Mon voyage (day 2): "And across the street from that Starbucks, in the exact same building..."
There were lots of goings-on this day, so this will be looooooong, so beware!
Thursday morning, I awoke refreshed, albeit a bit sore in the neck from sleeping in a bed that is not mine. For breakfast, we had what any people who have had pizza the night before should have... the rest of the pizza, of course! I planned out what I had in mind for the day, and once everything seemed to be in order, Phil and I headed out for the lovely Niagara Falls.
Nostalgia was really starting to flood over me on the way there. [A bit of background for everyone, the first person I ever met from the Internet lived in Buffalo, and it was an interesting experience, as my friend Melanie can attest to... I will have to share the whole story someday!] I had listened to Erasure the day before, and was now driving to the same place where I had first met and kissed Erasure-boy. *shakes head*
We took back roads all the way into Buffalo, which was an interesting experience for me. Got to drive through all sorts of country-ness, and got to listen to Lewis Black, The End of The Universe, which is, of course, an amazing comedy album :) Then, we hopped on to 190 and before we knew it, we had arrived at Niagara Falls! Mind you, I have been to Niagara Falls twice before, but I absolutely love it there... :)
We parked in the lot at the Falls, where the lady collecting the parking fees was really awesome and nice :) Then, we followed the signs to the pedestrian walkway to Canada, where we got to the turnstile and... saw a padlock. *scratches head* And we were confused. We decided to go back and ask the parking lady what was going on, because it's not like Canada's a bike shop or something, they don't close down for lunch breaks or anything like that, ya know? She tells us she doesn't know what's going on, but maybe we have to go inside the building? So we head back over to the building (trying not to get knocked over by the wind, mind you!), and pass all of the "do not enter" signs on the doors... But, this other random guy comes over with an official of some sort, shows the official the padlock, and the official moves the other side of the turnstile, and lo and behold, we have entry into Canada! *slaps forehead* D'oh!
So we walk across the Rainbow Bridge and see the beauty that is Niagara Falls during the winter... The Falls were partly iced over, and the waters below the Falls were a mixture of snow and ice... If I ever thought the Falls were beautiful in the spring and summer, I think seeing them in the winter takes the cake... How breathtaking! So I took some pictures (which I will hopefully be able to get developed this week!) and we moved on...
From there we headed on over to Planet Hollywood, although I paused briefly to take a picture of the Mountie statue (which only Melanie can truly understand, lol). By the time we get to PH, it's about 1 o'clock, so it was pretty empty, being a weekday. The guy who seated us was really nice, and took extra care to point out to us where the bathrooms were (how nice!). Our waitress, Renata, was a total sweetheart, and she also took extra care to point out to us where the bathrooms were (is this an epidemic in Canada? lol)
We each got sour apple martinis in collectors glasses and ordered up some food. The martinis had limes and umbrellas with them, and oh man, they were sooooooooooo good... *dies* Possibly the best ever! And the food was scrumdidilyumptious :) While we were waiting to be served, I pointed out to Phil my favorite thing about that Planet Hollywood - the original dolls from Spaceballs that Dark Helmet plays with, in a glass case on one of the walls (yes, I'm a dork, so sue me!)
