London to Niagara Falls

10 12 09 Elliana's birthday! Also Canadian Thanksgiving (which we did not know)

We tried to stay away from the freeway and meandered closer to Lake Erie on the way to Niagara Falls. It was a cool, cloudy day. In Tillsonburg we found a coffee place open. Everything was closed otherwise because of the holiday. We passed a lot of barns - some white, red or green. We saw a few windmills in one place. The landscape was flat.

At Ft. Erie - an old fort and a town - the Lake Eire drains into Niagara River opposite Buffalo, New York. The bridge to Buffalo is called the Peace Bridge. Lakeshore Drive follows along the river to The Falls. You can see the water flowing faster and faster. In the distance you can see the mist in the air from Horseshoe Falls. Then you can hear the sound. There was very little traffic so I asked Jalil to stop right by the falls so I could jump out of the car to take a picture. The mist was flying, I got wet and the camera was wet and I jumped back into the car. Jalil was then talking to Laura. She told us about Elliana's second birthday and how well she talks now (in sentences) and that she says she is now "a big girl and not a toddler!" She is also a PRINCESS! Dylan is doing well in school - specially in math. It is so nice to hear from and about the kids!

Once we had checked into Days Inn, we walked to find a place to have dinner. This area - Clifton Hill - was full of NOISY establishments like Ripley's Believe It or Not, Frankenstein loudly trying to get you to have a Burgerking and other stuff. We found a quiet restaurant where I had fish and chips with peas and a beer. Jalil had a pulled pork sandwich with a glass of wine. Afterwards, we walked in the dark down to the river, where we could see the falls. They were lit by flood lights and it was very beautiful. On the way back we passed a huge ferriswheel and Jalil wanted to ride in it. But I stalled saying that I needed a nausea pill first and I thought you would see more in the day light. So it was postponed and actually, never happened.

Back at at Days Inn we went swimming in the pool and sat in the jacuzzi. Jalil really loves sitting in the hot water and is not so interested in swimming. It is a little too hot for me.