Niagara-on-the-Lake...from Balmy to Brrrrrr!

Niagara-on-the-Lake was absolutely beautiful when we arrived. It was 16 degrees and sunny....a perfect day. The town is adorable...full of restaurants, wineries and lots of touristy shops. We ate at the Epicurean for lunch...yummy sandwiches and salads (for the princely sum of $26!) and then walked around the town. We checked into the B&B and met our host Karen and her friendly dog, Toby. Toby is a border collie but probably the calmest dog I have ever seen. He loves to play but when Karen says it's enough, he trots off. He's obviously the manor mascot.

After settling in and getting a map from Karen, we set off to do the Niagara Parkway drive which according to Winston Churchill is the "prettiest Sunday drive in the world." We got as far as the Falls, and as we have been there before, elected not to pay $13 for parking. Here is a picture showing both the American Falls and the Canadian Horseshoe Falls. Together they are known as Niagara Falls. Even though the American Falls is higher, it is the Canadian Horseshoe Falls that gets more attention because of its shape. The second picture shows the Maid of the Mist making its way to the Falls.

Heading back on the Niagara Parkway, we stopped to see the Floral Clock. The clock contains almost 16,000 flowers and the design is completely changed twice a year. The clock also has Westminster chimes which sound every 15 minutes. It must be crazy in the summer trying to take a picture of the clock because it was quite busy the day we were there.

We decided to head back to a souvenir place that we saw, so that I could buy a postcard. There were all the touristy attractions in front, so when in Rome..... The moose was quite anatomically correct, and we were trying not to laugh at that when some kind stranger asked if we wanted our picture taken in front of it. Sure, why not!!

I went inside to buy a postcard for Ann in England and spotted a glass blowing studio, and then we were captivated for the next hour by all the beautiful vases and glassware. The artist came over and spent the next hour yakking about parties at Elton John's and how none of the stars pay for anything that they buy. Probably was all b-s, but it was quite entertaining. So although we haven't unpacked all the lovely things we have at home, and don't have a clue where we'll put it, we ended up a buying a beautiful glass pitcher. (Still trying to learn "admire and move on"!)

Had a nice dinner at the Old Winery and headed back to the B&B.

Brrrrr, it's freezing!!! I think the highest it got today was 6 degrees and I wouldn't be surprised if it snowed. It's rainy and really windy...a real Fall day. We had a nice breakfast with Karen our hostess. We're the only ones staying here until Wednesday when she is full, so she made us what we wanted for breakfast which was yogurt and granola. She thinks we're the easiest guests ever.

I got a manicure which I have been wanting to do since we left home. Karen recommended a cute place for lunch called the Pie Plate. Everything is homemade and served on...you betcha...a pie plate! Ham and brie sandwich...yum!

We resisted all the gorgeous sweets and headed over to the Festival Theatre where we had tickets to see the play An Inspector Calls. Hmmm...we are still talking about that one! We'll have to Google it to see if we can get some insight into it. Of course, we both had our own ideas of what it was about, but we agreed that it was really good, so I guess that's what it's all about.

We went to the Stone House for dinner, another restaurant out of the eating bible. It was very different, but good as well. Unfortunately, also very heavy so we need to back away from that for a while!!

We are heading to Orillia.....