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Please patronize our sponsors. Ads with links are clickable. This year it was the "Canadian Sunset" that made their trip special. This was the first trip that was arranged outside of our country. Once the group of forty-six seniors arrived at the Canadian border they had to be prepared to go through customs to show proof of their citizenship. Each had to show a passport or certified birth certificate and photo ID. All had to leave their bus and met with the customs agents. Before entering the building they were advised not to get into any verbal altercation with the customs workers. The five day trip to Canada included overnight lodgings at Niagara Falls and a day trip to Toronto. The hotel that was home to the Leisure Club was centrally located. It was within walking distance of many of the important sights of the city; but especially two blocks away from Niagara Falls’ newest and most elegant Casino. Many an evening after their return to the hotel, members of the group went to try their luck at the Casino. Once in Niagara Falls, all were taken aback at the beauty and cleanliness of the city. Tourists from many countries were there; yet traveling around the city was not a problem. One thing was obvious from the start; the Canadians’ reply to a question was always "Eh!" Here in America our common reply is "Huh!" Niagara Falls was once called the Honeymoon Capital of the World. The Falls are really collectively three Falls; the American Falls, the Bridal Veil Falls and the Canadian Horseshoe Falls. They are the second largest falls on the globe next to the Victoria Falls in southern Africa. The Falls are all lit up every evening with many colors to add to their splendor. The tour guide relayed the stories of the many attempts by people, some successful, to go over the falls; of course, there were many more who failed. The trip throughout the Niagara area included stops at the Rossi Glass Factory, the only manufacturer of cranberry glass in Canada where master glass-blowers demonstrated their skills; the Welland Canal, which has eight giant locks adjusting the water level by no less than 324 feet to allow boats to pass between Lakes Ontario and Erie; Niagara Parks Butterfly Conservatory, which is the world’s largest glass enclosed conservatory and the home of over 2,000 free flying tropical butterflies; and a walk through the Niagara Parks Botanical Gardens. The trip also included visits to the Floral Clock, a 40 foot diameter working clock; the Niagara Spanish Aero Car, a cable car suspended between two Canadian points and high above the Niagara Whirlpool; Niagara-On-The-Lake, the first capital of Canada; and the Reif Winery. The trip to Toronto included a water cruise and sightseeing. They viewed the 1,815 ft. CN Tower, the tallest free-standing structure in the world (some Leisure Club members rode to the top); and the Rogers Centre, formerly known as the Skydome, which is the first sports stadium in the world to have a fully retractable roof. Many of the group took a ride on the Maid of the Mist boat trip at the edge of the falls; or traveled under the caverns under the falls; and also rode to the top of the Skylon Tower. No trip would be complete without mentioning the many fine restaurants that served them food, namely: the Table Rock Restaurant, Betty’s Restaurant, the Secret Garden Restaurant and the "Oh Canada, Eh!" Dinner Show. The highlight of the week’s trip took place at the "Oh Canada, Eh!" show where our own Alice Shenloogian was called out of the audience and made an honorary citizen of Canada. Here are two questions to ask the travelers: What happened about one and a half hours after they left Hasbrouck Heights? And why did all the women go into the men’s room at the Secret Garden Restaurant? Photos provided by Pete and Marie Gallo ### ###
Thank
you for visiting our hometown. Come back soon!
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