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Sunday, April 29, 2018

CANADA DRY!

My week started with a message from my daughter.  "Are you up?"  She had taken Edward to the airport to catch a very early flight to Buffalo, New York, via Nashville.  I was up!  I came downstairs to find her at my door, with the dog. "He missed his flight!" she said, without a trace of sympathy, but as if it were inevitable.  Apparently, he was on standby for the next flight.  It was imperative he arrive on Monday, as he was to make a presentation on Tuesday morning  It was imperative he arrive in Buffalo, as we were going to join him on Thursday!  He missed the next flight.  Apparently, there was something wrong with the ticket, but he was assured of a flight to Chicago, and then one to Buffalo, which would get him in at somewhere around five, instead of eleven in the morning, which he had planned.

"My sister and Jim are arriving on Sunday", said Dana as I got to work.  I reminded him that I would not be landing back in Austin until Sunday evening, but I would make sure everything was in order before I left.   I wondered why I had ever agreed to go on this trip.  Apart from my in-laws arriving on the day I returned, Dana would be alone in the office for two days.  I was not sure I was ready to take this trip, and could not focus on my departure.

However, Thursday morning arrived despite all my concerns.  Samantha had stayed overnight at my house, and we were ready to leave the house by five thirty.  

The airport was tremendously busy.  We checked our bags, and went through security.  When they called us to board, I dutifully stood in group 2, as we had only been upgraded on the second, and shorter, flight.  I was not unduly bothered as we had a nice comfortable seat.  "Why are you standing there?" said my daughter.  It appeared that she had been 'promoted' to group 1, despite my having the status.  I found it all quite amusing, and then when I went to swap lanes, as I knew they would not 'split a party', she said, "And where do you think you are going!"  Our flight was on time, and we boarded the plane quite quickly.  Before long we arrived in Chicago, and made our way to the next gate.  Just before we landed in Buffalo, I asked Samantha with whom the car was rented, and what was the name of the hotel where were were staying.  I had, apparently, failed.  I did not have the papers she had printed, with all the information.  I remembered the car rental company, but the name of the hotel was not in my memory.  I had deleted the email and was now getting 'the look' from my daughter.  As I said, I was not focused on departing from Austin.

Arriving in Buffalo, we walked through to the baggage claim and across the road to the car rental place, where we were asked if we wanted to upgrade to the equivalent, in my opinion, of a bus, as there were two of us with a case each!  I declined.  Obviously unaware that there would be a third person, the salesperson told me that a smaller car would not be comfortable with all our luggage.  We assured him that we did not need a larger vehicle.  I also did not need to purchase more insurance.  "But what if the key breaks in the lock?" he asked, quite seriously.  I assured him that I had checked with my insurance company and was covered for all eventualities.  He did not know that we have experienced a flat tyre, and survived!  Being completely unsuccessful in selling us any additional commodities, he pointed us in the direction of the car.

It did not have a key.  It had a fob, and I could not think of anywhere that it could get stuck, (no answer on postcards required,) and after loading in our two bags, ascertained that there would be ample room for Edward's luggage, should we all depart for the airport together on Sunday.  We sat in the car, and the trusty phone was taken out to plug in for directions, after calling Edward to ask he had any idea as to where we were staying!  

Fifteen minutes after starting the car, we were at the hotel.  Edward had retrieved his emails.  The hotel was actually booked in his name, and they had to get verbal permission so that we could check in!  We were given three key cards, and went to the room to wait for Edward to arrive.  He was saying farewell to his team and would meet us after work.

Once we were all safely established in the room, (one room, which was going to be a challenge, and which caused an interesting look from the receptionist,) we went in search of a Best Buy.  My super-duper new surface was dead, and the charger appeared to be at fault.  A new charger was rather expensive, and the 'geek squad' agent suggested I go to Microsoft to see if they could help.  The lady at Microsoft was a little disappointed, but not surprised, that I was not helped at Best Buy, as I had purchased it from them. However, despite a few comments about how the charger was considered an accessory, without additional warranty, and Best Buy were ultimately responsible for the replacement, as I had only had the blessed thing for a few months, they would swap out the charger. I was most grateful!

