Last night at Niagara Falls was something of a grand finale.  It was my final night at the hotel with that fabulous view.  And, this morning, I took several longing glances and not a few photographs and videos in an effort to create that perfect image. 

Many people visit Niagara Falls for the day or maybe a little longer. I don’t know about the cooler montopmm

Phs, but August here feels extremely busy with an infectious, celebratory ambience.  There are many families with the smallest of children. If you are into screaming babies, this is the place!  It was nowhere near as tacky as I have been led to believe.  But don’t come here if you want to not spend very much!  However, I have no criticism whatsoever.  The city appeared spotless except for occasional litter dropped by visitors.  Gardens with beds of tropical plants and flowers were set in acres of manicured lawned areas. The bus service was frequent and easy to navigate.  The little incline (funicular) railway, which was very useful (and not cheap), croaked yesterday, and a free replacement shuttle bus service was laid on which ran every 15 minutes up to 11 pm.  I visited two attractions yesterday, one I have already described, The Journey Behind the Falls, and the nocturnal river trip to view the fireworks. The pictures below illustrate this daily but, nevertheless, phenomenal event

While exhilarated by what I had experienced on that final river trip, I felt far too exhausted to walk back to my hotel.  Very conveniently, there was a bendi-bus at the stop opposite, which I caught.  This connected perfectly with the shuttle incline bus, which took passengers to where the Incline Railway would have ⁸ terminated at its summit.  I had eaten little that day.  The  restaurant “T.G.I. Fridays” was on my way from where the bus  dropped me off.  A bowl of onion soup and garlic bread did the trick. I wasn’t now going to wake up feeling hungry.  Exhausted after what felt like a long day, I returned to my hotel room and took some final nocturnal shots of the Horseshoe Falls bathed in different colour washes in an attempt to improve on previous similar pictures.

Day 18 of 30 – Moving On.

I took several this morning also.  This is just one featuring the beams of morning sunlight.

“Fittingly,” it rained this morning. Turtle Jack’s had knocked up a take-away croissant as I had run out of time for breakfast.  A taxi took me to Niagara Falls ONT Station.  The rain came down, ×but I avoided another drenching! 

The train is running to time and soon. I shall be bailing out at Syracuse.  Before that, at Niagara Falls, NY, all passengers. were required to remove all their luggage and themselves for inspection at Immigration. We were soon on our way.  Being a  Sunday, there was less freight traffic to impede our progress, and yet again, arrival at my destination of Syracuse was punctual.  Here was a new place for me to explore.

Syracuse is another modern station, but with an adjoining bus terminal.   I have only been on four Amtrak trains so far. However, all have run to time despite running over freight-owned infrastructure.  In the U.S.A., freight (as far as I know) has priority over passenger services.  That’s not the case in Britain where freight is “put inside” for scheduled passenger services to take priority.

I have recently arrived at my hotel at Syracuse.  The taxi driver charged me 30 bucks for 3.5 miles and tried to secure the return work!  The station announcer who rang for the taxi confirmed that this was an appropriate amount.  My first impression of Syracuse is one of slight underwhelment.  After Niagara Falls, this feels so much quieter and less exciting!  But I am hoping that I will find much of interest, rather like I did in Buffalo.  In hindsight, my stay in Syracuse, perhaps, could  have been switched with Niagara Falls.  Then that might have been the perfect prelude to the grandest finale of all, New York NYC. 

The hotel room here is dark but has everything one needs for modern living, including microwave and a massive empty fridge.  All is spotless and works well.  Breakfast is part of  the deal, providing you don’t miss the 09.30 hrs! deadline.   Like at home, I have to make my own bed after the first night!  There is minimal staff. They have run out of town maps, and when the deluge stops, I can begin to explore.  The lone reception girl, Hannah, is helpful. She recommended what appears to be a good Italian Restaurant which although very busy, knocked me up a very acceptable minestrone soup with fresh bread and some kind of oil (which I didn’t need). That has staved off the hunger caused by my inefficient planning for today.  Dinner is booked at Pastabilities for 8.30 tonight.  I have already had the first course!

I don’t think that I am going to encounter many U.K. citizens here in Syracuse.  It doesn’t feel as straightforward as Buffalo. But a good wander around tomorrow should help me get to know the place a little better rather than feeling a bit lost as I am at the moment.  Like Buffalo, Syracuse is an important university city with an emphasis on music and drama.  The area around the hotel is quiet. Pastabilities, on the other hand, is vibrant, busy, and noisy, which over here, I am quite comfortable with.  Apparently, Jo Biden studied law here, graduating 🎓 in 1968. 

Surprisingly, I am not experiencing withdrawal symptoms from having enjoyed four nights at Niagara Falls.  So soon afterwards, all that seems like a dream. Syracuse will, too, when I’m back in Buxton. 

For a Sunday, parts of the town are coming to life. Strings of incandescent light bulbs create a party atmosphere around eateries and along some streets. 

I have arrived at the place recommended to me by the girl at the hotel reception. There appear to be numerous places to enjoy dinner. However, I must be the oldest person here tonight.  The silver hair somehow seems to command good service, warmth, friendliness, courtesy, and willing helpfulness.  I suspect that much of this is what is demanded and expected in the service environment.  Pastabilities are very busy tonight. 

Gosh and darn it!

You couldn’t make it up!

My prescription vari-focals fell onto the floor, unknown to me, as I felt a sickening crunch under my left foot! I was changing for dinner at Pastabilities.  Now, I am feeling a sense of pistability! 

However, I have managed 17 days clear without any major mishap.

Many thanks for reading.  David. 23.55 hrs 18/8/24,  Best Western Downtown Syracuse.