Niagara Falls Evening - Ron and Pat's Excellent Adventure

 
Hey folks, I'm getting better at stringing my short videos together in a short movie.  Here is my videos from my recent visit to Niagara Falls with my friend Pat.  I now know how to add a title and an ending.  Now I have to clean up my video clips but this video will give you a flavor of what our evening was like visiting that tourist mecca of Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada.  Always fun!

Enjoy!

Niagara Falls

Me viewing Niagara Falls 1966

The first time I visited Niagara Falls was in 1966.  I guess you could say it was our (me and Bill's) honeymoon trip.  

Back then I was very impressed.  Oh sure, I had heard all about Niagara Falls as the ultimate honeymoon destination.  I always wanted to go back.  Last year, when Pat picked me up in Buffalo, for my annual holiday with him at his home in Toronto, he surprised me by booking a room at a Niagara Falls hotel.

Pat and me at Niagara Falls last year (2015)

We had perfect weather.  I wanted to take that boat ride on the Niagara River.  Pat didn't.  So we didn't.  See, I don't always get my way (smile).  

The American side of Niagara Falls last year 2015

This year again, Pat picked me up in Buffalo.  This time I booked at room at a bed and breakfast, which I will write about in my next blog.  

This year at Niagara Falls by the intrepid duo of Pat and Ron - 2016

Again, I pushed for a ride on the Maid of the Mist



but Mr. Pat was unenthusiastic about such a proposition.  However, we did take a ride on the Sky Wheel, a gigantic Ferris Wheel.  What a view of the falls from the Sky Wheel, especially at night with the lights on the falls!

We did a lot of limping walking around Niagara Falls.  Pat with his bad leg and me with my new sneakers which was pinching my big toe.  Oh why didn't I break those sneaks in first?  So there we were, two Old Men limping around the tourist clogged streets of Niagara Falls.

The next day we visited the Falls.  This year the weather wasn't as cooperative but the Falls were still very impressive.

I asked two Japanese tourists to take this show video of me and Pat.



No matter the weather, Pat and I always have a grand time!

This will probably be our final visit to Niagara Falls. Unless Pat agrees to go on the Maid of the Mist.

Me in front of Niagara Falls 1967

Canada - Day Three

Me and Pat at Niagara Falls this past Tuesday

Where does the time go?  It's Day Three of my annual Canadian holiday!

Folks, I am having a GRAND time.  I am so fortunate at this time of my life to have the health, means and friends to take a holiday like this.  All my life I dreamed of holidays like this but always had to settle for those solo vacations.  Some years ago I gave up on taking solo vacations because they just weren't fun. Now I am having fun.

Here is a brief synopsis of what we have done since I landed at the Buffalo airport this past Tuesday.

Pat picked me up at the airport.  We had lunch at Wegmans in downtown Buffalo. We always make it a point to have lunch at a Wegmans just because of the great selection of good food at a reasonable price.  Pat is a vegan and I go vegetarian when I am with him. 

After lunch Pat drove us to Niagara Falls, Ontario for the next leg of our stay. I made reservations at a bed and breakfast called The Gray Stone Manor. First time I stayed at this bed and breakfast.  It's always a roll of the dice when choosing a hotel or bed and breakfast.  I always check Trip Advisor for some guidance to avoid any disasters.  This time I choose wisely.  The Gray Stone Manor was magnificent!  An old Victorian house that was spotlessly clean and spacious.  Centrally located near downtown Niagara Falls, couldn't be more convenient. 

Pat in the staircase of the Gray Stone Manor, our bed and breakfast in Niagara Falls

That night we drove to downtown Niagara Falls to take in the super touristy atmosphere that is Niagara Falls. We rode the giant ferris wheel which is "Yuge."  

After the ferris wheel ride we weaved our way through the massive tourist crowds and found a small Indian restaurant where we enjoyed a tasty Indian meal.

And what would a trip to Niagara Falls be without a visit to the Falls River Casino?  Oh yes, we walked (and walked) our way to the casino which probably wasn't such a good idea.  Pat has a bad leg and my new white Rebook sneakers were pinching both of my big toes.  I knew I should have broken in those sneakers.

After a few rest stops we finally entered the brightly lite environs of the acres of slot machines. We both were prepared to spend $20 on the slots. Pat and I are such novices we still don't know which slots to play.  After passing several lonely slot machines, Pat settled on one that look interesting. He put $5.00 in and started to play.  Spin, spin, spin. First three spins no matches. He was down to $3.50.  Then on the fourth spin he had a match!  An eleven dollar credit showed on the screen.  I urged Pat "Let's quit now while you're ahead!"  He agreed.  I didn't even feel like playing the slots.  I still have my $20.00.  