The Melting Pot is a restaurant at which I had been tempted to eat on many an occasion, but it is quite expensive, and the menu is not particularly easy to navigate at first glance, in the dim lighted reception area.  As we were on vacation, we decided to give it a go!  I am not sure I would opt for the four courses again, (although I only had one course, and picked at the others,) it was nothing if not interesting.  The main course was a great disappointment, but the cheese and chocolate courses were rather magnificent.  Fondue is all very well, but when you have choice cuts of beef, boiling them is not really a good option!

By the time we were ready for bed, having taken turns in using the bathroom as a changing room, (the door was frosted glass, which was a little odd,) we fell asleep, exhausted.

Friday morning started early.  It was warm, and bright.  We had breakfast and headed towards Niagara Falls.  We wanted to stop and see the rapids, before the falls, but missed the entrance into the small parking lot.  Following Samantha's directions always lead us on a magical mystery tour, and this was no exception.  We saw the 'warehouse district' of Niagara, and some undesirable spots.  However, once she recognised the power plant, and negotiated the route to get us to the 'other side', we came back on to the main road. Parking the car in a small area by the rapids, we walked for about two miles, over the bridge and up to the edge of the American Falls.  It was quite spectacular.  Samantha was a little nervous about leaving the car, as we had not seen any parking signs, and we did not want to come back to find it towed.  Although I was sure it would not, we all got back in and drove to a parking lot.  $5 for the day!  It was worth it for the peace of mind, and security.  

"I do not want to go on the boat!" seemed to fall on deaf ears.  Having been on two boats, with Samantha on two previous trips, it was not something I had thought would be enjoyable.  However, I relented, and bought the tickets.  I was pleased I did!  The Maid of the Mist takes you right into (well not right into, but nearly into) the Falls, and the ponchos provided are only good if you allow them to go down to the ground, and keep all your worldly goods inside the plastic.  You could not get wetter if you dive into the water!  Just colder perhaps!  It was freezing, with the wind whipping the water from the cascading Falls around the boat. Snow was still around the base and the view was quite spectacular.

After deboating, we went on to the observation deck, and then down to ground level. It was time to leave the USA, and walk across to the Commonwealth country, Canada!  I had wanted to walk through the turnstile the last time I had visited Buffalo, but Dana is not one for walking!  Warning signs were posted by the 'To Canada' sign, and we checked that we had all the necessary documentation to go 'International'.  

Half way across the bridge, there was a plaque on the railings, and two flags in the middle of the road.  We stopped before crossing the line, and Samantha expressed a reluctance.  I was coaxing her over, but she continued to waiver.  Edward was unsure as to why we found this so funny.  He was then commissioned to take 'the picture', where I took my daughter's hand, and we jumped into the new country!  Then we ran back and forth across the line, just to make a point!  Edward was still unsure as to why!
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Getting into Canada was a little laborious, as we had to wait to be called, with one person at a time being allowed into the room to be 'processed'.  At least it was not raining.  "Where are you from?  Why are you coming into Canada?  Do you have your green card?  How long will you be?"  All these questions were answered correctly, it would appear, as we were given permission to enter.

