Cross that one off the Bucket List

Okay sometimes I may not have the best ideas but I do hit the mark sometimes.  This was one of them!

Admittedly driving over 600km in a day with three small children to somewhere you've never been, on the other side of the road, in a left hand drive car, with a GPS that doesn't work, doesn't sound all that great but......

When we drove down Falls Ave in Niagara and caught sight of the falls, you could of heard a pin drop and then it was ahhhhh, wow, look at that Mum and all the stress from driving was gone.  Given only moments before I was ready to leave at least two of the three kids on the side of the road

The view from the room was amazing, the website didn't lie.  Check in and all that was a breeze (more about that later), up to the room and ta-da....

Yep - that's the view from our room, not a bad shot even if it is through the window!

I didn't really know what to expect, tourist central, sure, a nice view, got that, but it was the whole (to quote The Castle) vibe!  I loved it.  The kids were amazed and could appreciate the view, right after they checked out the hotel room and put dibs on the beds, each.  (Looks like Daddy Bean and I were going to sleep on the floor).

 

A big drive does that to you...

We stayed at the Fallsview Marriott.  It can be a bit confusing as there are two Marriotts right next to each other but they are very clear when you book and also on the confirmation.  We were lucky to score an upgrade as someone has gold status - not I, I am pleb (and proud to tack onto he who does have status coat tails).  It also gave us free Internet (great for Skype) and free breakfast. 

Happy to be out of the car????

It was well after 6pm when we finally arrived and there was heaps of daylight left, good for burning a little energy off. 

Ooohhh!

So hows that for an intro to our trip?  I'll write the rest over the next few days...we have lots of photos to share.

Glasshouse

There are all kinds of little gems around here.  Who would have thougth in the middle of winter that there was this little piece of paradise.

A Visit to a cabane à sucre - Part 2

So once we had had of fill of maple flavoured food, we had a little wander around.  It was a bloody bleak day but nice to be outside.

The trees really do have buckets and taps on them! 

They were almost full and it is a milky thin liquid, kind of like coconut milk.

This is where they turn it into maple syrup

Lots of maple trees.....mmmmm

John holding the door shut!

Rhys making sure he can get out!

The sleigh they use where there is snow around, obviously not today.

What has he got here????

Why its a big beer.

Not beer drinking weather but it wasn't a bad drop.

Daffodil Day

Coming out of the shops the other day and ran into the Canadian Daffodil Day volunteers.  Needless to say I bought a bunch. 

Looks a little sad...

 

What a difference a day makes!

Thinking of my Dad xx

Spring in the Park

Bella and I enjoyed walking home through Westmount Park the other day.  It was beautiful.

my little ray of sunshine

A Visit to a cabane à sucre - Part 1

Quebec is one of the largest producers of maple syrup.  The stuff is everywhere and compared to home, its cheap.

The maple syrup making season runs from late Winter to the end of Spring, just as the trees are waking up from their Winters nap.  Of course it is weather dependent.  The sap starts to move throughout the tree and it is at this time it is at peak sweetness.

We had a few dramas finding the AMT station.  Gare Central was not easy to find, for starters it is underground and we had to transfer over from the metro to the rail network.  Lucky for us, a very nice man showed us the way.  Once we found it and picked up our tickets, I have to say I was stunned at the size of central station.  It is massive, super clean and we are going to give it a go when we come back from Toronto in July.

Most of the people going were adults.  It must have been the all you can eat part of it.  The trip out on the train was pretty good in itself, we got to see a different part of the country and no one had to drive.  Once we got to the station, they transferred us all via school bus - yep John and I got to go on one of those little yellow school buses.

When we arrived they let you explore the stables, which the kids were not impressed at.  Rhys decided it stank and went outside, only to come back inside to take photos.

Bella next to the bunnies.

Hayden found a stinky feather.

This horse kept trying to nibble Bella, the guy in the photo is laughing at Rhys saying to the horse "say cheese"

This was hanging above our table - it is real and they had stuffed bears, raccoons

and a moose head as well.

Pea and ham soup, it had maple syrup in it, actually everything did.

There was also eggs, ham, breakfast potatoes (which I can get use to), sausages, hot dogs in maple syrup (???)  sugar tarts, pancakes, salads, home made dill pickles...

Spring Blooms

One of the nice things about Spring arriving is this.....

Tulips...aaaahhh, don't have to say anything else..