MiKE: Niagara Falls with the ISC

The International Student Centre (ISC) is the great effort by the U of T to get all the international students settled in and well adjusted to school in Toronto. According to the staff, Toronto boasts of up to 50% of its population being born out of the country, even at this time. Perhaps in 1850 or so, that would not have been such a big deal. But now, it truly makes this place one of the most cosmopolitan places in the world.

Anyway, they organized a trip to Niagara Falls on the Aug 25, and I went, to make friends and all. I've been there before, but that was in April, and apparently the Falls are very different at different times of the year. They say a trip there in the depths of winter is a must, though it was only 2-3 times in recorded history that the Falls actually froze up.

We met at about 8:45, departed at 9, drove there at crazy speeds (for the kind of bus that we were on, a big yellow school bus), on the middle and sometimes fastest lanes, while overtaking and at one time being overtaken by a huge truck towing another one(!). Funnily enough, one truck that passed us had a passenger which stuck a copy of Playboy in the window, while giving the thumbs up and sticking out his tongue. That truck quickly overtook us, and then, some time later, was overtaken by us. This time, he turned to one of the picture pages and then showed it to the bus. Guess he wanted to educate schoolchildren...?

The Falls were in what I think would be the un-spectacular mode. Well, the Falls are always spectacular, I think, but some spectacles are more spectacular than others, and I think the Falls that day was not so. Sat there by the Horseshoe Falls, refusing to pay any more than the $10 for chicken teriyaki (3 skewers of chicken breast, rice, all drowned in teriyaki sauce), till we had to meet again to go to our next destination - the Château des Charmes vineyard and winery for a wine tasting session and tour around the facilities.

Did you know that at most vineyards, there are always rose bushes planted near the grape vines - these serve as the horticultural equivalent of the canary in the cage and warns the growers of any potential blight to the vines? Also, it is close to impossible to gauge the quality of wine by the first taste as the tastebuds are usually loaded with all sorts of debris and flavour molecules from the last meal that will impact the way the wine tastes? So, always discount the first sip - that one is to clear the palate, so that the next sip will actually be the true taste of the wine.

After the vineyard, we went to Niagara on the lake, which is supposed to be some lakeside attraction, though since the ISC did not organize any activity, and the attractions were not obvious, we were left wondering around the place, and then sat down in the park and chatted. I met Belinda - a Singaporean woman doing her Masters at OISE. It's always the case - one starts talking and then others immediately recognize the Singaporean accent. I heard that unmistakable accent being spoken behind me, and knew I was in the presence of a country-woman...

Pictures:

The 'Maid of the Mist' boat that brings people for a shower in the mist thrown up by the Horseshoe Falls.

Our cheerful bright yellow school bus. Which hurtles through the fully laden expressway during peak hour, at 100+km/h. Funny though. At Niagara on the lake, it seemed like people were completely not expecting to see such a school bus, and it quickly became an object of photography.

The visitors' centre of Château des Charmes. Apparently across the road, meeting door frame to door frame, aligned along with the fountain, is the home of the founder's family.

Wine barrels. Not particularly interesting I guess, but perhaps evidence that I actually visited a winery?Oh, for people who ask. Yes, the wine was good. (but then again, you trust me to asess wine?)

Nice vanity plate...