The view from the USA is wonderful; the view from the bridge was even better.  the view from the boat was incredible, but the view from the 'other side' was spectacular!  As breathtaking as it was at the border, it got better as we headed along towards Horseshoe Falls, which are the Canadian Falls.  Reaching the top of Horseshoe Falls, I watched as the water cascaded over, and found this to be somewhat calming as well as exhilarating.  I was quite awe struck! We walked, and walked, and walked.  We saw exactly how far into the falls the boat went, and realised we were really quite a long way out!  Nevertheless, it was far enough in!
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It cost three dollars (one each) to leave Canada, and come back across the bridge.  We jumped back and forth, again, and again Edward was unsure as to why.  "So we can say we have been to Canada lots of times", seemed to be an insufficient answer!  As we reached the turnstile, we followed the arrows into the immigration building.  Three men sat behind the desk and asked for our documentation.  "Where do you live?   Where is your country of citizenship?  Okay sir, you can go through.  Green card ladies?"  We showed what we needed to, and were admitted back, 'home'.  I asked if there would be a problem if we wanted to go back later in the day, being that we would be going back and forth, and was told that if we had the correct documentation, it would not be a problem. "Well that was the quickest, easiest and my favourite immigration process ever!", said Samantha.  "I told you so!" I said.
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The car was allowed to stay in the car park until midnight.  As there was no need to move it, we walked to the casino.  The buffet was calling Edward, and it seemed like a reasonable place to eat.  "Join the club and you eat for free", he said as we walked in, just after the security guard asked Samantha, "How old are you!"  When she replied, "31", he was so surprised, he did not ask for ID.  Once we had signed up to become 'members' of the establishment, we were given tickets to eat in the buffet.  The queue was, of course, lengthy, but there was seating for over six hundred people.  The waiting time to be seated was only about ten minutes, and we left Edward to take care of the beverage order, and went in search of dinner. The roast beef looked amazing, and as I had not eaten since breakfast, I was quite hungry.  With a total of ten miles on Samantha's watch calculator, I felt I was entitled to be a little peckish!  Apart from some mashed potatoes and a few more 'sides', I chose not to overeat, and really did not want anything else, apart from dessert.  It was all very delicious, and even moreso as we did not have to pay for anything!  

Once we had decided we had eaten enough, we walked back to the car.  Samantha collected her camera, and once again, we left the USA, and walked across the bridge.  The lights came on at 8pm, and changed colour at about twenty minutes after the hour, then twenty minutes after that.  We stood until nine, just outside the 'official' entry into Canada, as she took photo after photo.  Many people had come on to the bridge, but few went through immigration.  Once Samantha was satisfied that she had enough pictures, we walked back across.  Just as we crossed the half way mark, and stepped across the line, into the USA, the lights changed again, and started to rotate.  The Falls did look amazing in different colours, and my daughter, not really surprising her husband, ran back to get more photos, as the water took on a different aspect.  "What time do they turn them off?" I asked Edward.  "About midnight.  The lights only stay on until then".  "No", I said, "What time do they turn off the water?"  The  Edward look was received!  Like mother, like daughter!  Eventually, we headed back, followed the signs and entered into the immigration hall.  The same three men were sitting behind the desk. We were asked two questions. "What is your country of citizenship?" was the first, as we gave them our documentation.  "Still the same person?", my officer asked.  I replied that I was, and he waived me through.  Samantha was quite excited.  "That was the best ever immigration experience", she said, realising that no one who had not left the USA would ever understand the experiences we had encountered, and especially the experiences she had encountered during her labourious process of receiving a green card!  We walked back to the car, and the temperature had stated to drop, dramatically.

It took us a long time to get back to the hotel as there were roadworks on the Interstate.  Back around the warehouse district we went.  It took us quite some time to get around to the road that eventually took us to the main highway.  'Turn left' said the voice in the telephone.  I got in the left hand lane. "No!" said Samantha, and I swung back into the middle.  'Get in the left lane', said the voice.  I obeyed.  "No!" said Samantha as the cars started to come towards me.  Back and forth I swayed across the road.  I am not too proud to admit that I was the one causing people to hold their breath, but fortunately, no one had to swerve.  On to the motorway we went.  'Stay in the right lane' said the voice.  I moved right.  "NO!" shouted Samantha, I obeyed.  "Yes!" shouted Samantha.  I obeyed.  It was at this time that I thought I had a police car behind me, and waited for the blue flashing lights to start.  About three miles down the road, the street lights came on and I saw that it was an ordinary van, with a roof rack!

I was not tired when I arrived back at the hotel, but after a cup of tea, and a modicum of reality television, I fell asleep.  

