This is about our trip to Niagara Falls.  I , my  husband and his friend rented a car and started on 23rd May 2002 around 10pm from Milwaukee, a beautiful city near Chicago.  It was a long drive of 13hrs from Milwaukee to Niagara Falls.  We crossed 5 states on our way to New York from Wisconsin, the dairy state of USA.  Enjoyed the scenic beauty of Ohio and Pennsylvania during dawn. 

We reached Niagara Falls at 11AM the next day.  It was drizzling then and we were worried about it.  Due to the long drive we were all so tired and hence we decided to take rest in the hotel.  We had a good rest and when we woke up it was 3pm and it was so sunny.  There was no sign of rain.  We started our sight seeing by taking pictures at almost all the places on the way to the Falls. 

Niagara Falls, a delight & pleasure to the eyes of every human being is the second largest falls on the globe next to Victoria Falls in southern Africa and can be called as one of the wonders of God's creation and gift to mankind.  The word "Niagara" is derived from the Iroquois Indian word "Onguiaahra" meaning "the strait".  Straddling the Canadian-United States International Border and both in the Province of Ontario and the State of New York, Niagara Falls attracts some 12 Million tourists to her majestic awesome beauty each year.  The view of the Falls was breath taking.  The fall of water from the top creates pillars of smoke, which rises to the sky.  An equal and opposite reaction and a treat to our eyes.  The Falls make a tremendous sound as the water goes over and lands at the bottom.  We were busy capturing the beauty of it in our eyes and cameras.

We went on a guided tour named 'Cave of the Winds'.  Visitors are guided to a cave from where everyone can view the falls from behind.  We were given special coats and boots so that we don't get drenched by the water.  Everyone looked very very funny in that costume.  We had to take a lift to reach the bottom of the falls from where a guide took us all to the falls.  The boots didn't serve the purpose much.  We could feel water entering and we were almost freezing.  Water was falling with so much force that we were unable to open our eyes.  The beautiful & memorable moment for me was the sight of rainbow.  It was very close, just next to us.  We could see lots of them each appearing one after the other.  I always enjoy watching rainbows; previously it was always at a very far and unreachable distance.  But this time it was next to me. 

We spent sometime near the waterfalls.  We could see lots of Indians/Asians than foreigners.  It was like being in some Indian tourist spot.  I hoped that I could meet someone I know.  To my surprise,it really happened.  I met one of my professors, who had come to visit Niagara with his family and one of my college mates.  That was really surprising and I felt very good to see someone I know in a foreign country after so many years.  We had a nice walk in the park along the beds of Tulips.  It was so beautiful to see varieties of Tulips.  Then we took a road train to 3 sister's island.  It's an island near the falls full of slippery rocks, and water flowing between them.   How can I forget the slippery rocks when I slipped and fell once.  After that we returned for dinner so that we can have enough strength for the night view of Niagara Falls.

We returned around 10pm for the night view and were held back by the view of fireworks near the falls.  Night view of the falls amidst the changing color of lights was wonderful.  We spent some time again capturing the natural beauty in our cameras and returned back.

The next day we started from the hotel early so that we can take the 'Maid of the mist' ride, a boat ride to the falls.  Maid of the mist was opened for summer only on that day and we were in the very first boat.  The falls is not too far and one can have a closer look at the falls.  This view of the falls can be seen from Canadian side and it is horse-shoe shaped.  The view of the falls was excellent.  Water was falling with such a force that we were unable to open our eyes.  Everyone told us the view of the falls from Canada is excellent, that's very true.  Since we took the boat ride, we didn't miss that wonderful view of the falls.  With that we finished our sight seeing in Niagara and headed towards New Jersey with pleasant memories for our next sight seeing to New York.