#3-1 Toronto flight and Niagara Falls!

Wow what a great flight! It took about 8 hours and even though they announced at the gate that it was a full flight, it wasn't. And so who needs businessclass when you can have 3 seats for the price of 1 (I always love a good deal 🤭). And so for the €300 I paid for this one way ticket, that's what I got! Also a meal with a glass of wine and a hot snack before landing! I slept like a baby using my bag as a pillow (also watched 2 movies). They don't give you blankets or pillows btw or headphones, but they are available for purchase, which is why I didn't know if I was getting a meal or anything but I did :-)! And I always have my own headphones with me.

3 for 1 seats :-)

Hot meal

Naptime!

We're here!

And with such a good flight, it was only fitting that it went downhill after haha. Customs were a breeze as well and I was out within 20minutes or so, no baggage to pick up either. I had a free taxi included with my booking and it seemed very organized as I received instructions and text updates so I figured I would be at my accomodation in no time! But I wasn't 🤦🏽‍♀️. Long story short, the taxi was suppose to be waiting for me from landing 510pm (but we landed at 5pm), I was there at 530pm and finally had a taxi pick me up around 7pm. And so I was a bit annoyed and they kept changing the times and drivers. And yeah, it wasn't the best start but I quickly let go, there was nothing else I could do about it and I got to my accomodation safe and sound. And also: I made it to Canadaaaaaaa! New country! And for some reason, the song on repeat in my head is Southparks "Blame Canada" 😅🙈! If you don't know it, click on the link. It's been decades since I last heard it, funny how some things find their way back haha.

Je suis arrivé

Anyways, because of high prices, I have a few shared accomodations during this trip. Private room, but shared bathrooms and so I thought the first one was like that as well, because I booked everything in a random order so didn't know at this moment where I booked what exactly. And the lady at the front desk didn't say anything about it and so I figured I would see it for myself once I got to the room, but it wasn't shared haha. And it was one of those 'ding ding ding' moments, "ohhh that's this accomodation with private bathroom", happy days! And the surprises were about to continue!

The room, basic but all I needed!

I went outside for a bite to eat and so I just went outside and turned right and all of a sudden I found myself surrounded by Asian restaurants!! Mostly Japanese 🤩 but also a few Korean and Chinese restaurants. And so I was reunited with a Japanese curry dish! I walked around the area after that, there was also a Japanese store, o m g. It's a good thing I only have hand luggage with me! Continued my walk to end up in a lively square with New York or London vibes and a live DJ 💃🏽!!

Katsu Yasai curry nom

Welcome party to Canada 🤭

I called it a night soon after and walked back. First impression is good, great! I did see homeless people a lot but nobody bothered me. Took a bath (well kind of, very shallow bath) and went to sleep!! Night night!

Woke up the next morning and the sun was just coming up, gooooodmorning Torontooooo!! Went for a morning walk, I went wherever the sun was 😁. And had breakfast after. It's included and so I put my intermittent fasting on pause. I took a nap after and left again around 12ish. Had to be at my pick up point at 1245 and so I had some time left and walked into Canada Tire. No idea what kind of a store it was, but wanted to check it out. And o m g, loooove it haha! They had everything, except clothes. I loved walking around and checking stuff out but as most of you know, I am not a big shopper and so I was fine :-)!

View from the room

Do we remember these? Caps not attached to the bottle haha

Morning walk

"Living is calling" 

Public transportation (haven't used it yet)

Walked over to the pick up point for my Niagara Falls Tour (from 1pm-1130pm so long day)! We had a bit of a Toronto sightseeing tour as well and the driver, also our guide, told us that Toronto was the most divers city in the world with people from over 60 countries living here (I read online that it was 200 different nationalities and ethnicities)! And that it used to be 'City of York' which meant 'village' but later became 'Toronto', which means 'meeting place'. And that they have 5 Chinatowns, a Little Italy, Greek Town, Indonesian/Malaysian area, "you name it, we have it". And so my interest was peaked and if I could, I definitely wanted to check some of it out (I only had Chinatown on my list). -I looked this up the next day btw and it turned out I was staying around the corner from Little Tokyo, which explained all the Japanese restaurants and shops on my first night-

The driver pretty much talked non stop and it was looouuuuuud! I don't know if it was louder up in the front (I sat one row removed from him) or that it's another person that doesn't understand the 'power' of a microphone (you know who you are haha). And so he kept giving lots of information and testing us. It was interesting but also a lot! And then he started explaining the dinner that only a third signed up for (including me) and named pretty much every dish available in the buffet, even naming all the types of fruit haha, he just kept going.

Full volume

It was a long way to the falls because we made several stops, not all of them necessary to me but eh. Oh and the driver made a joke, well several but I remembered one: When you have butter in your hand and you throw in the air, what happens? What do you get? Butterfly 🤣. 

Stop at the town Niagara by the lake.

Across from America!

There's the border!

Nice house

Ugh 🙈

Butter peacan icecream :-)

Another stop: smallest chapel in the world

Cherry tree 🤩

Smallest chapel in the world

Can't seem to get away from work..a 15min explanation about powerplants 😅

Flowerclock, behind the scenes

Flowerclock

Where the falls used to start

We then finally got to the falls and first had about 30minutes to walk around on the top before he dropped us off at the boat departure place. When I came back from the 30min free time, he said to me "Listen to me, I have a crush on you, I am not kidding, you are very cute". Haha "heb ik weer" 🙈. And then he said "So, you live by yourself in the Netherlands?" And I replied "Yes, but I'm not alone" to end this conversation haha and he said "No, I know. I know but I try. Nice try" and then laughed. 

Arriving at the Niagara Falls!

That was going to be me in a bit, on one of those boats..it looked very intense from up here haha.

Fun fact: blue ponchos = tours from the American side, red ponchos = tour from the Canadian side

"Into the eye of the storm"

Sorry, no pot of gold at the end of the rainbow, just me :-)

Busy!

Souvenir!

When we got to the boat ride, it was mostly every man (and woman) for themselves and so going in, I walked by myself and there was a group of 4 in front of me and then another guy hit on me haha and asked me why I traveled alone and that he was from Kentucky and that I should visit, even though he also said there's nothing there haha. Yeah okay, bye haha! And so after all this nonsense I got on board with a few of the people from my bus, a girl from China, a guy from Spain and a guy from Korea and we went to the front of the boat below deck. Not sure that was the best choice but let's go! I had changed into flipflops and we each had a poncho. I was mostly happy with the flipflops because my shoes would have been soaked!!! We laughed so hard haha, strangers amongst eachother but bounded by the same experience haha no words needed! It was so much fun! Not so magical of majestic to me as to most, but laughing makes the heart happy as well!! 

After the boat tour a few of us had dinner with a view (13th floor of the Sheraton hotel).

US border

The falls from above

Cheers! 

Falls by night 🤩

"Crazy town" next to it full of attractions!

Fireworks!

Until next time,

T.

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