Why Pick a Fight With Good Neighbors

In sharing my posts on this site as well as on www.chrisciminoweather.com, I use great restraint from delving into political waters. This blog was originally intended to share a couple of excursions we've taken to our neighbors to the north, Canada, the last couple of winters.

I still intend on focusing on the wonderful experiences we enjoyed with both trips. I was also going to point out the friendliness and pleasant vibe we felt from the people of this great country. That was not necessarily going to be the focus of this post, but now I feel the urge to express it a bit more emphatically.

I'll start with the more recent trip taken this past December to Niagara Falls, Toronto, and finally Niagara on the Lake, all in Canada. For the last few years we have entertained the idea of going to the Christmas markets in Europe, but due to work schedules, it's just too difficult for both of us to get the needed time off.

A few years ago we decided to take a long weekend and journey up to old Quebec City and it's Christmas markets. With more of a European charm, we felt it was the closest we could get to experiencing the Christmas markets of Europe without having to travel across the pond. More on that later. Spoiler alert...it was one of the most beautiful Christmas season experiences I've ever enjoyed.

This year we looked around for a slightly shorter drive than Quebec. In searching for places that really expressed the celebration of the Christmas season we found Toronto popping up frequently in our searches. Yes, there were many other cities, but all too far for the short amount of time we had.

Our first stop would be Niagara Falls on the Canadian side. Edmi and I had both been there before, but many years ago and not during the winter season. it was a decent drive, about 7 hours. My first job in television was in Rochester, NY and I would drive 5-6 hours each way from East Brunswick, NJ every weekend so I was familiar with a good part of the journey toward western upstate New York.

We arrived under a grey sky which is quite typical of that area for the time of year. In fact, I only spent one winter season working in Rochester, NY and think I saw the sun twice.

We got to the hotel late afternoon and were greeted by a very friendly young man who gave us some helpful hints about viewing the Falls and the fireworks show, as well as the best time to take the ferris wheel to view the falls.

We grabbed a power nap and decided to walk toward town and Niagara Falls. It was cold, but not windy, which made bundling up sufficiently enough comfortable to walk about. Niagara Falls is a very touristy few blocks with rather campy shops of souvenirs. There's a little wax museum and a Guinness World Records museum. You get the idea.

As suggested by our friend at the front desk we decided to take the ferris wheel ride first before venturing over to the fall for the fireworks. It was a good call as the line was very short.

Below are some pictures from in front of and atop the Sky Wheel.

With the ferris wheel ride under our belt with about seven complete turns, I think we had reached our threshold stomach-wise. The views were OK, but because of the weather there was moisture on the windows and some fog that made for not the most ideal viewing.

We strolled a little more through town. Not feeling particularly cold, we decided to take the walk to the falls instead of grabbing an Uber. Before we got to the falls there was a beautiful park decorated for the holiday with many lights set against a nice white mantle of snow on the ground.

As we crossed through the park and then the main road that runs along the lake, the first thing we noticed was the sound. The constant powerful pounding sound of water cascading. Then you see the majestic beauty of Niagara Falls lit up at night. From our view point you could see the U.S. side and then look just to your right and see the Canadian horseshoe falls. Both were alight in a changing color pattern. Both magnificent in their own way. Virtually side by side connected by a border that they equally shared in harmony, sending millions of gallons of water into the same source. Where do you suppose I'm going with that? Don't get political Cimino. Well maybe just a little. I think it was a beautiful natural way to express how these two countries always meshed so well together. Let's not loose sight of that as a people.

If you've never been to Niagara Falls I do recommend a visit. Make sure to experience it in the day and night. I've also been able to visit in the summer, where a ride aboard The Maid of the Mist is quite an experience worth getting wet, as you get up close to the falls. In the winter, with the falls often surrounded by beautiful ice formations, it's a completely different sight. Your choice, but both are worth the visit.

Here are a few more pictures from the falls and the fireworks display.

The next morning we grabbed a hearty breakfast at this really quaint, but warm restaurant, in a hotel on the edge of town. After which we took a quick stroll to the falls to see it in the daylight. It was a very grey day, for a change, but it definitely is a different perspective by day compared to the colors displayed on the falls at night.

So we bid farewell to the Canadian Niagara Falls, hitting the road for Toronto, our next stop. See you there.

Sunshine Always!