Las Cataratas de Niagara
The Niagara Falls visit was squeezed in as an afterthought. Steph was in charge of planning and very unenthusiastically said “we should probably visit Niagara”. Apparently, it was an obligatory stop for anyone visiting Toronto for the first time. Based on my limited knowledge, the vision I had was a Fisherman-Wharf-Style tourist vortex with a waterfall nearby. I figured that it would be an ok waterfall that is mostly ruined by the plethora of tourist development and disneyland-style entertainment.
I couldn’t have been more wrong.
From the moment I caught site of the massive falls in the distance, I was blown away. The sheer force and power of nature was absolutely incredible. We weren’t even at the official viewing section of the falls – but I caught glimpse of it through the tree and started talking pictures like a madman. I couldn’t believe the scale of it. It was bigger than any falls I’d ever seen. Steph told me to calm down, that we weren’t even close to it yet – but I was already “flipando” (as they say in Spain).
As we got closer, there were more tourists, but they did nothing to take away from the unfathomable scale and awesome power of the falls. As you stare at it, experience the roar, feel the mist on your face – everything melts away – all the tourists, the disneyland tourist vortex, your existence as an individual human. You witness the pure power of nature and it is awesome, the definition of the word: it inspires awe. You feel helpless, empty, like a little ant – when compared to the ferocious power of the universe. The falls was here long before I was born and it will continue roaring long after I’m gone. It’s insane to think that the quantity of water continues throughout time. It really is so much water. So much water falling. I finally got it. It’s fucking awesome.
Steph was unimpressed. She’d seen it dozens of times and was feeling a bit sick; the last couple of days of meeting people, staying up late and traveling were finally catching up. However, my unbridled enthusiasm and excitement was enough to propel us forward to be complete tourists for the day; signing up for the “Journey Behind the Falls” and seeing Clifton hill (the tourist vortex) at night. It was fun to be part of the festivities – to join everyone else who was also in awe of this majestic site. We were tourists together, doing tourist activities – and it is actually pretty damn entertaining! It was a bit strange to line up, pay 40 bucks, enter the “behind the falls” section from what seemed to be a movie theatre in a mall. I’m used to just walking to waterfalls out in nature. It’s all part of the experience – apparently, Niagara Falls has been an international tourists destination for over 100 years! It’s historic.
Hometown tour: Cambridge, Ontario
After Niagara, it was on to Cambridge to visit Steph’s hometown and hang out with cousins and friends.
It was fun to meet the cousins; they said “welcome to the family!” and I instantly felt at home – there was non-stop jokes, laughs and not taking life too seriously. I felt like they were old friends right away. They were nice enough to add some veggies and tempeh to the grill in addition to the traditional pork for the Filipino BBQ. Good food, family, babies, sunshine and BBQ – it was a nice slice of Canadian suburban life. I definitely see the appeal of having your own house, yard, garage, space, bbq.
We did a quick tour of her old town, her old house and the downtown area. It’s a pleasant place to grow up. It doesn’t quite have the easy access to nature, it’s very flat and apparently very cold in the winter – but not so bad. I do see why she would want to get out, move to a big city and go travel. It’s comfortable and pleasant but for someone who has wanderlust; it doesn’t satisfy those needs.
North Bay
The final stop in the tour was to see Kim, Mike and Eve (Steph’s sister, brother-in-law and niece) in the rural town of North Bay – 3 hours north of Toronto. The timing was perfect, it was the end of the trip and we needed to rest, recover, relax, get in touch with nature and just chill out. By then, I had caught Steph’s cold and needed a few days of staying in bed and watching movies to recover. Luckily, Kim and Mike have a beautiful and cozy house near a lake; perfect for resting and recovering.
Steph was able to catch up with family and meet her new (and absolutely adorable) niece. The days were spent relaxing, going for walks, eating simple yet delicious food and appreciating the beautiful Canadian countryside.
One highlight was visiting the “Cottage” of Mike’s parents. It’s a hand-built little cabin on a lake; only accessible by boat. Mike’s Dad actually built it himself. It’s quite an impressive feat of craftsmanship. The house is in an idyllic setting, feels like a log cabin (yet very modern) and there’s even a wood mill and workshop in a separate structure. The lakeshore is in front of the cabin and to the rear is forested wilderness. It feels like classic Canadian wilderness. Lumberjack vibes. It was beautiful to see it in the summer; but would probably be just as interesting to visit in the winter; the entire lake freezes.
Before we knew it, it was time to say goodbye. It took us about 24 full hours of travel to go door-to-door from North Bay back to Dénia. It was a bit of a slog, but in the grand scheme of things, it’s remarkably easy to go from one side of the world to another in only a day.
Final Thoughts
It’s so worth it to visit friends and family; they are one of the most important things in life. I miss them!
There are many things I love and miss about North America. Everyone speaks English and it’s simple to easily communicate exactly what I’m feeling. The vegan options are incredible. There is so much choice and selection for delicious products in the supermarkets (although that can be overwhelming). There are so many beautiful natural spots, amazing cities and wonderful communities to visit.
I don’t miss the car-dependency, “live to work” mentality, huge income disparity, giant vehicles, soulless suburbs, ridiculous practice of tipping, broken healthcare system, isolated location from other countries, the politics, the gun violence…the list can go on.
I’m happy, grateful, lucky and very fortunate to live in Spain. I have a greater appreciation for the work/life balance, the walkability of the towns/cities, the rich cultural heritage, the easy access to fresh fruits and veggies, the affordability, the closeness to other places in Europe, the proximity to nature and other European destinations…the list can go on.
It was eye-opening to see my place of origin through the eyes of a tourist, an out-of-towner, a visitor. I was re-invigorated with excitement and pride for my homeland. It gave me a fresh breath of gratitude to have been born and raised there.
Steph and I got to know each other better by knowing our past lives. It created a more fulsome picture of who we were, who we are and where we’re going. Both of our families expressed enthusiastic excitement, acceptance and approval for being in each other’s lives; that part felt wonderful.