Stunning Niagara Falls

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Like i said earlier..Toronto is down right freezing at just -2 degrees.

Not here for long though unfortunately, but here to see the mighty falls of the Niagara..which has claimed the lives of many as well as been overcome by many 'daredevils' at that. cRaZy people i must say!

First night in Toronto and well...lets face it, it's the first time seeing snow...we had a snow ball fight. Was like we were little kids again...people in the street must of thought we were crazy! lol but we'd better get some rest for the long day ahead of us...as we had only come to see one thing...that is Niagara Falls and do the much acclaimed Maid of the Mist Tour. (Well hoping to anyway - as we'd soon finds out in getting there that it wouldn't be running during the time we were here!)

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At 6am the bus came to pick us up. The family and i were looking forward to it as this was our first time to Canada and we were told that we may have the chance of seeing the falls frosted over. It had been so cold here that temperatures were reading a cold minus nearly everyday - very different to the temperatures we were familiar with at home - but it felt so good just to escape the hot summer we were experiencing back home. Seems you can never win with the temperature! hehe

After jumping on the bus we were soon on our way to Niagara. After a long drive down the border of USA and Canada we eventually made it to the falls. This is where the bus would be stopping for lunch before making he trip back to Toronto.

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Along the way, we came to the heli-pad. This is where we would get a chance to fly over Niagara Falls. Costing around $180 for my Brother and my Dad which isn't bad. i had an ear infection so didn't go. View from the top was spectacular says my brother. They got a video of it and all and even ventured over to the USA side! Did you know that Niagara is two waterfalls - one Canada and the other USA? Its kinda strange really seeing the lakes and different water levels from USA to Canada.

Lunch was a full buffet set out with salad, seafood, and various meats...it was delicious. After lunch we headed outside to view the mighty waterfall. The waterfall was right outside our doorstep. It was beautiful...couldn't wait to get out to go on the tour we were booked on, but after going outside we were hit with the freezing cold wind. A tower was reading -6 degrees celcius - yikes! No wonder there was so much ice and snow! Don't think il be getting wet right at this moment i don't think lol.

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Well...it appears i'l be somewhat dry anyway...as the Maid of the Mist tour only runs in summer. Unlucky for us as we had already paid for the tour - just hope we can get our money back for it!

Anyway...when the Maid doesn't operate you can watch the daredevils who thought they might defy death by jumping over the falls in a variety of vessels: ie a barrel taken by Anne Taylor, a kayak, large round ball, any others, at the IMAX theatre.These guys are incredible, as some lived to tell their tales...watch for the black cat taken ovr the falls in the barrel with Anne Taylor! Also watch out for one guy who trapezes across the falls like theres nothing underneath him - amazing!

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After viewing the falls it was time to head home along the snowed track back to Toronto. Because it was christmas there was lots of lights and decorations to see along the way to put you in the siritof Christmas!

For this trip i have to admit...We were a little disappointed...as we could't believe our eyes at how small it looked compared to the images we had seen. The expectation you have is so different to when you see it, but anyway it was stunning! We must of taken at least half a dozen photos of the same thing hehe.

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Tip: If visiting Niagara, be sure to know if the Maid of the Mist Tour is operating if thats what you've come to do or be somewhat dissappointed like we were. You still get to see the falls though!!!! :)

....*ring *ring *ring...

here the snow bells? its nearly christmas! Hooray!!!! next stop Vancouver and Whistler for the much awaited white christmas we've been wanting fr years...Australia is just to darn hot most of the time. =P