Did you now that Home Hardware began in St Jacobs and their headquarters are still based here along with the Home Hardware museum?
Tuesday, August 13, 2013
Monday, August 12, 2013
a few pics around St Jacobs
There is a large Mennonite population in this area of Ontario. Have seen these signs but couldn't get a picture fast enough of the real thing. Perhaps on the way back. In St Jacobs there is an info centre about the Mennonite and Amish settlements and their history and beliefs. Some arts and crafts, mainly quilting, furniture making and such.
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| Downtown St Jacobs |
Did you know?
That Canada has an official tartan? Known as the maple leaf tartan and became an official national symbol in 2011. Go figure. The four colours reflect the colours of the maple leaf as it changes through the season. Green, gold, red and brown. Looking on wikipedia I discovered that all of the provinces and territories, except for Nunavut have a regional tartan. Learn something new everyday.
Conestoga or Conestogo
St Jacobs is in the Kitchener/Waterloo area, somewhere close to Conestoga. My sis suggested checking out the farmers market and the arts and crafts in the area. The market is not open on Fridays so we checked out the little town, had a snack and then looked for a bed and breakfast. We found the 1842 B&B, a restored blacksmith and wagon factory adjoined with an art studio with works by the owner. We had a nice breakfast the next morning with a couple from Ontario and another couple from Switzerland who were just starting on a month long visit to Canada.
Sunday, August 11, 2013
St Jacobs, Ontario
Not on our map but just outside of Kitchener. Why St Jacobs? You'll just have to wait and see.
last day in Niagara Falls
We have spent 3 nights here and it is time to get out of Dodge. We had a good look, we did Niagara proud and have had enough of the crowds. Where will we go next?
Hear no evil
Ask no questions, and tell no lies. Met up with our friend Cindie, a real live Ontarionian. Nice dinner, nice drinks, nice weather, good times.
Shuffling off to Buffalo
Can you imagine that, 50 cents to cross the border by foot? Free to come back. A nice 45 minute walk over to Niagara, New York to use our free $45 each free gambling money that came with the hotel room. Sorry about the no captions, seems to defeat the ipad. My kingdom for an operation system. All because I want total control, refuse to use the social media options.
Crazy town
I have vague memories of Niagara Falls but this I remember. Clifton Hill is where the action is. A little more low key then, now...what? Vegas style. Everything just that much bigger. There are hundreds of things for families in Niagara Falls, one big playground. Kids would love it. There are a variety of wax museums, haunted houses, arcades, dinosaur mini-golf with sound effects, Believe or Not stuff, can't help wanting to be kid.
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Saturday, August 10, 2013
Maid of the Mist
Maid of the Mist is North America's oldest tourist attraction, since 1846 they say. Another wet experience. Long lineups but went quickly and they take you right to the foot of the falls. Impossible to get pictures when in there because of the water. Another excuse to get a water proof camera. Niagara's Fury is a 4-D movie about the creation of the falls. They herd you into a dark, round room. The temperature drops, water bubbles and sprays, snow falls, the platform tilts and trembles and rumbles. Very touristy but entertaining. The fourth option, the White Water Walk we passed on, had our fill.
Full meal deal
We came to see the falls so we did all that there was to offer. The Adventure pass got you The Journey Behind the Falls, Niagara's Fury, Maid of the Mist and the White Water Walk for just under $50. Which I thought was a fair deal considering how expensive everything else is. So much so we started ordering from the senior's menu.
The Journey Behind the Falls is below. Elevator descends 150 feet through the bedrock to tunnels leading to two different portals that place you behind the falls. Very loud and wet. I have a great video of it. For the life of me I am unable to post it using the ipad. Have been at it for a few days and if/when I figure it out, I will post it. There a couple observations decks at the foot of the falls. Lots of wind and water flying at you. You are so close, right there and can't help going oooooh. It really is something, so much water that never stops, so much power. Thundering is the word.
Friday, August 9, 2013
OOOOO-INSPIRING
It has been 30 years since I have been in Niagara and of course it has changed. It was a bit of a carnival at that time, now is a cross between Vegas and a carnival show. Big fancy hotels, lots of restaurants, casinos, lots of people and expensive. For us, it is all about the falls.
Thursday, August 8, 2013
Soon
yoohoo
30 km before Sudbury we finally got a 100 km speed limit.
100 km aka 110 km. We are both looking forward to being in Niagara Falls and taking it easy. Just like a real vacation. I keep saying to myself and Rita, it will soon all be a forgotten memory, just like all those years of work. Here are some typical pics from the car after a quick stop in Sudbury for Finnish stuff.
Moosecapades
Otherwise titled 'The Ontario Rant'
Don't get me wrong, it is beautiful. Rolling farmland, lovely blue lakes dotted with cabins and mythical wildlife. Large rivers, waterfalls, rocky outcrops, which I have been informed is the Canadian Shield. Lots of outdoor activities to offer. Very pretty between Sault Ste Marie and Sudbury.
But
1500 kilometres of endless bush
I am going to lose my mind.
Mile after mile of ENDLESS bush
I wouldn't call it a forest, just BUSH
1500 km of monotonous endless BUSH
I'm about ready to shoot myself if I don't see something else
Stupid bush
Stupid Ontario
We are dying for some kind of new landscape
Starting to go stupid going through western Ontario. Everytime I see the sign Adopt a Highway, I think 'Ride a Cowboy' We are forgetting things, forgetting where we are. Repeating ourselves. duh, what did you say? What was that?
We get excited to see a crow on the side of the road, not to mention what happens when we see a bald eagle.
OMG are we there yet?
AND
There are no meese in moose country. We saw a sign something like 'Get your bear and moose export permits here', so we figure that is what happened to them all. Exported out of Ontario.
All the promises we saw. All those moose warning signs every kilometre or so, all the souvenirs we saw, all promising that you too will see a moose. You too will reach nirvana. Just one big disappointment.
Not that I'm bitter or anything....
Give me the prairies any day
Will be a long time before I drive through Western Ontario again.
All this makes me think of Hoppy the deer.
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