July 1, Day 5

Breakfast on Day 5...July 1, 2008
Buffet at the Marriott Lakesview, with a beautiful view out of our window of...

the Canadian side of the Falls, Niagara. You can see the Niagara River fastly approaching the top of the falls before plummetting 185 feet to the base, at Horseshoe Basin.

July 1, 2008 is the 142nd birthday of Canada as a country...their equivalent to our 4th of July! This is why we have included the maple leaf Canadian flag in today's blog ;) !

Here's Bob standing at the edge of Queen Victoria Park, a beautiful park where many people of all nationalities gather for various excursions in the area. This is a full day for us, with our tour including 4 main attractions: Skylon Tower (in the background), Journey Behind the Falls, Niagara Park Butterfly Observatory, and (the BEST...) "Maid of the Mist" tour of both Falls!

Skylon Tower is located a breathtaking 775 feet above Niagara Falls, and from the observation deck, it allows you to see in all directions for approximately 80 miles! On a clear day like today, we can see all the way to Toronto.

This picture, taken from the Skylon observation deck, provides a great view of both the American and Bridal Veil Falls (pictured to the left,on the U.S. side) and Canada's Niagara Horseshoe Falls (located on the far right).

Bob and Heather (almost FOUR YEARS!) on the Skylon's Deck, with the tip of Niagara Falls in the background...MAGNIFIQUE!!!

Another view of Niagara, with a great perspective of the Niagara River (upper left) picking up fury before plunging off the edge into the basin below. We heard so many crazy tales of people in barrels and homemade rocket'shaped containers attempting to "conquer" the Falls...11 out of 16 survived, and the first was a 63-year-old woman, Annie Taylor, who was the first to attempt (and SURVIVE) the plunge in 1901. She even took her kitten with her!

American (left) and Bridal Veil Falls (right) travel only 110 feet below to land on dolamite capstone which has eroded away from near the top. Niagara falls 185 feet, and both Falls were believed to have been formed 12,500 years ago!

We were all given yellow rain slickers to "protect" us from getting soaked as we travelled through several underground tunnels to get closer views of the powerful falls and vessels carrying 600 passengers each (every 20 minutes...each at $14/person!) venturing toward the base of the deafening Niagara waters!

One of many tunnels leading to portals where we were as little as 7 feet behind the raging water falling in front of us...

Pictures do no justice, and cannot begin to convey, the tremendous force and thundrous noise these falls make!

Hey Bob..."watch your step"...it's REALLY WET!

The people in their slickers in the foreground give some sort of size perspective to the huge Falls above.

The "Maid of the Mist" tour boats seem to get tossed around like toys in a child's bathtub due to the force of the waters falling, and the currents they produce.

This pic was actually taken PRIOR to the tunnels and portal-viewings, and the slickers AREN'T WET...YET!

They "ain't seen NOTHIN' yet!!!"

NOW THEY'RE GETTIN' TO SEE SOMETHING REAL SOON!

This is lunch break (and souvenir, ''let's sock-it-to'm" time) after Journey Behind the Falls. I was quite amused at this group of Middle Eastern ladies, who were gathered around, and VERY FASCINATED about, the large and well-endowed moose out front!

...here is what they were so amused about, if you MUST know! :)

Before travelling onto our 3rd site-seeing event, the bus driver let us stop at an overlook where we could better view the "Whirlpool Rapids" of the Niagara River, over which people can ride an 1800-ft. cableway car carrying them 250 feet across the Niagara Gorge. Also available are helicopter rides over the Falls, and many other costly choices!

Whirlpool Rapids

I don't think I'll straighten my spine for a WEEK!

Ah yes...Bob's personal FAVORITE...the Niagara Parks Butterfly Conservatory! Here he is getting friendly with a pink "popsicle plant," but what I like to call "monkey's tail plant!" Here at the Conservatory, there are over 2000 free-roaming butterflies of all colors, makes, and models! Some were even very FRISKY (if you know what I mean)! Over 40 different species are there, and they really are amazing!

This Canadian chap was wearing a bright red Canadian soccer shirt, and I really believe the butterflies had a special affection for him. This is just one of a few pics I took...this gorgeous specimen landed RIGHT BETWEEN HIS EYES!

another of the blue butterfly species

I snapped this on the bus on the way back to our last attraction, our FAVORITE OF ALL, the infamous "Maid of the Mist" boats that take you nearly under the Niagara Falls and you get REALLY SOAKED!!!!!!!

Bob and I decided to gather at the aft-end of the boat, as it was less crowded. It turned out to be a terrific spot for great photographs (something WE NEED MORE AND MORE OF!).

Bob had more difficulty figuring out just HOW to put this dog-gonned contraption on! (I think he was confused because the YELLOW slickers had the emlem on the BACK...but these BLUE slickers have the emblem on the FRONT!)

He's gettin' it...

Ah...YESSSSS!

I bet you all know by now...AMERICAN FALLS!

(there will be a test later!)

yes, you are CORRECT! This is STILL the American Falls!

cool rainbow to the left of Niagara!

lovely 'do

It DOES look like Bob is wearing SHOULDER PADS!

It was a WONDERFUL DAY...after the excursions, we went back to the hotel, changed, and went to IMAX Theatre to see "Niagara: Legends and Daredevils" about all the foolish stunts people have tried (and sometimes accomplished). Dinner was delicious at an Italian restaurant named "Casa d'Oro"...now blogging, and FINALLY ready to go to bed!!!!!