Niagara

          What are the things you look at before you conclude that you can visit a place? You check for companion, cash, duration of the trip, whether you can take off of your work/school, if there is a holiday that you can combine with the casual leaves so that you can make the longest vacation out of it, does the place interest you etc. After thinking and checking all these you make the necessary arrangements. We had an additional step of getting the visa this time because we planned to see The Niagara Falls from Canada side. Our friend Harish was the one to encourage us to apply for the Canadian and I want to thank him for the fantastic road trip albeit being too tiring. I took the responsibility for completing all the documentation and applying for the Canadian visa for Bharath and myself.

          Plan was to drive to Detroit, and then pick our friends and drive to Canada. It was a gang of 5 members' was very excited because it was my first time crossing an international border on-road. I imagined that a double walled fence separates United States from Canada spotlighting the borders. I also thought that I would see American Flag on our side and Maple leaf flag across the fence that I imagined. If you are thinking that I might have imagined armed soldiers on either sides you are wrong because I didn't go that far in my imagination. Except for stops for toll and immigration it look more like driving from one state to another. My imagination went overboard because I hadn't considered the fact that there were no border disputes between United States and Canada.

          It took us 6 hours to reach Niagara including an hour spent at immigration and another hour having breakfast. There are two part to Niagara Falls. One is the Horseshoe Falls and the other part is further divided into American Falls and Bridal Veil falls. I saw the latter and my first reaction was "is it all there is?” Not that it wasn't beautiful but I just thought it wasn't doing justice to the hype. Then Bharath showed me the other part. The joy inside me rushed out as tears from eyes. The place is mesmerizing beyond words can rightly articulate. I don't have to explicitly mention that it is next to impossible to survive if you fall. Even though it is the killing face of nature, it is divine. 

          We all zeroed on two activities that interested us the most. One was undoubtedly the Horn blower cruise and the other was Journey behind the Falls. We got the tickets and hopped on to the cruise. The path was to fly by the American falls and Bridal Veil Falls, go into the Horseshoe Falls and then return. We were given a red poncho (you will get a blue poncho if you catch the cruise form United States). The force with which water rushes below and unites with the river creates a mist that gets carried further by the wind. As the cruise got closer to the horseshoe it felt like someone with a biggest spray bottle ever and with unlimited supply of water was spraying right onto my face. I couldn't open my eyes, camera couldn't focus because of the water droplets on the lens. I tried wearing my sunglass, but need I say there was not luck. Somehow I tried to squint my eyes and get the glimpse of the incredible place. I enjoyed it more than getting drenched in the rain. When seen from the top one might feel that it is dangerous (I felt it was cool), but trust me it is one of those things that makes you forget everything and makes you want to go again. I really wanted to stay there longer.

          Journey behind the falls was an activity where you the Horseshoe Falls can be viewed from its lower right corner. One can see the thickness of the false and also get a better sense of energy that it carries.  Also there are caves which leads behind the Horseshoe Falls. This was as if you are seeing some white liquid with perfect amount of hue and saturation falling outside the opening of the cave. Well, that wasn't as impressive.

          I will let the pictures do the talking about the beauty of Niagara. But before I conclude I have to put forth my opinion about the view of Niagara from Canada versus United States. It is true that you get the front view of Niagara from Canada but I am sure it is equally beautiful in its own way from the United States side. Also the cruises from both the sides take you almost along the same path and inside the Horseshoe Falls. I would love to see Niagara from the Unites States side. In fact I can't wait to see. Nature is beautiful from every angle. Funny thing is that I got my At&t network when I hopped on the cruise.

Just before the border

Immigration at the Canadian Border

American and Bridal Veil Falls

Horseshoe Falls

Complete view of the Horseshoe Falls

Can you spot the people in yellow poncho on the stairs ? #relativesize

Below the American Falls

Just another angle

This is when I thought "is this all there is?"

Can you see the rainbow ?

Do yo see how deep into the Horseshoe the cruise gets ? beyond that you would actually disappear!

My favorite picture and it is because of  the rainbow

I thought I had to post this one!

From the "journey behind the falls" imagine the amount of  energy there is.

All set for the cruise

Looks like cotton candy

The town of Niagara