Weekly Update #3

The trip to Niagara Falls was by far the most eventful happening this week. It was the first time I had every left the country, though I was within sight of the US throughout the whole trip.

I was rather impressed (and at the same time disappointed) by the fake Vegas-like commercialization that had sprung up, especially on the Canadian side. The entire neighborhood surrounding the Falls consists of hotels, casinos, and souvenir stands. Flashing lights and brunt signs pervade the street fronts.

It is only when you get near the Falls, onto Park Service land, that you forget the spectacle and can just be in awe of the Falls. It is truly an impressive site, similar to the Grand Canyon in my mind in that they are both places that seem kinda shrug-worthy from afar but their depth is only really grasped in person.

We hit all the stops via a hotel-sponsored tour including walking in tunnels behind the Falls and a trip on the Maid of the Mist. The tour also included some really random local gimmick stops such as one of the world's largest floral clocks, an 11,000 sq ft indoor butterfly conservatory, and more hydroelectric plants that I thought existed in the entire country, let alone in the 5 miles surrounding the Falls. We also amused ourselves with the differences visible even a mile from the border such as all products/signs being in both English and French, all retailers accept American currency but only return Canadain change, and of course French-Canadian game shows.

More pictures of this trip can be found here.

In other news, it got rather chilly in our absence (high of 60, instead of >90 from 2 weeks ago). We got some passing T-storms and showers the last couple days. It'll take a while for me to get sick of thunder.

Also, seeing as the job front is still bleak, I decided to make more of an effort to get out of the house and joined an ultimate frisbee league that will start at the end of the month.

That's about it! Next week looks like it will bring waffles and Woodard. Sounds good.