So it has been a little while since we have had a chance to update this blog, apologies to the 3 people who still may be reading our adventures on-line. Seeing how this blog is a fair way behind we’ll try not to slow it down anymore and jump through most of the usual tourist stuff we did along this part of the trip.
Having made it into Canada safe and sound, I cannot begin to explain how good it is to see speed signs in Km/h again!
We were a little tired after 9 hours in the car so by the time we checked into the hotel actually seeing the falls fell a distant second to getting some rest. We had booked ourselves into a nice little boutique hotel on the Canadian side of the falls for two days.
Niagara Falls - the town - is like a B-grade theme park; it is cheesy to the max, with a slight western country twist. There are side-show themed stores/games, two casinos and hundreds of little tourist souvenirs shops all over the place. It was like the carnival had come to town, set up and forgot to leave.
Seeing Niagara Falls for the first time is something special, once you get over the shock of them not being as high as the movies make out (damn Hollywood). Thanks to whoever recommended staying on the Canadian side to see the falls, it is definitely a much, much better view and experience.
Things we liked about Niagara Falls:
1. It is in Canada – Canada has the best Maple Syrup – Maple Syrup!
2. You don’t fear the police
3. The Canadian dollar is weaker than the US greenback, makes things cheaper!!
4. The locals are super friendly
5. We got breakfast in bed
6. Canadian beer is surprisingly good
Things we didn’t like about Niagara Falls:
1. It is in Canada – Canada is cold – Very Cold!
2. Once your time is up you have to cross back over to the US of A and go through “US Customs” again. Not cool.
We had a great time at Niagara Falls, took it easy, relaxed and got to tick off another attraction on our must see list.
Our next stop was New Jersey – The Garden State; home of Tony Soprano, The Devils, Jon Bon Jovi and family, “the Gianfrancesco’s”.
By the time we pulled into Paramus, New Jersey, we had clicked over 1000miles driving on the wrong side of the road.
While Dad (Big Lib) had told us of his cousins in New Jersey and informed us of our duties to visit ‘la familia’ we had never met them before and had no idea what to expect. Rookie mistake, wogs are wogs no matter where in the world they are.
The NJ Gianfrancesco’s were extremely welcoming and had invited the entire family around to greet us, then in true Italian family tradition poured food & wine down our throat. It was a surreal experience, we ate, drank, they argued, told stories of years ago, argued some more then ate and drank again – other than their strange American accents, it was exactly like home. To top the night off they organised for us to come past in the morning (for breakfast) so they could take us out to visit “Pizza Tony” - another cousin who.... owned a pizza shop, and yes eat pizza (which was/is without being bias the greatest pizza we have tried thus far on the trip).
Time in the US was now quickly coming to an end – less than a week till we flew out - UK bound.
Last stop on 'Tour USA 09' - The Windy City.
