Nanaimo Art and Stones

Geordie and I stayed a night at a cheap motel in Nanaimo as I didn't feel like driving all the way up to Telegraph Cove so late and in the dark.  So we took a walk to find the elusive supper and found a wild plum tree.  Perfectly ripe and delicious.  We had to climb pretty high as it was pretty picked over all ready but still came out with about 5 each.  So gooooood!

Stone stacking seems to be a West Coast thing.  Vancouverites will know that this happens near English Bay and 2nd Beach like clockwork in the summer.  Here is Nanimo's version with bridges and a pretty painted heart shaped stone.

I think this guy looks like Baron Munchausen from the Terry Gilliam movie.  His name was Frank Ney and while he may appear to be some naval hero of note (and was an RAF pilot), the statue commemorates his time as a politician. He began the tradition of bathtub boat races between Nanaimo and Vancouver, often dressing as a pirate for such events.  

Under Niagara Falls - The Moistening

One of the things I really wanted to do was go Behind the Falls.  Since we were there on the off season there only a few other visitors.  At the entrance you could see the infra-structure made to handle huge lines though. So travel tip: go off season to avoid that nonsense.  Once in, you can go practically underneath the tons of white water careening over the precipice.

Tunnels led to outlooks right behind the water.  The spray was ever changing sometimes it came back through the tunnel enough to soak you.  It was very unpredictable.  The grey through the outlook below is a seething mass of water that was hypnotic in its intensity and nebulousness.

I had a great time at the lower outlook. You can get right up to the water and since the wind was strong and blowing in the right direction you need rain gear.  You get unattractive plastic ponchos (recyclable) to wear or else you get wet. It had a hood but I decided that hoods were for wimps and got happily drenched. Apparently the photo below does not capture my hilarious grinning according to a certain husband.  I was indeed laughing my head off.

Niagara Falls

I was finally able to visit one of Canada's most famous attractions. Maybe THE most famous thing to see. Geordie has seen it before but I was a first timer.  That is, of course, Niagara Falls.  The Canadian side of the falls on the far right of the panorama below is supposed to be the most spectacular.  It is loud, wet and mist shrouded.  I liked the American falls as well which are located to the far left of the panorama. 

Here is a closer view of the American Falls.  The reddish stairs on the bottom left are to the Cave of Winds which was closed because of a rock slide a few days before. Rock slides are common as the falls erode and move further back.  This was taken on Maid of the Mist which may not be operational in the future.

At night the falls are illuminated with colour changing floodlights.  I recommend seeing the falls at different times of the day in order to get a full view and experience of them in different light settings.  The constant mist makes the light diffuse in a very soft way.  Being there in the fall was great as there was no where near the crowds you get in the Summer.

Niagara Falls - The Side Show

On the way to the glorious bit of natural beauty that is the Falls is carny central.  I like Niagara Falls but could really give all the touristy midway crap a miss.  Tacky and kitshy.  But for others it's there thing so i guess I am stuck with it. It was neat for about 40 seconds and then got jarring.  That Toucan below has just removed your soul and stored it in his hat.

Full of haunted houses, 4D, cotton candy, souvenirs, fudge (which was totally bought) and other nonsense.  Below is a fairly typical scene.  It was off or shoulder season so it was pretty quiet.  I can see it really hopping in the Summer. 

No tourist trap area would be complete without a mini-golf course. Especially if it is dinosaur themed with a smoking volcano that periodically spouts fire.  T-Rex there ruled over the whole thing.  The falls were gorgeous but I feel like it detracts from nature's beauty having all this about.  At least it is not physically at the falls themselves, them being a short walk away. 

Downtown Toronto

I have to admit, I am not a fan of Toronto.  I find it a brown and grey concrete jungle with an over taxed mass-transit system and scary crowded freeways.  It is not being improved much with a huge condo boom going on.  It raises the questions: where are people going to park, live, commute.  The mass transit system is already overtaxed. 

Everywhere in and around the downtown core and elsewhere too, these huge condos are going up.  I guess there is a demand for them but it leaves the city feeling like its being built entirely out of identical glassy towers.  It sounds like condos aren't as expensive as they are where I am in Vancouver but its getting pretty close. Hope I don't sound hypocritical!

I wanted to at least go into Top Shop which is new in TO.  For reasons of a Mighty Boosh like nature. If you don't know what/who Mighty Boosh is consult your nearest BBC TV guide.  I did not go in because I think I was the only one who wanted to. I probably would not be able to afford anything anyway.  The downstairs window display was magnificent featuring a life-size orange spotted moose because of Why Not.

Sarah and Aric's Wedding

A few weeks ago Geordie and myself were honoured and privileged to be invited to his cousin Sarah's wedding to her man Aric.  It was a lovely and unique ceremony.  How often do you get to see two people tie the knot in a trolley car from 1952 moving through downtown Toronto.  Ding Ding!

And there is the really happy couple.  YAY!  Not too much to say about that besides heart felt Congratulations and of course Best Wishes!

So it was in our wedding best that we toured around Toronto before and during and after the ceremony until the dinner and reception.  It was neat to see friends and family dressed to the nines on the vintage trolly.  This was the first time anyone had done a wedding like this!