On this trip we are hitting three major hotspots in the
eastern coastal area! The major destinations include Niagara Falls, Canada side,
Boston, and New York. My travel companions include my boyfriend’s family
(himself, mom and dad). Our travel mantra is “Keep Calm and Drive On”.
So we start in New London, drive north to Niagara Falls,
Ontario in a rented Kia Sonata. The Kia is a 4 cylinder which can fall down to
3 when on cruise on the highways. It has a white exterior and serius XM radio
that has not been on once since we left yesterday at 7AM. (As I am writing we
are driving on 90 through New York)
I slept most of the drive to Niagara because my stomach was
in knots from not getting any sleep. Bill was also sick with some stomach bug
(which hopefully none of us get). So the ride north was mildly unpleasant in
the stomach area. Bill drives rather zig zaggy which could be caused from a
tight steering wheel, either way it did not help the stomach issue. So sleep it
was. We arrived at Four Points By Sheraton around 1pm. They had our rooms ready
which was quite nice since check in was not until 4pm that day! Bill and
Crystal paid an extra $70 for a “fallside” view room, which sucked. You could
hardly see the falls from the room, and what little part you could see was
clouded from mist and the rain that was down pouring most of the day. So the
fallside view room was a bust. Frank and I settled in and got some sanctuary in
our own city side room.
We were to met Bill and Crystal down the way to an AppleBees
(not my choice, but that’s only because I have been sick off their food twice).
Anyways, Frank and I make our way down the twisty hotel to what we think is the
main level, but it isn’t, so we take a catwalk across the street to the casino
to hopefully find a staircase down. No staircase, just casino. So we walk
through the grand entrance of the casino and worm our way somehow, out to the
street. Once we get there, we find Bill and Crystal sitting at a table. I order
a Molson Canadina to get the full Canadian affect while Frank orders a
Guinness. After attempting to decide what to snack on (about 30 minutes) we
order a couple appetizers and Frank gets a full pasta dish. (which had tomatoes
in it). So we snack away on Beer Pub Pretzels and some Artichoke dip. Crystal
insisted we take the pretzels with us… so she carried them almost all day. At
our small lunch we decided upon what to do for the day. We chose to do the
traditional Maid of the Mist adventure! Tickets were $20 a piece and it was
quite a fun adventure. Crystal sternly refused to join us on the Maid due to
the wetness and possibility of failure and death. The Maid of the Mist was
enjoyable, I rolled my pants up so they did not get wet but my shoes were not
so lucky. Wear Flip Flops if you go. So Frank Bill and I hiked back up the hill
to get to the hotel to shower, and have a quick wink.
Although, while Frank napped, I started my online classes at
LCCC and got ratty news that my books are going to be over $200 for two
classes. Highway robbery. UGH.
Bill adventured off to find Crystal at the Casino where she
waited for us. That was a goose chase I believe, I am not sure because I did
not take part. Either way, she was found. We decided to have a late dinner so I
booked a reservation at “The Keg” with a fallside dining experience. Ooooooh
ahhh. So of course it starts down pouring and there are not such things as
cabs, so we did not make it to the Keg. Instead we went down stairs in the
Hotel to Ruth’s Chris Steak House. I have three major things to say. One: We
were totally undressed (but whatever) Two: I could have paid my summer tuition
twice with one bottle of wine there (of course it was their most expensive
bottle, at only $2000) Three: I have never in my life had a steak that was
anywhere NEAR that good. (but of course we paid the penalty for it.) I would go
into details of how uncomfortable I felt ordering a $59 steak (not including a
side) but that will bring someone to tears, so we will steer away. But at the
end of it all, the waiter advised us to order together, as the portions are
very big. All together on the table we had two lobster bisques, one petite 8oz
fillet, one 16oz ribeye, sweet potato casserole, broccoli casserole and a loaf
of really scrumptious bread (which I am munching on right now because I took
one home, suckers). I don’t think I can tell you how GOOD the food was at this
place. Damn right you paid for it, but shit it was so good I don’t think I will
ever in my life have a steak that good. Even the sides were up to par with the
rest of the food. Although Crystal said the broccoli couldn’t stand up to
Betsy’s. Sorry mom, but the sweet potatoes stood up to yours, BUT they were not
exactly the same thing so I don’t think it counts that way ;) We made our way
out of there with our lives and full bellies. With Crystal’s earlier tab
included and a $30 coupon from the front desk, I think the total was $240. So
somehow we managed to survive, which I am proud of. Niagara Falls in general is
really expensive so I guess it matched the rest of the city.
We made it back to the room around 9 something, then Frank
wanted to go to the Casino area and explore. So of course neither of us
remembered our IDs (which were in the car) so we didn’t get to go inside the
actual Casino part. Crossed the catwalk (meow) and explored the building which
was filled with shopping and food! They had normal stores full of clothes and
such then there was a “Swiss Fudge Shop” which I had to go in because I am a
child. I tasted a piece of the Maple Fudge and it was really good but I only
had $10 to spend in Niagara (per my lousy self-control). I chose to buy
something native to Canada: Sugar Maple. I got some little pure maple sugar
formed into maple leaves. The nice young guy at the counter told me I could
give him American money, but he can only give me Canadian change. Ok Ok Ok Ill
just have to spend the rest of the money because what I am I going to do with a
couple Canadian dollars. So we progress to a little gift shop and I am hoping
to find a little trinket for Crystal since she said she wanted something and I
know Mr Bill would rush her out of gift shops (which she later said he did).
But I didn’t find anything so I gave up and went back to the Swiss shop because
Frank said he saw something he wanted. So I go to get it and he wants some
chocolate covered marshmellow mess and I’m like ‘Frank that looks vile.’ And I
bought a dark chocolate toffee which he agreed to share. I gave my leftover
change to the guy working there, because once again, what am I going to do with
Canada money? Silly Canadians. We ate the toffee while sitting on the entry
fountain at the casino. It was pleasant. Then a wave of fatigue hit us and we
made our way back to the room.
Frank was pleased to find a TV Channel that was similar to
Adult Swim. We set our wake up call for 7:40, for a 8am departure.
No comments:
Post a Comment