Niagara Falls

Thanks to Air Canada, Glen and I visited Niagara Falls 35 years after the first visit we did so as a couple to the falls. This time we had two of Glen's labbies with us.

How did this happen? Well, I blame Glen because he said as the plane taxied to the runway that it was great that we were leaving on time. Mintues later, one of the crew said the toilets weren't flushing so they'd have to fix them. It would take 10 minutes. The maintenance men came on board and sure enough 10 minutes later, the toilets flushed. Then for reasons known only to the man himself, one worker opened the rear emergency door. There was a whoosh then a loud hissing noise. The evacuation shute had deployed.

We returned to the terminal and deplaned. Three hours later, we took off from Calgary knowing we would miss our connection to Buenos Aires. We arrived 20 minutes after the flight to Argentina had left.

Air Canada put us up at the airport Hilton (2 nights) and gave us meal vouchers for the day (but who can get a breakfast for $10 when a glass of orange juice is $5?). It was 2:00am when we finally tumbled into bed. After sleeping in, we got a rental car and headed for Niagara Falls. It has changed over the intervening years but the falls are still the same. We ate in the restaurant overlooking them because it was 3 pm and the restaurant was empty. Just as we paid our bill, the power in the district died. Glen felt it was ironic considering the falls are a major source of power. He gave Tom and George his Tesla vs Edison lecture then we headed toward Queenston Heights.

We saw the huge dams that generate some of the power as well as Brock's Monument. We had to tell the tale of the War of 1812 and who Issac Brock was and what he did on Queenston Heights (died fighting the Americans). Then we passed through Niagara wine country and saw the Inniskillin and Jackson-Tiggs wineries. Niagara-on-the-Lake is still quaint and we saw Laura Secord's house (but not her cow--and no, her original claim-to-fame was not chocolates).

We got back to Toronto and headed to the airport about 10pm. Good thing we did as planes to Tel Aviv, London, and Frankfurt were leaving at the same time. Our plane was not full so we had a seat between us to spread out. Just as well as Glen's TV wasn't working. After a second supper at 12:30am, they dimmed the lights and we used the neck pillows I had bought and fell asleep.

Packing

Today I begin packing for my trip to Buenos Aires.  It will be a brutal flight.  We leave tomorrow at 4pm and arrive in Buenos Aires at 10:30am on Saturday.  The city falls in the eastern time zone which is 3 hours ahead of us.

We have nothing planned for Saturday except settling into our hotel and perhaps napping.  We have three tours organized through the meeting and hope to explore the area around the hotel.  Glen wants to see Eva Peron's gravesite so that is a must do.  Our first tour is Sunday where we take a bus trip around the city.  That will show us what we can explore later.

I hope to blog about what I see.  

Photos

For those reading this blog and wishing to see photos of our trip to Colorado may do so at:

Aurora-April-09

I'm slowly getting back into a normal routine but I miss the excitement of two young boys running around and the hustle and bustle of Geoff and Melissa's lives.  There was never a dull moment, that's for sure.

Next trip is Buenos Aires in May.  Should be fun.

Home

We arrived home yesterday at 3:00 pm.  Amazingly enough, for Calgary, it took us exactly an hour from the time we landed until we opened the front door.  The snow on our lawn is about half melted which was a pleasant sight.

It was a busy flying day yesterday and it took us an hour to work our way through the line at United airlines and the one through security but we were in plenty of time.  I scouted out a place to buy sandwiches for our lunch then we boarded.

The flight was uneventful which was nice.

Today I am doing a laundry, paying bills and generally getting back into the swing of things.  Unlike some, Glen has to work on Easter Monday.  Tonight, Randy Wakelam and his dad are popping in for a visit so that should be fun.

Steamboat Springs

We had a wonderful time in Steamboat Springs.  We drove for 2 hours then had lunch in Dillion at the Smiling Moose--great sandwiches.  Two hours later we were in Steamboat Springs.

Driving through the mountains was so different from Canada.  The Rockies here are rocky and snowy but there is high chaparral country that reminded me of a Zane Grey novel.  Lots of sagebrush and rocky outcrops with hoodoos.  We saw Scottish highland cattle as well as bison and black Aberdeen Angus.  Definitely beef country.  It was weird seeing ranches so high up the mountain sides.

Steamboat Springs is a quaint ski town with some great little shops, restaurants and cafés.  Geoff's favourite coffee shop, Spill the Beans offered me the best Chai Latté I have ever had.  Lots of ginger and black pepper.  Julie, the owner, brought out a white board so the kids could draw while we enjoyed her coffees.

While Geoff went for a run, we walked the main street and checked out the shops.  Later we ate at an Italian restaurant, Riggio's, which catered to kids.  The next morning we had breakfast at Freshies then walked along the Yampa River.  We even checked out the sulphur springs after which Steamboat Springs is named.  The springs made the sound of a huffing steamboat.

Today, being Good Friday, we've been making Easter preparations and tomorrow is Geoff's birthday so we'll be celebrating all weekend.  Too bad we must leave Colorado on Sunday.

Sunny day

Today was a lovely sunny day and I regretted bringing my winter coat to Denver. We went downtown and shopped at the biggest camping store ever. Think the Calgary MEC and triple it. We got Geoff (for his birthday) a shelter tent which can cover a picnic table. We walked from REI to downtown and had lunch in a quaint sandwich shop.



While Melissa, Glen and the boys headed home, Geoff and I found a specialty food store in which we bought some gourmet sausages. Good barbequing tonight.



Tomorrow we are off to Steamboat Springs for a night.

We had a good flight to Denver. There was freezing rain here so the roads were slippery but it was early so not much traffic. Geoff, Miles and I went grocery shopping while Glen, Melissa and Elijah played at home.

Sunday morning we watched Geoff run in a half marathon. He was 10th in his age category and 7 minutes faster than planned.

We're off to the toy store now