Not because you are going to fall into the Niagara Falls, but because I think this one is best appreciated from a bit of a distance, just like a painting. For even better effect click on it to open the higher resolution for the entire screen and then take one step back. Thanks for stopping by!!!
Couple weeks ago we went to see relatives in Erie PA. Since it was so close to Niagara Falls (100 miles or so), I decided to make a half day trip to it and take a few photos. I was there a few years ago during summer and they had some spectacular fireworks, so naturally I wanted to see if I can see it this time as well. The fireworks are done on the Canadian side and most of the Falls activities are on the Canadian side as well. During winter they only do them once a week on Fridays. This year it was one day before Christmas, so I thought they will have a spectacular show. I made sure I have my passport, put camera in the back seat, and took a short trip to the border.
Usually it takes no more than 2-3 minutes to pass through the passport control. I’ve been to Canada at least dozen times, spent a lot of money there at Whistler/Blackcomb, Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver and Niagara Falls. Not so fast this time. I guess a single driver who lives in NC and happens to be in the area and wants to see Niagara Falls triggers all kind of alarms by the Canadian border control agents. Especially if driver happens to work in software consulting industry. No matter that he works for one of the largest software companies in the world, meaning he is not an independent consultant and don’t do odd jobs. But, according to Canadian border control he must be trying to sneak into the country and steal high paying jobs from true Canadians. So it took about 45 minutes, conversation with three different agents, search of my empty car to convince them that going to Canada to see Niagara Falls and Friday night Fireworks is not such a crazy or uncommon idea and that I have no intentions to stay in Canada.
And you know what? Fireworks lasted about 3 minutes, just about three times short of my expectations, and was nothing what I expected them to be. Maybe those agents knew it and were wondering why would someone come all the way to see 3 minutes of not so spectacular fireworks. Regardless, even though it was short, I managed to hike around Niagara River before sunset, take a few shots of sunset over the Falls and saw fireworks. The trip was totally worth it and I’ll do it again if ever going to be in the area.
If you never been there, to the left is Canada, to the right is USA. The pink on the right is USA side Niagara Falls. The horse shoe Falls is right behind me, just imagine it for now till I process what I have and share it here.
It is very hot in South East. It is very hot and annoying and so today’s photo is from much cooler place. It was very cold and windy up there on top of the mountain when I took this photo. I wish we would get some nice cool breeze of that air into South East. But it is not possible, it is far away from us. It is in British Columbia, I don’t think we get many big fronts all the way from there down in South East US. Oh well.
http://chert.smugmug.com/gallery/11942202_rJDgG#845839915_m7JWC-A-LB
Couple month ago we had a chance to visit Vancouver and spend there couple days. In the past 10 years I drove through it at least half a dozen times on my way to Whistler/Blackcomb, but never stayed here or spent any time. While driving through the city it always had some modern magic to it.
Vancouver is cool, but during the visit, my expectations of something magical and totally different didn’t totally come to reality. Can’t truly pin point what it is though.
This picture was taken from inside the Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Garden. I liked the contrast of old Chinese buildings with Chinese garden against all those new ultramodern apartments. I’ll post a few more pictures from Vancouver in the coming days.
