O Canada, O Canada!!

After a horrific flight from Lima to New York City (note to self, NEVER fly Continental again!) we arrived safely in my favourite city in the world. After negotiating the subway & making our way to the hotel we went shopping.....come on, we were in New York!! Unfortunately we only had 24 hours to shop because next thing we knew we were checking in with Amtrack at Penn Station for our 12 hour train trip across the border to Canada. The train was actually amazing. A bit like being in first class on an aeroplane....without the hosties & free booze!

Photo: The view from the train


As we watched the countryside slide by the snow started....& it didn't stop until we arrived back in NY a week later. But, I digress.....as the snow got heavier on the ground we passed houses all decked out in Christmas lights with snowmen in their front yards, it was the kind of scene you see in a Christmas movies. Once on the ground in Niagara, Canada we left the safety & comfort of the customs building & entered the twilight zone.

Photo: So much snow gathered on the platform between the carriages!


It was snowing.....not nice, soft, fluffy flakes.....no, small bullets of ice blowing from all angles & hitting like needles!! Add to that the fact that it was 10pm, dark & -12 degrees & there were no taxis. After waiting for about 15 minutes a taxi finally came & before we knew it we were safely installed in a cheap motel in a street with more sex shops in one place than I have seen in my entire life!!

Photo: What a sight!


The next morning we woke up & it had snowed so hard that our door was snowed shut. It was gorgeous but unfortunately it meant we were stuck in our room for a couple of days. We did manage to get out after a couple of days & walk down the road to a giant outlet shopping mall.....2km there & back in snow up to 3 feet deep & temperatures around minus 10....not such a good idea after all!

Photo: At least this snow was light & fluffy.....


Eventually  we did get to go out & see the whole reason for going to Niagara in the first place - Niagara Falls. They advertise a nightly light show that is projected onto the water, so we timed out trip to see the falls in the day light as well as all lit up. It was still freezing & most smart people had stayed indoors but it did mean that we basically had the whole place to ourselves. The falls are spectacular & were made even more so by the icicles hanging off the sides & giant chunks of ice floating along the river. We would stay outside, take few photos then run inside the visitors centre to defrost before repeating the exercise....for about 3 hours. Eventually the sun went down & the light show began.....only it turned out to be half a dozen white lights shining on the water. Not much of a show but it was still nice to see the falls lit up at night.

Photo: Niagara Falls

Photo: Fff-reeeeeezing

Photo: Pretty

Photo: Almost frozen over.....

Before long we were back on the train & heading back to New York for Christmas & New Years......& to see Shawn & Bec after a long 8 months....YAAAAYYY!!

Photo: So the sun did come out momentarily!!