After we paid, we headed over to the Hard Rock so I could get myself a shot glass for my collection. And from there, we browsed random gift shops and walked up the street with all of the horror show-type things, which I still don't get... I mean really, who goes up to Niagara Falls to walk through some spooky haunted-house-type thing? lol
I bought a few little goodies while I was oot and aboot - chocolate maple cremes (mmmm!), caramel-filled chocolate bunnies, gum, another shot glass (of course!), and some catnip spray for the cats back home (gotta remember the pets!) I even got to go to Hy & Zel, which is where my parents took me for Claritin last time I was at Niagara Falls, lol... Oh, and Phil decided to cross a street when the light was about to turn green, and when it did turn green, he stopped in the middle of the road, and just sort of stared at the oncoming cars for a moment... Some people you just can't take anywhere, you know? lol
We made our way back toward the Rainbow Bridge, but first, I wanted to make a pit stop in this insane little Hershey store that they have. We walk in and they are playing Aqua, which makes me want to jump up and down as it is :) There's lots of chocolate everywhere, but finally I settle on this little tin can of chocolate syrup, because it looked funky and I liked it :) We went to the register, where I ordered the thing I really wanted - a Hershey's chocolate shake of death (as I called it, at least!) It was like drinking a Frosty from Wendy's, except ten thousand times better... *dies* The lady warned me about the dangers of trying to drink the thing, but I persisted and eventually overcame the chocolate beast :)
So we trekked back over the Rainbow Bridge, and got to the customs area, where you have to pay 50 cents to get back into the US (I mean, seriously, you know?) My second quarter didn't go through properly, so I got pelted in the stomach by a metal bar trying to walk through, but the second time it worked. I was asked to declare everything that I brought back with me, to which I was like, "Everything??" The guy looked like he wanted to laugh but didn't, and asked me to describe in general what I bought, which I did. Having gained safe passage into the US, we hopped back into the car and went to Buffalo to wander the mall for a bit.
Not too much excitement at the mall, except for this one girl at Waldenbooks who I was totally smitten with. I forget her name (which I am disappointed about!), but she had dark hair and deep, beautiful eyes, and she was smiling and joking with me for much of the time I was there, and she conveniently reappeared in the same places that I was... Of course, it could just be coincidence, but I'll live in my dream world and think that it wasn't, and that she was hitting on me :)
I bought a few books and a few used CDs, Phil bought a game, and we headed back to our destination, making a brief stop at KFC/Taco Bell for some eats :) When we got back, we finished off the second half of Cowboy Bebop (which I must say I was quite taken by!), and I called it a pretty early night because I was just exhausted. After I planned out the next day's route, I crawled to my bed and passed out, ready for the adventures of another day :)
Coming soon... Meine Reise (day 3): "How I learned to stop worrying and love the snow..."
Thursday morning, I awoke refreshed, albeit a bit sore in the neck from sleeping in a bed that is not mine. For breakfast, we had what any people who have had pizza the night before should have... the rest of the pizza, of course! I planned out what I had in mind for the day, and once everything seemed to be in order, Phil and I headed out for the lovely Niagara Falls.
Nostalgia was really starting to flood over me on the way there. [A bit of background for everyone, the first person I ever met from the Internet lived in Buffalo, and it was an interesting experience, as my friend Melanie can attest to... I will have to share the whole story someday!] I had listened to Erasure the day before, and was now driving to the same place where I had first met and kissed Erasure-boy. *shakes head*
We took back roads all the way into Buffalo, which was an interesting experience for me. Got to drive through all sorts of country-ness, and got to listen to Lewis Black, The End of The Universe, which is, of course, an amazing comedy album :) Then, we hopped on to 190 and before we knew it, we had arrived at Niagara Falls! Mind you, I have been to Niagara Falls twice before, but I absolutely love it there... :)
We parked in the lot at the Falls, where the lady collecting the parking fees was really awesome and nice :) Then, we followed the signs to the pedestrian walkway to Canada, where we got to the turnstile and... saw a padlock. *scratches head* And we were confused. We decided to go back and ask the parking lady what was going on, because it's not like Canada's a bike shop or something, they don't close down for lunch breaks or anything like that, ya know? She tells us she doesn't know what's going on, but maybe we have to go inside the building? So we head back over to the building (trying not to get knocked over by the wind, mind you!), and pass all of the "do not enter" signs on the doors... But, this other random guy comes over with an official of some sort, shows the official the padlock, and the official moves the other side of the turnstile, and lo and behold, we have entry into Canada! *slaps forehead* D'oh!
