Oh, Canada!

After a late, leisurely breakfast, which included some of the finest ham we have tasted since we left England last summer, we walked to the neighboring Hilton to await our tour bus. The stifling heat and humidity made for suboptimal sightseeing conditions, but we were thrilled just to be here together and so were determined to enjoy the day, regardless of the weather.

There is something special about a small tour group that gives its members a certain sense of community. Twelve people from different parts of the world suddenly have something in common — a shared experience. After a few hours together, sharing inside jokes, photographing each other, conspiring to stall the guide so that the honeymooners on board may get just one more perfect photo, a bond forms, and complete strangers begin to feel that they just might miss one another when the day trip comes to an end.

With our tightly knit group, we went to the top of the Skylon Tower for a breathtaking view of both sides of the falls. While up there, we were surprised to find that we were not the only people looking out over the crowds for a better view. We saw a tightrope walker performing his grand, daring feat between two nearby buildings. The daredevil makes this walk twice a day!

Feet firmly on the ground again, we next took a scenic drive along the falls, stopping a couple of miles downriver for a view of the whirlpool caused by the churning forces of the falls and the shape of the riverbend. We wanted to ride the jet boats out into the whirlpool, but we were pretty sure that Kala's doctor would not have approved. It is easy for a vessel to get into the whirlpool, but takes a tremendous amount of power to get out, and only these specially-built jet boats have strong enough engines for the trip.

We paused for a moment at the Botanical Gardens for a view of the famous Floral Clock. In its fifty-year existence, the clock has featured a different face for every season, never duplicating its design. The clock is surrounded by a moat filled with waterlillies and koi, and was the ideal place for us to stop and rest before continuing on with our group.

The grand finale of our tour was a ride on the Maid of the Mist cruise, which takes its passengers right up to the base of the falls for an up-close view they will never forget. While we were on the boat, it started to rain, though we hardly noticed with all of the mist that was already falling on us. Even the sound of the thunder was almost completely lost in the roar of the falls.

After our tour was over and we had taken leave of the company we had enjoyed so much throughout the day, we took the advice of some local young people and crossed the international border into the United States for some pizza. We followed their directions to La Hacienda, in the Little Italy section of Niagara Falls, New York, away from the bustling tourist area. This crowded little local restaurant, with a Spanish name and a Mexican decor, made the best pizza we have had outside of New York City. It is run by owner and chef Aldo Evangelista, a truly unique character who is "just looking for a sucker" to buy his restaurant so that he may retire. We don't know what the locals will do for pizza if that ever happens, but we don't think they need to worry about it just yet. Despite his protests, Aldo's affection for the place and his customers shows in every pizza he turns out.

We crossed the bridge back into Canada with nothing to declare but our full stomachs and, after another visit to the hotel lounge, where our favorite Canadian bartender, "Jenn-with-two-n's," served us drinks and a decadent dessert, retreated to our room as early as we could. We have another long day of driving tomorrow, with just one quick stop along the way to visit a friend. But then, you know us: We'll probably find a few other interesting sites along the way.