Niagara Falls

Last night when I got to the hotel, I made some calls, made a big speech at Dinner time and gave up all my plans for today to go see the Niagara Falls on a full day trip. It turns out that 7 other people loved the idea, and for $75 it was a bargain in my view.

Bus arrived at 8:30, all were paid up and everything was going to plan. The driver was a legend, very funny and knowledgeable. First stop was at a lovely little winery called Pillitteri Estates in the Niagara area, wine is the second biggest income earner for the area behind hydro power. The place is famous for it's ice wines which were tasty but very sweet. I purchased a 2008 cabernet sauvignon to take home, as it needs a few more years to mature in my view.

Onto the little town for a 40 minute break called Niagara, which is stuck in the 70's with no large commercial companies allowed to operate. The local speciality, the maple and walnut on a sugar cone was mighty tasty. The bus made a few stops for snaps at the smallest ever church, then the whirlpool which used to be the start of Niagara falls before our next major stop.

The Helicopter ride over Niagara Falls were fantastic, this was the first time I had seen it and was very surprised to see the second set of falls called the America Falls. A maximum of 6 people got to go up, so I was left out of the group with other Contiki members but to my joy, I got to go in the cockpit when my turn arrived. Wow, well worth it, and the day just keeps getting better.

We had been allocated 3 hours to spend at Niagara Falls as free time. Everyone went straight into the Maid of the Mist for the boat ride right in under the falls. Fantastic, we got given poncho's but still got drenched, the spray from the falls went miles. Blue Steel made an appearance in the blue poncho.

A lazy walk down to the edge of the falls before I took the tour down behind the falls. An elevator and tunnel had been created in the rock to give you a face to face experience. At the end of that, it was time to head back to Toronto.

Straight back out of the hotel to see the CN Tower. We had already paid as part of the Contiki optionals and were lucky that they changed the time to allow us to still use the ticket without the rest of the group. Superb views and the glass floor had a few people scared.

A pub crawl was organised for that night at 8:45pm, the last night with most of the tour. 1 pub and 2 night clubs with everyone ending the night at the last club right next door. I made a little speech at the first pub to thank Troy and Brianna for there efforts, which I thought was a fitting end. I have 30 minutes to sleep before I get back up to catch a flight, It is going to hurt.