What an awesome day! We “explored the roar” of Niagara Falls on the “Maid of the mist”. Before we got on the boat, we were given blue plastic ponchos. Looking like extras from the Daft Punk video to “Around the world”, we waited excitedly to get on the vessel.
Niagara Falls is in a Horseshoe shape. The Maid of the mist sailed towards the centre of the falls. The water thundered down so ferociously that we all got absolutely drenched. The ponchos were no help! As water splashed in our eyes, Kobus and I laughed heartily and wobbled from side to side as the boat cruised along under the spray from the falls. Photos we took of each other look like we were in a fish bowl because the lens was covered with droplets.
Other “Maid of the mist” vessels were also discovering the Falls up close. The boats were full of screaming blue smurfs. It was the most touristic sight I had ever seen! I love being a tourist. My feeling is that I am contributing to the economy of the country I am in while not having to do a lot of organising to get from point A to point B. These eejits who ramble on about travelling really get on my tits.
“Yaw, like, you really have to get off the beaten track and get to know the locals to really understand a place. Otherwise you haven’t really travelled!”
What nonsense! Firstly, the reason there is a track that is not beaten is because there is probably feck all on it of any interest, and if there is, maybe the locals want to keep it for themselves which they are entitled to. Secondly, locals have their own day to day business to be getting on with, children to get to school, chores to do; they hardly want to have a philosophical conversation with some pale, spotty gap year student for half an hour. I’m sure if the BBC sent someone with a chequebook and a camera to the town the locals would be very accommodating. Thirdly, what’s wrong with being a normal tourist and doing normal, fun things? Why does every experience in life have to be mind-blowing? Surely that would be too exhausting?
No comments:
Post a Comment