Saturday 5 March
Having checked into our modern but comfortable ‘harbourfront’ hotel in Toronto (it’s actually on Lake Ontario but the Canadians call that the harbour!) we rugged up and strolled around the lake, and the old part of town. Ice skaters, lots of snow and ice and we knew we were in a winter wonderland. We even saw a snow beach and a sunbaker!

We didn’t have to go far for dinner as we found a great little Japanese restaurant which served lovely food and green tea. Guess what, an alcohol free day- not to be taken as a precedent.

Sunday 6 March
Today we did the touristy thing and took a bus tour to Niagara Falls. It was a fantastic day and we learned so much. We drove the golden horseshoe which takes us around Lake Ontario from Toronto to the town of Niagara Falls. Once again, they’re saying what a mild winter they have had. The lake did not freeze this year which is unprecedented.
Niagara Falls is the collective name for three waterfalls which straddle the border between Canada (Ontario) and USA (New York). We were at Horseshoe Falls, and the American Falls and Bridal Veil Falls are on the American side, but they all sort of join up which makes them pretty spectacular.
For Cherrie, this visit was the trifecta.  She has now seen the three great waterfalls of the world – Iguazu Falls on the border of Argentina and Brazil (she saw them from the Argentinian side), Victoria Falls and now Niagara.
Christine last visited the falls 41 years ago, and saw them from the American side. Somewhere she has a photo of herself on Rainbow Bridge, with one foot in America and the other in Canada. It’s a little (read that with the expected cynicism from the editor) more commercial these days. Casinos, every known major hotel brand, tacky upside down houses, water slides, scary house (“’000s have chickened out”), every side show attraction known to mankind, and some not thought of yet, except at Niagara.

But, the water is amazing, and at this time of year the ice, oh the ice. It’s just magical to these Australian eyes.

 

Christine can’t get enough of the snow and ice, like a child she steps into every little bit she can. Cherrie is a skier, and a little more blasé about such things.
We stand in Canada and look across the falls to the USA and Buffalo.

Christine is reminded of the song from ‘42nd Street’ which goes
I’ll go home and get my panties
You go home and get your scanties
And away we’ll go
Mmm-mmm-mmm
Off we’re gonna shuffle
Shuffle off to Buffalo

To Niagara in a sleeper
There’s no honeymoon that’s cheaper
And the train goes slow
Ooh-ooh- ooh
Off, we’re gonna shuffle
Shuffle off to Buffalo

Ah, the memories….
Buffalo also boasts a building with a large electronic signboard, reminding us of Cherrie’s impending birthday

After leaving the falls, we drive along the Niagara River, where there are two massive hydroelectric power plants, one on the Canadian side and one on the American side (bigger, of course).Here we are with the Niagara River behind us

We went to the most charming village called Niagara on the Lake, originally the capital of Ontario. It reminded us both of Port Fairy in Victoria, but bigger.

It was a long day but just beautiful weather, 3◦ and sunny, sunny. Spring has sprung.

Monday 7 March
Another beautiful day, 5◦ and sunny again. The snow is starting to melt and you can see the spring in the step of the locals. They know they have seen the last of the snow and scarves are a little lighter, gloves a little thinner.
Cherrie’s computer screen won’t light up. The computer turns on but the screen stays black. It’s a sickening feeling (Bryan, you know what that’s like, don’t you?) so we find a local computer technician to take it to. He puts it on diagnostics and we leave it with him while we go to explore the city.
Yesterday’s bus shuttle to pick up passengers from other hotels was very useful to us. We were the first pick up and there was another 45 minutes so we not only got the front seat in the bus, we bonded with the driver who sort of gave us a personal city tour. It was a great help today in our decision where to go. Except, of course, it’s Monday so no galleries or museums are open. We’d forgotten the curse of Monday in the northern hemisphere.
Toronto is a lovely city of 2.6m (6.1m in the greater Toronto area) with a great arts scene. There are theatres and concert halls everywhere. This is the home of the national ballet and opera companies, the symphony orchestra and where all the major theatre productions happen, both local and imported. Lots of public art all over the place too.

Evidence of just how cold it does get here is found in so many trees around town which are wrapped up in hessian for winter.

And their boats

Christine’s back is playing up again, so we found a chiropractor who clicked her back into shape. She has a chiro in every port does Christine. Even has an appointment with her New York chiropractor (who she discovered in 2009) on Thursday of next week! The computer shop rang to say they had fixed Cherrie’s computer. Hallelujah! It was a recalcitrant BIOS for you tech heads….it’s all gobbledygook to me. Pick up the computer, walk more around the Harbourfront, buy a ploughman’s selection at the local supermarket and a picnic dinner in the room. Enough of the green tea though – fortunately a local bottle shop provided a very respectable local Cabernet Franc.

Tuesday 8 March
What a wonderful time to be in Toronto. It was snow covered when we got here on Saturday and practically thawed out now. That local spring in the step has positively increased overnight and the duck down is being put away for spring. Unbelievable how quickly the city thaws out. Mind you, you take your life in your hands walking down the street.

That hessian will be coming off the trees this week I reckon.
Boarded the train at 11.30am for the trip to Montreal.
The journey takes us through the progression of the season. The snow increases as we nearer Montreal and we see more iced up lakes and snowed in cars.
We arrive at 4.50pm. Booking.com and TripAdvisor continue to astonish us with their recommendations….this is another wonderful hotel in old Montreal, a great position for a very reasonable rate.

Au Revoir, for now