Tim pictures the Niagara Falls by morning. It’s a rainy day and unclear where the falls stop and the rain starts. Everything is wet and grey. Tim picks up the rest of the family for a stroll on Clifton Hill. There are many amusement halls and funny pop architecture. The kids recognise more animation figures than Olga.
We go for an American style breakfast to ensure we have enough energy this morning. Then we visit the falls as a family. Olga does not recognise much from her previous visit 14 years ago. It’s still grey, wet and rainy and sometimes we don’t even see the falls from our platform because of all the mist.
We buy tickets to see the falls from behind. We descent with an elevator and enter 130 year old tunnels where we feel the thunderous vibration of the falls.
Unfortunately, the outside observation desk is closed because of falling rocks. However, we already get wet from the inside platforms. There is a huge Chinese group with many selfie sticks and camera’s as well.
We have to head back as our check-out time of the hotel is approaching. But before we get to the hotel Cleo convinces us to visit one of the amusement halls. We buy a pass and try some games.
Then we check-out from the hotel and put our bags in our car, except from our swimming gear as the pool and dozens of slides are the reason we’re staying here. We enter sharp at opening time. Unfortunately, Zeno is still 1 centimeter short from 42 inch, just like yesterday, but he enjoys himself easily with the only slide for kids and the wave pool. Especially the waves guarantee enthusiastic laughter from the little kid.
Cleo has more courage today and tries 3 of the 40+ slides available for her. Tim and Olga try the « extreme racing slides », where you can go down with a mat or tube.
After two hours of water fun, we get dressed and head to the car for a final tour of Niagara. We check-out the Niagara whirlpool first.
Then, we drive to Niagara On The Lake, passing luxurous houses and Fort George, built by the Brittish and occupied by the Americans for seven months.
The town itself is cute. It was once the first capital of Upper Canada, it has many colonial style buildings and a famous ice cream shop. Uncle Dave recommended it to us, so we have to try it. There are complex flavours, all sounding delicious and it’s hard to choose. We finish the icecream at a bench outside in the sun. The rain is gone and it’s warm today!
Then, it’s time to head to Toronto. It’s 1,5h drive, but Toronto is extremely busy, and we arrive almost an hour later at 16:30 at our appartment in the city center. Olga disapears inside for 15 minutes while kids and Tim don’t hear from her. After 15 minutes Olga is back with instructions and a beeper. We have parking spot P3-3224 and our beeper opens the garage door. The parking is a maze, but we manage to find our spot. We carry everything up in one go. We’re on the eight floor with a nice view over the railway and the city.
It’s 15 a minutes walk to the aquarium. Toronto gives true big city vibes with its skyscrapers all around us. First impressions are safe and clean and modern.
In the aquarium, there are several exhibits such as Canadian Waters and the Rainbow Reef. We spot an octopus, turtles, jelly fish, sharks, piranhas, sea horse… It’s quite interactive, we can feel the electric shocks from the eel, there are funny photobooths inside aquaria.
We could have spent the whole evening in the aquarium, but at 19.00 we’re expected in the 553M high CN Tower. The elevator stops at 350M height. There are various viewing areas, including an exterior viewing platform and glass floors on the lowest floor of the extension, allowing us to watch 350 meter down.
Both the tower and aquarium were part of the Toronto City Pass we bought because tomorrow’s museums are also included. It were funny bonus activities in Toronto.
We end the day at another Canadian classic: Boston pizza. Can’t see we are fans of the sports bar atmosphere but the food is okay. Tim finds some final energy to take some night pictures, and we call it a (long!) day.
