Heathrow, Toronto and Niagara
Jul. 15th, 2004 03:09 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
pauln1964This is likely to be a patchy set of recollections of our honeymoon, occurring as I have the time and energy to make them.
After an hour of music the dj wasn't used to playing (half of Penny's collection of metal cds was taken to Leez Priory for the purpose), we retired on our wedding day as the last of our guests departed to find a bottle of champagne and a basket of chocolate strawberries left for us. This becomes something of a theme over the next fortnight.
Friday was a leisurely breakfast with those family and friends who had also stayed on site. Followed by a leisurely lunch at a nice country pub. Eventually dropped off at the Holiday Inn London Heathrow Ariel by my new in-laws, we had a fairly early night as we had to be up very early to check in.
I do not recommend this hotel at all. It's not really their fault that some idiot decided to have a fag in a non-smoking room, setting the fire alarm off at 2:00am and seeing the entire guest complement and staff stood outside while the fire brigade checked the place over. The alarm then went off again five minutes after we'd got back to bed and were drifting off to sleep. This was because the idiots hadn't reset it properly. I'd suggest not using them. I shan't do so again.
The flight was pretty good. Air Canada have nice, friendly staff. When we asked if we could buy some champagne, we were asked if it was a special occasion and promptly given a half-bottle. The views down over Canada as we came over Quebec were astounding. Zillions of lakes, lots of hills. The final approach into Toronto over Lake Ontario was beautiful.
An afternoon in Toronto included a short walk by the lake shore, a stroll around part of downtown and a trip up the CN Tower. Penny's determined that next time we go to Paris she'll get me to the top of the Eiffel Tower, not just to the 2nd level and has embarked on a programme of height therapy.
The CN I was fine with, as it turns out (though not too keen on the external glass elevator). Lovely views over the lake, a decent glass of Stella and a plate of chips "with gravy". Then I saw the section of glass floor. Hmm, let's stay away from that then.
The walk back to the railway station was broken by an invitation to go into the grand opening of a new wine store, selling mostly Canadian (in fact mostly Niagaran) wines.
A word of advice to other travellers. Hire a car at Toronto airport. Don't take the train. It looks like a good idea on booking - a scenic run round the end of Lake Ontario, then across the Niagara Peninsula. It isn't. The train only runs twice a day (the great CPR now being almost entirely a freight operation). It's a very leisurely two hour stopper through all the industrial areas in the hinterland of the lake, with no refreshments bar a drinking water tap. Niagara Falls station is well out of town in a very run-down area. Drive. It will be much nicer.
We arrived as it was getting dark and booked into a (free upgrade) room with a view of the Falls. Not the best view, but good enough. Dinner in the Falls View Dining Room, which did have a good view - and very good food. Maple-glazed salmon, lovely. We were very tired by this point (having had maybe three hours sleep at Heathrow and then been up for about 32 hours), to the extent that our waitress asked if we wanted the dessert menu or just to go back to our room to sleep.
Up and out the next day and did all the touristy things. Niagara the city is a somewhat tacky place. Imagine Las Vegas crossed with Southend seafront. The Falls themselves though, are stunning. We went "Behind the Falls", then walked downstream a bit and took the Maid of the Mist trip. Do both, in that order. The tunnels behind the falls give you a fair idea of the amount of water and the sheer power of the falls. The boat trip takes your breath away.
Dinner that evening in the revolving restaurant at the top of the Skylon Tower overlooking the Falls. My first taste of Canadian beef. It's gorgeous stuff. A nice romantic meal, accompanied by Niagaran wine and the Sunday evening fireworks going off just as our table revolved to the right spot to see them well.
Up early to catch the train back to Toronto. A nice lady at the airport got us on to an earlier flight. Not such nice views this time - very cloudy - and a mid-afternoon arrival in Calgary.
After an hour of music the dj wasn't used to playing (half of Penny's collection of metal cds was taken to Leez Priory for the purpose), we retired on our wedding day as the last of our guests departed to find a bottle of champagne and a basket of chocolate strawberries left for us. This becomes something of a theme over the next fortnight.
Friday was a leisurely breakfast with those family and friends who had also stayed on site. Followed by a leisurely lunch at a nice country pub. Eventually dropped off at the Holiday Inn London Heathrow Ariel by my new in-laws, we had a fairly early night as we had to be up very early to check in.
I do not recommend this hotel at all. It's not really their fault that some idiot decided to have a fag in a non-smoking room, setting the fire alarm off at 2:00am and seeing the entire guest complement and staff stood outside while the fire brigade checked the place over. The alarm then went off again five minutes after we'd got back to bed and were drifting off to sleep. This was because the idiots hadn't reset it properly. I'd suggest not using them. I shan't do so again.
The flight was pretty good. Air Canada have nice, friendly staff. When we asked if we could buy some champagne, we were asked if it was a special occasion and promptly given a half-bottle. The views down over Canada as we came over Quebec were astounding. Zillions of lakes, lots of hills. The final approach into Toronto over Lake Ontario was beautiful.
An afternoon in Toronto included a short walk by the lake shore, a stroll around part of downtown and a trip up the CN Tower. Penny's determined that next time we go to Paris she'll get me to the top of the Eiffel Tower, not just to the 2nd level and has embarked on a programme of height therapy.
The CN I was fine with, as it turns out (though not too keen on the external glass elevator). Lovely views over the lake, a decent glass of Stella and a plate of chips "with gravy". Then I saw the section of glass floor. Hmm, let's stay away from that then.
The walk back to the railway station was broken by an invitation to go into the grand opening of a new wine store, selling mostly Canadian (in fact mostly Niagaran) wines.
A word of advice to other travellers. Hire a car at Toronto airport. Don't take the train. It looks like a good idea on booking - a scenic run round the end of Lake Ontario, then across the Niagara Peninsula. It isn't. The train only runs twice a day (the great CPR now being almost entirely a freight operation). It's a very leisurely two hour stopper through all the industrial areas in the hinterland of the lake, with no refreshments bar a drinking water tap. Niagara Falls station is well out of town in a very run-down area. Drive. It will be much nicer.
We arrived as it was getting dark and booked into a (free upgrade) room with a view of the Falls. Not the best view, but good enough. Dinner in the Falls View Dining Room, which did have a good view - and very good food. Maple-glazed salmon, lovely. We were very tired by this point (having had maybe three hours sleep at Heathrow and then been up for about 32 hours), to the extent that our waitress asked if we wanted the dessert menu or just to go back to our room to sleep.
Up and out the next day and did all the touristy things. Niagara the city is a somewhat tacky place. Imagine Las Vegas crossed with Southend seafront. The Falls themselves though, are stunning. We went "Behind the Falls", then walked downstream a bit and took the Maid of the Mist trip. Do both, in that order. The tunnels behind the falls give you a fair idea of the amount of water and the sheer power of the falls. The boat trip takes your breath away.
Dinner that evening in the revolving restaurant at the top of the Skylon Tower overlooking the Falls. My first taste of Canadian beef. It's gorgeous stuff. A nice romantic meal, accompanied by Niagaran wine and the Sunday evening fireworks going off just as our table revolved to the right spot to see them well.
Up early to catch the train back to Toronto. A nice lady at the airport got us on to an earlier flight. Not such nice views this time - very cloudy - and a mid-afternoon arrival in Calgary.