Saturday morning started the same as Friday, except it was raining and a lot colder.  Samantha and I went for a walk on the machine in the gym, then went back to the room.  Once ready, we headed down for breakfast, leaving a tired Edward fast asleep.  We had walked a total of fourteen and a half miles the previous day, and had worn the poor boy out!  After breakfast, we made the decision, finally, to return to the Falls, and go into Toronto, until we realised it was a much longer drive than anticipated, and it was, after all Saturday, which meant heavier traffic.  Back to the Falls we drove, and parked in the same car park.  Across the river we went.  "I wonder what these waterfalls look like lit up", said Edward, dryly.  "We can wait and see if you want?" I said, playing along.  "Dunno.  They turn them off later", he said, trying not to smile.  It is this type of comment that makes us realise he is not completely out of his depth with the two English women.  We  stopped at the checkpoint.  "Why are you coming to Canada?" we were asked.  Both Samantha and Edward were wearing caps which had been given to them from her father, depicting the name of a rather expensive watch brand.  "What do you do for a living?  You go first!" he asked Edward.  Mumbling, slightly, Edwards said he worked for a cable company.  "Not Breitling then?"  Once he established that the hat was a mere accessory, he seemed happy to let us in!  We had raced ahead of a bunch of girls who came in giggling behind us.  "Wait outside" they were told.  "One at a time. I don't care if you are together", he said.  It was pouring with rain, and I pointed out that this was the reason why I wanted to get ahead!  

Our first stop was the Bird Kingdom.  A giant aviary.  At first, I wondered why, then we entered the 'large aviary', and I knew.  Birds of all shapes and sizes, but all with wings, flew back and forth, or strutted in front of us.  The place had been 'set up' like a jungle, and it was quite amazing.  

From the Aviary, we headed across to the casino, where we stood in line, in our quest to find an Internet connection.  "How old are you?" said the security man.  Edward answered.  "And you?" he asked Samantha, and she replied.  "I am 57, not that you need to ask", I said.  To my surprise, he said, "Wow, really.  I beat you by a year.  Good on you.  Really?"  I felt rather elated.  After walking around the floor, and not being able to get connected, we left and walked around the back of the building, where surprisingly, we found a signal and checked in for our Sunday flight.  

The boat was one trip I had not wanted to take, although I did enjoy it very much.  The wheel was another trip that I did not really want to take, but I did.  Enjoy it, I did not.  Although the view was spectacular, I was not happy swinging in a pod, an hundred and eighty feet in the air.  The pod before was to house three people, but one lady walked in and out the other side, saying, "I can't do it".  Samantha was waiting for me to do the same, but I was very brave.  The voice that came over the loudspeaker gave us a safety message, and then let us know that we would go round three times, seeing wonderful views of the Falls.  I counted the turns of the wheel.  "This is turn four.  We are going around four times", I shouted, but no one seemed to take any notice.  A total of five rotations were made before they let me off, and I was probably the only person to complain that there were more than promised.  I am not sure I would say it was worth it, but at least I could say I took part!

We stayed in Canada for a few hours, before paying the dollar to get back on to the bridge that led back to the USA.  We jumped back and forth across the line, just so that we could say we had been international travellers several times, and then ran to catch up Edward, who did not play along.  However, he did ask if we wanted to go back to see the lights, as he had heard they look really good from the bridge!

The queue into the USA was short, but the wait was longer than anticipated, as there was a coach party having to go through, one by one, and a couple did not have the correct documentation.  However, once in, we were out very quickly.

We drove back towards Buffalo and stopped at a restaurant.  Longhorn steakhouse.  Of all the restaurants, we stopped at one that we could go to at anytime.  After a forty minute wait, we were seated, and the waitress took our order.  My steak arrived looking like a hockey putt.  A new order was put in.  By the time it arrived back at the table, I was not hungry.  I had eaten all my fries, nearly a loaf of bread, and a large salad, and it was getting late.  I apologised to the manager who brought it over, but she was very upset.  She said she had taken it off the bill, and asked if she could box it up for me.  I told her we were leaving the following day, but she still wanted me to take the boxed dinner.  "Chocolate cake.  Let me give you chocolate cake!" she insisted.  We left with a bag full of steak, fries and lots of chocolate cake.  

