada. Well, we obviously had to pass border control, but aside from a few stamps in our passports, it didn’t give us any trouble. Our hotel was quickly found, it was hard to miss. Tonight we sleep in the Embassy Suites with a view of both falls. Unfortunately our room wasn’t ready yet, but we could have Valet Service park our car already. We could get the Presidental Suite for only CAD 80 more, but both of us thought that it was fine as it was.
Samantha was angry, angry because we couldn’t go to the room yet and even angrier because we didn’t take that other room. It’s obvious that she doesn’t have to pay the bills … When Miriam tried to explain how these things work in a hotel, she was too busy being even angrier.Great, a budding teen (puberty!) in house, or in this case in a hotel lobby…

Once outside Miriam instantly decided where we’d eat this evening: Outback!! In this case right across the hotel.
We sauntered over to the waterfalls. It is truly magnificently beautiful here. The kids were in awe and we were content. It is such a great place to be!
We considered going to the tunnels behind and on the side of   the falls, or take the Maid of the Mist. But it was really busy and when we saw how many people there were on the platform, or how crowded the miscellaneous Maids of the Mist were, we were not convinced.
By now we had developed a taste for an icecream cone… well… more an Iceberg!
They tasted pretty good none the less.

Bij now it was time to return to our hotel and check in officially. The room we have is on the 19^th floor and has a view that is… truly spectacular.
Through the floor to ceiling windows we have a great view over both the American, Bridal Veil and Horseshoe Falls. How much better does it get?!
While enjoying the vista, Miriam started working on updating the weblog. She still has a bit of backlog to catch up … We took a break to head for the 9th floor, manager’s reception, to grab a few drinks and a bit of snacking. It’s included, so we’re making use of it ;o)

We had a reservation for around 7PM at the Outback Steakhouse. Both Miriam and I were longing for a Bloomin’ Onion! It tasted as “in the old days”.
The food was as we’ve come to expect from Outback, tasty and good quality.
I got an Alice Springs Chicken, Miriam ordered an 8oz prime rib steak (which was succulent!), Samantha had chicken from the barbie en Geordi (how predictable) chickenfingers.
Miriam ate too much… But she claimed it was just too good to leave!
The kids wanted to go swim in the hotel pool after dinner. Just a bit of splashing and doing their own thing.
Just before sunset they came back to the room. None of us wanted to miss the illuminated falls.
Oustside it turned darker, but the falls weren’t illuminated yet. So in the mean time the kids tried out the Jacuzzi we have in the suite bathroom. But… whatever we tried, no luck. With a bit of aid from a maintenance guy (breaker had tripped) they finally got to bubble. And, in the mean time, through the windows of the bathroom and master bedroom, they kept an eye on the lights of the falls.

Once they were done bubbling we all just stood there, enjoying the illuminated falls. There’s no words that can express the beauty (Though pictures come close).
Onl y making pictures didn’t go to well anymore. So Miriam went downstairs to make a few more pictures from the Fallside Boulevard. So she could use them in the weblog.

Tomorrow we have another travel day, when we’ll be driving to Gettysburg (Pennsylvania). We expect we’ll be arriving there in the early evening.