The slots - money suckers

We went to the payout section of the casino and Pat cashed in his receipt.  By this time both Pat's leg and my big toes were killing me.  We attempted to walk to our car but we only made it a few blocks until we stopped and tried to hale down a cab.  Lot's of luck!

After a few misses we got a cab.  Now we didn't even know where our car was parked. Pat knew the general direction so we told the cab driver to drive in that area.  He did and dropped us off.  Pat and then hobbled around several streets until we finally found his car.  Thank goodness!

In the car and back to our bed and breakfast and a good night's sleep.

Pat at our Victorian bed and breakfast in Niagara Falls

The next day we woke up to a glorious breakfast.  All that food just for us and the other guest in the bed and breakfast, a young lady from Switzerland.  For breakfast:

Fresh fruit cup
Oatmeal
Scrambled egg burrito
Ham
Potato patties
Toast
Fresh squeezed orange juice
Coffee
Yogurt
Danish

And some other selections that I forget.  Our breakfast hostess was a Portuguese woman who emigrated to Canada over twenty-five years ago.  That's one of the things I love about Canada.  So diverse in the many cultures who live in harmony.  So unlike many of the places I've been in the United States where too many people get nervous when they see a woman wearing a hijab or a man wearing a turban.  

On Tuesday we left for Hamilton, Ontario.  Pat's new home.  I would write about that visit but this blog is already too long.  But one thing I can say, we're staying at the best hotel I've ever stayed at in my life.  In fact I've extended our stay by two days.  We won't leave hear until Saturday morning.    The photo at the heading of this blog was taken in downtown Hamilton a few hours ago during a free music concert.  Hamilton is a lovely town.  So welcoming.  Pat has made a good decision to move here.  The photo below is where Pat will live next year when the conversion of the Royal Connaught Hotel is complete into condos.  Pat's condo will be where the sheet is hanging.  

Pat in front of his new front door, the Royal Connaught

Royal Connaught Hotel, Hamilton, Ontario this morning under going conversion

Good times folks.  Life is wonderful!

P.S.

Sorry about the lack of photos and videos but I'm working from my MacBook Air and I don't want to load it down with videos and photos.  I'm inundate you all with photos and videos from my trip when I return home next Tuesday.  I know this week is going to go by fast. 

Toronto, Here I Come!

Pat and I at our quick stop at Niagara Falls last year

The blog header photo above is of the Eaton Center in downtown Toronto.  I took the photo last year when I visited my Canadian Best Pal, Pat. Tomorrow I return to Canada!

I'm always nervous before one of these trips, especially when I have to take a plane.  My friend Larry M. was going to pick me up and take me to the airport but he had a medical emergency.  He's in the hospital now.  Bill will take me to the airport.  

I think I have everything packed.  And yes, I did cut down on my shirts.  Only the one I'm wearing, a spare shirt and a pullover.  Man, it was hard to made that cut.  I probably only need two shirts.

My flight is to Buffalo where Pat will pick me up and we'll spend the night in Niagara Falls at a bed and breakfast called the Greystone Manor. We'll hit the slots at the casino.  And I will see Niagara Falls. Yes, I am impressed with Niagara Falls and plan to take a lot of pictures. We didn't spend enough time there last year.  Pat was in a rush to get to Toronto. I slowed him down this year. He's not as impressed with Niagara Falls as I am.  

I have my passport packed, prescriptions, underwear, toiletries, and (so important) chargers for my iPhone, Apple watch and Macbook Air.  What did I forget?  That always worries me.

Exciting times folks.  I'll try to keep you all updated via my blog.  

Pat and I in the Kensington section of Toronto last year with a "friend"

Arrived in Canada Via Niagara Falls!

Yes, I have been delinquent in my blog postings.  Just having too much fun don't you know (smile).

Pat met me at the Buffalo airport on Wednesday.  I thought we were going direct to his home in Toronto but instead he suggested that we go via Niagara Falls.  I had told him I visited Niagara Falls once many years ago.  I think it was in 1966 and it was sort of me and Bill's "honeymoon" trip after I moved in with Bill.  I always wanted to visit Niagara Falls again.

Well, Pat had a surprise for me.  He booked us a room at the Ramada Inn on the Canadian side of Niagara Falls.  What a wonderful surprise!  The last time I saw Niagara Falls it was a "drive-thru". I stood on the Canadian side and took some Polaroid pictures then we were off to the U.S. via way of New York state and through Pennsylvania.

This time was MUCH different.  I didn't know Niagara Falls was a mini-Disneyland.  Wow!  Pat and I took in all the attractions our old bodies could endure including the giant Ferris Wheel (and it was BIG folks).  We even went to the casino and played the slots.  First time for both me and Pat.  We had $10.00 each to play with.  Of course we lost our whole stake but what the hey?  We can now check off "We played the slots" from our Bucket List.

