just over the rainbow bridge

Living in Buffalo definitely has its perks; not only are the real estate prices low and wings hot, the proximity to Canada is very desirable. The Niagara Falls are one of the great natural landmarks in this part of the world. The Falls are absolutely beautiful and their force and power are breathtaking the first time you see them. They are also a tourist trap, including Clifton Hill, a strip akin to Vegas or Times Square: trashy and flashy. Niagara Falls is about a twenty or thirty minute drive from my current residence in Buffalo, so it would have been a shame to not make an appearance.

Two good friends from Albany came out to Buffalo for the weekend and we crossed the border for two days of responsibly careless fun. We stayed in a sketchy hostel and made it our mission to do everything we don’t or can’t do in our own country.

While on a tour of the Hillebrand Winery in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario we met a nice middle-aged couple from Toronto. They were very nice, as per the Canadian stereotype and via their suggestion, we ended up at a chocolate store down the street. One thing led to another and this suggestion led to free chocolate-covered strawberries, which we took as an obvious omen to visit every destination suggested by local or Canadians. This took us on an adventure that proved to be amazing, placing us in an Irish pub, a country-store specializing in gourmet peanuts, a few too many Tim Horton’s, and loveable Canadian-chain restaurants.

I think this is a really amazing travel tip. Ask questions and listen to the people who live in the areas you’re exploring. You can research and read reviews other travelers have written, but for an authentic experience, the little things count. There is no way we would have stopped at this run-down chocolate factory, or a random country peanut store if we weren’t told to, and that we would have really missed out!

We had a great time. The weekend was exactly what I needed: to see my friends and stop worrying for a minute about my future. We made “friends” from all over the world (Canada, New Zealand, Austria, Belgium, The Netherlands, Brazil, Italy, and the unidentified home of the newly engaged girl we took a picture with). We roughed it in a hostel and the whole weekend made me so excited for my semester in Europe, Spring 2011!