Niagara Falls

I had a gap and plenty of time till Monday, therefore I decided to fill up the gap by visiting Niagara Falls. This was my first experience on VIA trains and I was amazed by all that luxury in compare to travelling by bus. Finally I could stretch my legs and enjoy a comfortable seat. I was tired after two days deprived of sleep - no wonder that I fell asleep immediately and woke up at the final station. I had no clue how far away it is from the station to the falls and I gladly took an offer from a taxi driver. I caught up 10 buck for a 7 minutes ride, but at least I remembered the way to the station. Gertting of from the cub, I looked around and got totally amazed. Weather was absolutely awesome, not a cloud could be seen on the sky. Enthusiasticly, I started walking along a visitor park towards the waterfalls. On the left, there was a huge city consisting of hotels, restaurants and amusememet facilites. Obviously, that little town was built and designed only for tourists and their full wallets. Nothing for me, I thought and kept on walking.
In twenty minutes I reached the first falls, I took my camera and photos hastily as if those waterfalls were about to fly away :P I did not know that those are not the Niagara Falls, the majestic waterfalls were still waiting for me. When I got there I was coompletely dazed by their grandeavour. Overhelming sound and water sparkling all around, people taking pictures and walking pell-mell on the walking trail and a beautiful rainbow over the waterfalls.
That was scenery which took my breath. I goggled at that beauty for about 5 minutes, when I finally realized that it would be fine to go away from that flashing water, cause I got completely sodden. I continued on walking behind the falls where I took some pictures of the Niagara River and a nearby power hydro station. Later I came to an attraction house, where were plenty of souvernir shops and restaurants. I dithered about buying an attraction package which included a journey behind the Falls and an interactive 4D theatrical experience about creating the waterfalls. In the end I decided „suck it up, I came here to see something, there is no point of saving on attractions.“ After all of that, I had stil enoguh time to get to the station, where I had a little nap until the train came. I felt like a got a cold, or something is after me, I did not feel well at all. I knew that getting sick might be a serious problem for me. Since I had no place for a proper sleep or recovery, the windy train station is not the right place for a sick person and my „nightlife“ will not contribute to my recovery, either. Needless to say, despite my oncoming illness, I had to go picking up my laptop and do some shopping for my 2-day-train journey to Halifax. Unfortunately, the shop was closed, I forgot to check the opening hours. I tried to find a good place for shopping, yet there was nothing available. I felt a bad pang of hunger and had to get som food very quickly, so I ended up in the nearest Subway. Then to undertake another 30 minutes long grueling walk to the station, where a guy adviced me to go to a shop which was opened 24 hours. „Great, lets go there.“ I was weak to carry on, yet I slaggishly heaved my backpuck and walked away. I felt really terrible. I was strolling through the lines in he shop without knowing what I want to buy. When I paid at the cashier, I started a little chat with a shop-assistant
„Where are you from?“ she started the conversation.
„From Slovakia, on my way to Halifax. I am taking a train early in the morning so I came to do some shopping“ I muttered with a great difficulty – I was walking asleep.
„Are you staying in a hostel?“
„Nop, it is too late to go to a hostel and besides, I do not want to spend much money.“
„So you are loitering on streets during the night? Are you freaking nuts? Jesus, do you have an idea how dangerous it is?“ She looked at me reproachingly.
„Ehm, dangerous, eh?“ Was my terse answer, making an impression that I have no idea what she was talking about. In fact, it was not an impression but a solemn thruth :P
„Sure, you have no idea what kinds of individuals and junkies are walking around. You can be robbed off just like that, walking on the streets.
In fact, she was right. Exhausted, deprived of sleep and sick, I could be an easy pray for a robber. With a backpak on my shoulders I could not even fight back. Somehow I did not considered junkies on street to be dangerous anymore, simply because I got used to them. That was very reckless of me. She decided to let me stay at the shop, supposing that it is much safer as to walk back to the station.
I occupied a little bench in the corner at the entrance to the shop, which was barely visible for other customers. Anyway, I did not want to show, that I do not care and fall asleep immediately. I tried to stay awake and be ready to talk. She took several breaks during which we talked a lot. She said that those junkies are a big nuansance for her, sometimes they come to the shop to steal things, harassing other customers. Later, I had a chance to experience it on my own – a very strange, tattered and uncared for old guy walked in. He „parked“ his „flagship“, which was a shopping cart full of his possessions. I did rather not want to know, what he was carying. That guy had obvioulsy secret fondess in collecting bags – eveything on his court was installed by additional bags – he must have had hundreds of them. She was on the brink of calling security to kick him off, when another employee stopped her with words that that guy was just weird, but not dangerous. I contrived to take a picture of him – a trully impressive guy :)



My sore throat was getting worse and I bought some tee. She was so nice that she brought me hot water and a cup – that was also a great help for me. I was just about to leave when out of the sudden, my glass on my spectacles fell out. „Shit, I am completely lost.“ I moaned and did not know what to do. I found the screw, however, I could not fix it without a screwdriver. Despondently, I approached to the staff talking to a customer, butted in and asked if anyone can help me. A guy on a wheelchair said that he had a set of screwdrivers especially for this purpose at home and he promised to bring it. I could not believe that I had so much luck in such a dark moment. He left and I waited nervously whether he comes back or not. After 30 minutes I spent in anguish, he showed up with the set and helped me to fix it. I was so happy again :) I could not imagine being without my glasses. That would practically mean that I would have had to cancel my trip and go straight home. He even gave me the kit, saying to me to keep it. I did not know what to say and how to thank – my another saviour of that night. At 6am, I said goobye to everyone and went for a sleep to the train station. Now I was trembling with cold, unable to fall asleep. With a great difficulty, I fell asleep to another murky day, during which I tried to solve my laptop trouble.