Chairman Miao

Warning: The following entry was written Under the Affluence of Incohol.
There is no other entry for the day.
Charlie's quip for the morning as we drove through Toronto's Chinatown - a restaurant called, Chairman Meow.


Greetings from the Crowne Plaza, Falls View, Room 626 with a view of the garage if you climb over the double bed dominating said space. Not the biggest room I've ever slept in but then some people apparently make do with a bath so who is to complain for the price and location.

A lot of water flows over Niagara Falls. Forgive me for getting all David Attenboroughy on you but nature's majesty and all that ...... It's quite loud but so was that river in Banff. It remains a sight to tick off. Do the Maid of the Mist. If I could upload video or stills - expensive wifi here - you might oooh and ahh too.

Forgive the prose. Typical tour bus meal at 2pm up the Skylon Tower before FINALLY getting on the water (We'd done the Floral Clock and Niagara on the Lake before hand) led to a late cheese plate on the 10th floor here with a bottle of Chilean red. Not the recipe for anything other than bad Joyce.

Very bad.

Still enjoying the group, the Guide and the Driver, although given his age and smoking habit and the fact Americans work until they drop, Tess is concerned about our driver making it to Washington, let alone his final destination of Miami. Todd has been on the road since late May so they work bloody hard. We chatted to lots of new people today who have been hiding down the back of the bus. We move three rows back towards the rear tomorrow as aprt of the rotation which has suited us so far. We also chatted to some folk from Geelong tonight in the bar who are on Bus 3. I teased them about the Swans as though I cared!

The cloud and iTunes Match has a lot to answer for as far as music on this iPad. The Playlists pick up on obscure music the kids ripped YEARS ago. I keep hitting next track until I find something I know. Candle in the Wind at present.

Speaking of children, I have a US$50 iTunes card for the first descendant to leave a COMMENT on my blog. The code word is Inheritance!

Tomorrow we leave 30 minutes earlier than usual - 7am - in order to defeat US Customs. Traffic builds quickly here and Todd assures me this is THE side to view the Falls. If I were in the US it would not deter me from visiting them on the US side and saving the hassle of Customs. There are some good sights south of the border and the maid still runs.

We travel through Pennsylvania tomorrow (I think) and visit Gettysburg before holing up in Harrisburg. Included breakfast! Then we do the Amish and Washington, leaving the Tour and doing our own thing there and in Boston before our final week in NOLA. Look it up.

Drinking is a problem on these tours, mainly because it comes all in a rush in the hotel room. We enjoyed a civilised glass of wine at lunch but since then, a Grand Marnier miniature, a Moulson beer, the aforementioned bottle of Chilean Merlot and then back again for the port I bought in NYC which is now in a Aquafina bottle. Not for long. And that does not include the can of beer I had chilled but not consumed due to time constraints.

Frank Sinatra is crooning "Under My Skin" which must mean bedtime. Another great day which I hope to share with my loyal Followers and perhaps the odd child when next I find WiFi at an affordable price.

Goodbye Canada, Hello again, USA.

Location:It's in Toronto but I'm in Niagara