Foto: The impressive Niagara Falls (bron: Ronald van der Veer)
Canada - From Toronto, it’s less than a one-and-a-half-hour drive to the famous Niagara Falls. The Niagara Falls lie right on the border between the United States and Canada. The most well-known and largest waterfall is the Horseshoe Fall, which stretches over 600 meters. The name comes from its horseshoe shape. The other two waterfalls, the American Falls and the smaller Bridal Veil Falls, are both located on the American side of the Niagara River. Around eleven o’clock, we arrive at our hotel in the Canadian town of Niagara Falls. Our room is already available. We drop our bags off. From the seventh floor, we have a view of the river, but not of the waterfall itself. We hadn’t booked a room with a waterfall view. Walking toward the boardwalk, we hear the sound of the waterfall grow louder. The sight of the enormous torrent of water plunging down is breathtaking. So much water is rushing down here. The water crashes about fifty meters below onto the rocks and into the river. The splashing water creates a mist around the falls. Boats with tourists clad in ponchos sail through the mist right up close to the falls. The boats with red ponchos come from Canada, the blue ones from the United States. Via an elevator, we reach the ‘Journey Behind the Falls.’ Upon arrival, we’re handed a yellow poncho — definitely necessary. On the observation deck, the spray from the Niagara Falls splashes over us. From the deck, we have a great view of the Horseshoe Falls from below. Through a tunnel in the rocks, we reach two viewpoints behind the waterfall. The water cascades right before our eyes. The restaurant also offers a beautiful view, with tables arranged on different levels so everyone has a great view of the falls. That’s what it’s all about here. We take the cable car back to downtown Niagara Falls. At the IMAX theater, a film about the falls is shown. On the screen, it shows how someone once went over the falls in a barrel and how a boy survived the plunge when the boat he was in broke down. In the evening, we walk into town from the other side. This area is more about entertainment. Restaurants, shops, and attractions compete with each other in light, design, and sound. A dinosaur hangs by the haunted house, King Kong at the Ripley’s Museum, and a giant guitar at the Hard Rock Café. We continue walking toward the waterfront. It’s twilight now. We board the Hornblower. Again, we receive ponchos — this time red ones. As the boat sails up the Niagara River, the spotlights on the falls are turned on. The falls are illuminated in rainbow colors. The boat sails right alongside the American Falls. The mist and splashing water soak over us — the poncho is very handy. The Horseshoe Fall is also lit up. We return in time to watch the fireworks from the shore — a fun ending to a great day at Niagara Falls.
Banff National Park
Canada - In just under half an hour, we arrive in the tourist town of Banff. We drive through Banff’s main street. From a viewpoint, we can see the characteristic Banff Springs Hotel on the opposite side of the Bow River. Eventually, we are dropped off at ...
City of Vancouver
Canada - Afterwards, we quickly head into the city before it gets dark. When it’s too dark, it’s not good for taking photos. We walk toward the station and the harbor. On the corner stands the Harbour Centre with its distinctive round lookout on the roof (closed ...
Icefields Parkway
Canada - The Icefields Parkway is often called the most beautiful highway in the world. The road is a mountain pass with views of towering peaks and glaciers. Because the view from the bus isn’t equally good on every side, passengers often switch seats during ...
View from the CN Tower
Canada - About a ten-minute walk from the hotel is the St. Lawrence Market, an old market hall from the early 19th century. The market is still held inside the hall. At one of the stalls, we have breakfast. We then walk on to the Distillery District. Here, old ...