I had this vision of the falls in some magnificent setting. The reality was far removed. Niagara on the Canadian side is a pretty run down neglected sort of place. Lots of empty buildings and boarded up space. A massive casino dominating and a bridge with US and Canadian flags half way across. The falls were pretty impressive just the surroundings bleak. The US side didn’t look much better.
We caught a cab to Niagara on the Lake, a much prettier place. A small historical town, about twenty minutes from the falls, with a beautifully preserved main street. In 1812, the Americans bombed the hell out of the place and as part of this war, burnt it to the ground. The town was rebuilt, out of the firing range of the US. I remember reading a great book as a kid (which I still have) called Trixie Beldon and the Mystery of the Emeralds about the underground railway – the secret network of safe houses that helped slaves escape into Canada – Niagara on the Lake was part of this network. For us, it was just a lovely wander through Canadian history.
Sleeping under the stars 