I have lived in Niagara Falls, Canada since 1973. Needless to say, I've seen many changes, but the raw beauty of the falls themselves remains unchanged. Last weekend I decided to take a walk near the falls. Locals often avoid the tourist areas, and it had been too long since I'd been there. I wanted to see, up close, what had changed.
Let me first give you some background. The first house I purchased with a friend, in 1975, was just a few streets from the falls. In those days buildings were a maximum height of six storeys, and the skyline near our home was dominated by an observation tower. The photo above was taken last weekend, and you'll see that same tower tucked in as the second building on the left, with the white column and the pod on top. Now our tallest hotel in Niagara Falls, the Hilton, stands 58 storeys high. Times have changed.
Here's another view of that tower, looking up from the brink of the falls. Although more visible, it's still smothered by large hotels.
As a local I have the advantage of knowing where to park for free, so I started up river from the falls, but below those hotels.
Many families and couples were out enjoying the unseasonably warm weather. This couple quietly snuggled together, oblivious to those around them. They looked so content that I held back from going to the water's edge as I didn't want to disturb them.
I'm still at the upper river here, and you'll see it runs quite choppy over the rocks. Further up the Niagara river there are many warning signs for boaters, to avoid them ever coming this close to the falls.
When commercial casinos were legalized in Ontario in the 1990s, Niagara Falls opened its first casino in 1996. It was intended to be a temporary casino until the permanent one was built. The one you see in the photo above is the second casino - the "permanent one" - opened in 2004. However, the temporary one is also still operating.
In 1994 a referendum was held in Niagara Falls to decide whether or not to bring casino gambling to Niagara, and I voted against it. However, I now realize it is what has helped revitalize Niagara Falls and has kept this city afloat. When I first arrived in Niagara, our tourist season was said to be 100 days; basically through the summer. I think it's safe to say Niagara Falls is now a year-round destination. There was certainly no shortage of tourists when I took this walk, mid-November. Yet again, times have changed.
Niagara Falls certainly has its fair share of tacky tourist activities and souvenirs. This ferris wheel can be seen in the skyline and is at the centre of the commercialized area that I don't enjoy.
At the point where I took this photo, I'm looking across to the brink of the Canadian Horseshoe falls. It's common to see rainbows at the falls, and that day was no exception. However, it was the first time I'd ever been there wearing my Ray Ban polaroid sunglasses. Wow, that company should do its commercials there as the rainbows looked amazing through my sunglasses!
I took this photo at the brink of the Horseshoe falls, the point closest to the falls, and tourists were everywhere. When I first came to Canada every tourist had a camera hung around their neck, or more than one for most Asians. Now most people use cellphones to take photos, and selfie sticks could be seen everywhere! The cameras may have changed over time, but the tourists react with the same enthusiasm.
This is the backdrop for the previous photo, showing part of the Horseshoe falls, and those are birds on the photo, not just black marks. There are always lots of birds there.
This is the American falls, which are down river from the Canadian Horseshoe falls. You'll again see a rainbow on the left, and one of the Hornblower boats that takes tourists up to the base of the Horseshoe falls. If you keep in mind those boats hold up to 700 people, it will give you a better perspective of the scale of these Falls.
The Maid of the Mist boat company started its boat rides at the falls in 1846. After so many years of the same company doing these boat rides, the contract was awarded to the Hornblower company just a few years ago. Locals still call it the Maid of the Mist boat ride, as some changes are just not that easy to accept.
It then needs to use a lot of engine power just to maintain its position at the base of the falls, to counteract the force of the water trying to push it away from the falls. Here you'll see a double rainbow (the second is over the boat); these are not as common as the single one.
Down river from the American falls is the newest attraction - a zip line. At the top of this building you'll see four people waiting to be released. They show as just dark dots in openings at the top at this point.
Maybe this photo makes it easier to find them in the earlier photo.
This is the view they get, as they travel towards the Horseshoe falls.
They first pass the American falls
And then continue on towards the Horseshoe falls
Finishing their journey at a landing to the right of the falls. The experience only lasts a few minutes and currently costs $56.50.
Near where my car was parked, I saw one of the hundreds of structures placed ready for the start of the Winter Festival of Lights, which has its opening ceremonies tonight and runs until the end of January.
Some days it's good to remind myself of the beauty that lies here in Niagara. I thoroughly enjoyed this walk.
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