Back at the hotel, I got myself ready for bed, set up to make a cup of tea, and then realised that we had nothing upon which to put the cake.  Downstairs I went, in my pyjama trousers, boots and a jacket.  I forgot, for a moment, that I wasn't in Austin, until I received looks of "huh?"  Not wanting to draw any more attention to myself, I continued into the breakfast area, picked up three plates, and walked straight back to the lifts!  Once back in the room, I cut the cake and gave everyone a slice.  I went to get my tea, and came back to the bed.  I set down my tea, and then sat down on the bed, atop the chocolate cake!  I do not know why I left it on the bed, nor do I know why I didn't remember that I had left it there.  Samantha and I could not breathe as we were laughing so much. With chocolate cake all over the seat of my trousers, I looked rather interesting.  Once we caught our breath, I went and cleaned myself up, before returning to bed, having moved the cake.

Sunday morning was cold. So cold, the snow flurried around the area.  Samantha ran outside like a child at Christmas and jumped in the flakes.  It did not last long, but it was enough to create a modicum of excitement.  After breakfast, I sliced the steak and packed up some bread for sandwiches to be made later.  The remainder of the cake, of which there was a large amount, was packed away.  

We packed all the cases in the car, which was deceptively roomy, and headed towards the airport.  Edward took his cases and we bid our farewells.  His flight was two hours before ours.  We drove out of the airport and headed to Walmart to see if they had any last minute souvenirs.  They did not, but we did get some nice outfits for Samantha's friend Cori, who had given birth to a boy on Friday, whilst we were in Canada!  After leaving the superstore, we headed back to the petrol station and filled up the car, before returning it to the rental area.

I had been selected to go through the pre-check line, but Samantha had not.  "You can both go back through the other line, if you want to stay together", said the official.  I declined.  Samantha had no choice.  I didn't want to have to start taking off my shoes, or emptying my bag, so we split up.  Whilst waiting for Samantha to come through security, I called my mother.  

We walked up and down the concourse, and then settled down at the gate.  Samantha took out her crocheting, and saw another woman knitting.  "What ya making?" she asked.  Samantha showed her.  She was impressed.  While I went to the restroom, another lady had taken out her crocheting, and had asked Samantha if she had any scissors, which she did not, but she did have some clippers which the lady borrowed. "She needs to sit over here", I said,  "I know", said Samantha.  "This is the craft corner!"  

As we had been upgraded, we got on the plane first, and took our newly made sandwiches and chocolate cake with us.  "Can I have a gin and tonic?" I requested, when asked if I wanted a drink.  "But I only want half the bottle, please",  The steward laughed.  "But the bottles are so small", he said.  I told him I knew exactly how big the bottles were, and please could I have half!  We watched a movie, had our lunch, and deplaned quickly once landed.  
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Our next flight was on time.  Samantha went to stand in group 1.  "Where are you going", she asked, as I stood next to her.  I was in group 2, again! We sat in the exit row, and ate chocolate cake whilst watching "The greatest showman".  Samantha's crocheting friend sat in front.  Once we landed, she told everyone that Samantha was amazing, and was considering asking for lessons!  I concurred that she was, indeed, very talented!

Edward was at the carousel when we landed, and I sent Dana a message when we had our bags.  He drove down, with the dog, and we loaded all the bags into the car before heading home.

It was an amazing weekend, and one I am glad I partook.  My in-laws did not come to Austin, as my mother in law had broken a couple of toes in a fall last week.  I got home to warm weather, a happy husband, and a place to rest my weary feet!  Despite having a fabulous time, it was good to be home.  Home. Strange as it still feels to say it, I was glad to back in Austin, at home! It is back to work tomorrow, and as Dana was alone for two days, there is bound to be a pile awaiting me.  However, it is warm, and I am hoping that I will be able to spend some time swimming this week, as summer has finally arrived.  Or has it?  No doubt, that will be all part of ............. another story!




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