Further evidence that we are either totally dorky or just easily entertained: I can report that we thoroughly enjoyed sleeping in another country. Honestly, this is probably due to the fact that our hotel room came with Sleep Number beds, and we got a big kick out of pumping them up or down to find that all-important, exact level of maximum comfort (this ranged from "hard as a board" for Husband to "marshmallow" for Riley). In the morning, Derek and Riley amused themselves by leaping between the two beds, acting, in Derek's own words, like "Godzilla on too much espresso." (When I'd had absolutely enough of their shenanigans in close quarters, I sharply forbade them from continuing to behave like "spastic goats"...which everyone instantly deemed "a great name for a band!" Sigh.)
Clearly we needed to get our day started, so it was time to leave the hotel and commence walking. Our ambitious agenda encompassed two countries but one firm goal: to cross Rainbow Bridge to the New York side of the Falls and survey all that majesty from the American perspective. In what is becoming a theme of our trip so far, we had progressed about 3 blocks from the Radisson when Derek (who obviously had the best-working brain of the bunch that morning...perhaps Husband and I should have stopped at one of the FOUR Starbucks outlets we had already passed in 5 minutes of foot travel) suddenly asked, "Did you remember our passports?" Crud. But I'm SOOO glad he mentioned that before we got any further into our journey! After I traipsed back to the hotel and retrieved our proof of citizenship, we pressed onward. Strolling into the U.S. felt kind of funny, and of course we did the obligatory "Look at me, I've got one foot in each country" thing that I'm sure everyone does, just because they can. The view from the bridge is nice, and the breeze is even better, but the real surprise lay in how much park space and how many scenic spots there were to find on the New York side. Much like the previous night, we oohed and aahed at the roiling rapids, and the sheer volume of water cascading over the enormous cliff, and the pounding on the rocks so very far below.
But then, the moment had arrived to ride the famous Maid of the Mist boat to the foot of the Falls. Feeling oh-so-stylish, we donned our flattering blue plastic ponchos and left the dock to chug our way into the mist. And got almost-immediately D-R-E-N-C-H-E-D. At times it seemed like standing in a driving rainstorm, with the wind blowing the drops into your eyes so fiercely that you couldn't even open them! Even when you could gaze around, you were standing in the world's largest shower, under a massaging showerhead set on high so that it continuously pelted you with a cold stream of water. Being that close to such an unbridled force of Nature was astonishing...and a little bit frightening. So how could you follow that amazing experience? Why, keep your charming poncho for a few more minutes and climb the stairs next to the Falls, of course...more wind, more water, but another very beautiful vista. Having soaked ourselves to the skin (ponchos or not), and satisfied with our brief return to American soil, we trekked back to Canada to dry off, get out of the heat for a while, and rest a bit.
One last item remained on the to-do list before we could vacate Canada: to see the Falls lit up after dark. In the meantime, Derek naturally required feeding again, so we sought a non-budget-breaking dinner. Believe it or not, we stumbled across a small Sushi Stand trying to sell off their stock for the day...at 1/2 price. Score! Then we parked ourselves next to the railing to wait for the light show. And, what can I say--it's water, it's different colored lights...we were underwhelmed. Also, TIRED (it takes a lot out of you, meandering back and forth between countries, you know). Day 2 in Canada was a ragingly good time, but right now, it's "hello, good old Sleep Number"....and good night!
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