October 16, 2014 We're here, eh!

October 16, 2014

Connie's daughter, Linda Marie, was gracious enough to play in the morning rush-hour traffic and take us to the airport.  We were nice and early and also lucky enough to have our bags taken from us! No worries about finding overhead space or schlepping them from one airside to another for our connecting flight!  Yay!

The weather in Atlanta looked really threatening but it was kind and held off long enough let us depart from Atlanta for Buffalo right on time.

We must have spent too much time in the ladies' room after we arrived because when we got to the luggage carousel all the bags from our flight has been picked up!  Happily, there were half a dozen or so bags outside the Delta office and ours were among them!  At least we didn't waste any time waiting for them!

Between the dirty plane window and the mist, this is more like
an autumn abstract painting - but look at the colors!

Across the street we go to the Hertz desk to claim our Toyota Yaris.  But first, of course, the nice young man offers us such a deal!  A Mercedes 250SL for only twenty dollars more a day since we are obviously "out to have a good time!"  Thanks anyway!  All we want is a map and/or directions to Canada!  He is happy to oblige and after checking out the car and getting our bearings we're off!  I'm particularly pleased because I get to navigate while Connie drives!  Yay, again!

Bridges are so cool!

The directions look a bit complicated but it's really pretty easy and two bridges and two toll booths later we are ready to cross the Rainbow Bridge into Canada!  The Canadian border guard/customs agent checks our passports and asked the obligatory questions, like where are you from, where will you be staying, are you meeting any friends here (I assume he means old friends and not ones that we're hoping to pick up!) and do you have any firearms, fireworks, or tasers!  I guess we answered correctly because we were admitted!  Just a few hundred feet into the country is the tourist-information office and a nice lady there gives us directions to our hotel.

We're staying at the Comfort Inn Fallsview and, giddy with excitement, we march into the lobby and check in.  In addition to our room keys we get a parking permit for the car (for only twelve dollars a day!) and coupons to My Cousin Vinny's Italian Restaurant right next door.

Our room in one floor down from the lobby and that just happens to be where the breakfast room is located!  Breakfast is between six and nine and we plan to eat here every morning!  We spend a few minutes getting organized and then set off for the falls which are only a block away!!  By now it is pretty dark but that means we get to see all the buildings beautifully lit up - and they play colors on the falls, too! The weather is marvelous!  It is cool and the wind is blowing and it feels spectacular!

Can't wait to see it in the daylight!

And it changes colors!

Even the mist is fascinating!

More color to entice the shoppers and tourists!

Looks like Seattle!

We wander up and down the strip until our hunger pangs get the better of us and we decide to use our Vinny's coupon.  But first just one or two colored-leaves photos.  Just wait til daylight tomorrow!!

Vinny's prides itself on not only its food but its bar which uses all fresh ingredients (no radioactive-red cherries or neon-green syrups!).  The bar menu is multi-paged with lots of imported beers and wines and several pages of cocktails.  Connie has the Bellisimo which is recommended by the hostess and I have the Coconut Canal, recommended by the bartender.  Both are quite lovely!

For dinner we split the ravioli with smoked mozzarella and basil covered in a divine rose sauce, with salad and Italian bread. There really isn't room for dessert, but an after-dinner drink?  Sure, why not? After all, this is a celebration!  Connie has amaretto and cream and I have a Marolo with Amarula cream liqueur, Averna amaro and fresh-brewed coffee topped with whipped cream!  It even came with a little cookie!

Time to head for home!  As we are convincing our key card to open our door a lady comes up to us and says they have had trouble with theirs, too.  Then she asks if she can see our room because they are thinking of spending a night here.  Hmm...how can they have trouble with their key card if they aren't already staying here?  We double lock our door!