Well, we visited the casino and entered the Den of Gamblers. Neither one of us had ever been in a casino before or played the slots. But tonight we had ten bucks and we were going to play!  Talk about two neophytes.  What a goofy pair we were. We didn't  ven know how to play the quarter slots.



We found a security person and she was kind enough to find us a "simple" slot machine.  We played, we lost.  Oh well, it was fun.  The lights, the action, the occasional screams of joy as someone actually did win . . . . all made for a wonderful experience.  I don't know that we would ever repeat the experience but we did have fun.  If for nothing else than to prove to ourselves and others that you're never too old to try a new adventure. 

Later we took a ride on the giant Ferris Wheel.  I have to say once we got on that Ferris wheel we had second thoughts but there we were.  I took a video but we both decided not to post it on this blog posting because we were both wailing like scared little girls.  Once was enough.

I did a lot of walking around on my recently healed leg.  Maybe too much but we did cover a lot of territory.  I never know that Niagara Falls was such a "Disneyland" of rides, amusements, restaurants, T-shirts shops and the usual tourist traps.  But fun we had and it was yet another experience we added to the "Ron and Pat Road Show.  

After comfortable night at the Ramada we had a very good, if expensive breakfast at the iHop connected to the hotel ($40 plus for eggs and sausage and pancakes for me - Pat only had the orange juice and coffee).  Oh well, I'm used to it.  I live near Rehoboth Beach, Delaware. 

We checked out of the hotel and began our two hour ride to Pat's home in Toronto, having fulfilled our "Niagara Experience."  

Life is an adventure folks and we are having a grand time.

Niagara Falls 1967 - Our "Honeymoon" Pictures

Me on the Canadian side of the border at Niagara Falls - 1967

I have a new goal set for myself at the beginning this summer, where most of the time I'll be inside Casa Tipton-Kelly, escaping from the heat and humidity of the Delmarva peninsula.  And what might that goal be you ask?  To finally sort out the 80,000 plus photos that I have on my iMac in iPhoto.  My God, I'm running out of time and I should organize these photos so once I'm gone and in the big Bloggerpalooza in the sky, whoever settles me estate will know what to throw out, and throw out is what they're going to do, of that I am sure.

Niagara Falls 1967 (my photo)

So, on this monsoon, rainy Monday I went into "Events" on iPhoto and started to split events.  Here is my first sorted event.  This is the first set of photos, actually slides that I converted into a digital image last year.  These are slides images from our "honeymoon" trip to Canada in 1967.  Yes folks, I had a delayed honeymoon just like I'm having a delayed wedding (49 years delayed).  

Yep!  That's me (far left) and one of Bill's famous "distance shots" - The Niagara River 1967

As you will see from these photos, most of which Bill took of me (we was still very enamored of me), they are all in the "Bill Style" in that they are all taken from a great distance.  Bill doesn't believe in closeups or is incapable of taking a closeup picture.  He still is.  The few times I ask him to take a photo of moi, he takes the camera and starts walking backwards as I'm saying "Where are you going?"  He says "I'm getting ready to take a picture of you."  I say "How about getting closer so I can be seen in the picture?" thus starting "can't you do anything right?" scene.

Niagara Falls and the Maid of the Mist - 1967 - It's hard not to take a good picture of Niagara Falls

I'm sorry to say nothing has changed over the years.  Bill still backs up to take a picture when I ask him.  Oh to have someone like Mark around to take photos, imagine all the great photos I would have now, and not just of me of course.

I took this picture from the tower on the Canadian side - 1967

Oh I remember this trip so well.  We started out by driving to Boston, Mass. Then up through Maine and over the border to Canada.  We stayed in Toronto, Montreal and Ottawa.  Since this was before the Digital Age, I really don't have a lot of pictures.  These are from Bill's old Japanese camera. He bought it in Japan while he was stationed there during his Air Force tour of duty in the early Fifties.  

Bill and Johnson Air Force Base Japan 1954 - I was 12 years old and Bill was 25 - little did I know this was my future husband

One thing that was so memorable about this trip was it was the first time we argued. And yes, it was about driving directions.  Bill got mad at me because he didn't think I was proficient enough in reading the map (he drove).  Well, I wasn't proficient.  In fact I hated reading the map. I wasn't familiar with all those roads.  Give me a break.  An again, this was before the Digital Age and GPS.  

Bill at Mt. Fuju - Japan 1954

I remember one time especially, I think it was on the outskirts of Ottawa, and we just couldn't (or I couldn't) find the way to get to our rental place for that night.  I threatened to get out and walk home. Can you believe it?  Somethings never change.  Oh yes, THOSE WERE THE DAYS.

My future husband Bill Kelly at base of Mt. Fuji Japan 1954