So we walk across the Rainbow Bridge and see the beauty that is Niagara Falls during the winter... The Falls were partly iced over, and the waters below the Falls were a mixture of snow and ice... If I ever thought the Falls were beautiful in the spring and summer, I think seeing them in the winter takes the cake... How breathtaking! So I took some pictures (which I will hopefully be able to get developed this week!) and we moved on...
From there we headed on over to Planet Hollywood, although I paused briefly to take a picture of the Mountie statue (which only Melanie can truly understand, lol). By the time we get to PH, it's about 1 o'clock, so it was pretty empty, being a weekday. The guy who seated us was really nice, and took extra care to point out to us where the bathrooms were (how nice!). Our waitress, Renata, was a total sweetheart, and she also took extra care to point out to us where the bathrooms were (is this an epidemic in Canada? lol)
We each got sour apple martinis in collectors glasses and ordered up some food. The martinis had limes and umbrellas with them, and oh man, they were sooooooooooo good... *dies* Possibly the best ever! And the food was scrumdidilyumptious :) While we were waiting to be served, I pointed out to Phil my favorite thing about that Planet Hollywood - the original dolls from Spaceballs that Dark Helmet plays with, in a glass case on one of the walls (yes, I'm a dork, so sue me!)
After we paid, we headed over to the Hard Rock so I could get myself a shot glass for my collection. And from there, we browsed random gift shops and walked up the street with all of the horror show-type things, which I still don't get... I mean really, who goes up to Niagara Falls to walk through some spooky haunted-house-type thing? lol
I bought a few little goodies while I was oot and aboot - chocolate maple cremes (mmmm!), caramel-filled chocolate bunnies, gum, another shot glass (of course!), and some catnip spray for the cats back home (gotta remember the pets!) I even got to go to Hy & Zel, which is where my parents took me for Claritin last time I was at Niagara Falls, lol... Oh, and Phil decided to cross a street when the light was about to turn green, and when it did turn green, he stopped in the middle of the road, and just sort of stared at the oncoming cars for a moment... Some people you just can't take anywhere, you know? lol
We made our way back toward the Rainbow Bridge, but first, I wanted to make a pit stop in this insane little Hershey store that they have. We walk in and they are playing Aqua, which makes me want to jump up and down as it is :) There's lots of chocolate everywhere, but finally I settle on this little tin can of chocolate syrup, because it looked funky and I liked it :) We went to the register, where I ordered the thing I really wanted - a Hershey's chocolate shake of death (as I called it, at least!) It was like drinking a Frosty from Wendy's, except ten thousand times better... *dies* The lady warned me about the dangers of trying to drink the thing, but I persisted and eventually overcame the chocolate beast :)
So we trekked back over the Rainbow Bridge, and got to the customs area, where you have to pay 50 cents to get back into the US (I mean, seriously, you know?) My second quarter didn't go through properly, so I got pelted in the stomach by a metal bar trying to walk through, but the second time it worked. I was asked to declare everything that I brought back with me, to which I was like, "Everything??" The guy looked like he wanted to laugh but didn't, and asked me to describe in general what I bought, which I did. Having gained safe passage into the US, we hopped back into the car and went to Buffalo to wander the mall for a bit.
Not too much excitement at the mall, except for this one girl at Waldenbooks who I was totally smitten with. I forget her name (which I am disappointed about!), but she had dark hair and deep, beautiful eyes, and she was smiling and joking with me for much of the time I was there, and she conveniently reappeared in the same places that I was... Of course, it could just be coincidence, but I'll live in my dream world and think that it wasn't, and that she was hitting on me :)
I bought a few books and a few used CDs, Phil bought a game, and we headed back to our destination, making a brief stop at KFC/Taco Bell for some eats :) When we got back, we finished off the second half of Cowboy Bebop (which I must say I was quite taken by!), and I called it a pretty early night because I was just exhausted. After I planned out the next day's route, I crawled to my bed and passed out, ready for the adventures of another day :)
Coming soon... Meine Reise (day 3): "How I learned to stop worrying and love the snow..."