Niagara Falls + Philly

3 months !

THREE MONTHS.

95 days.

Holy moly.

Last Tuesday, three months ago, I left Germany. Well ... You know, the days feel long, but if you look back, it doesn't feel that long. So on one hand, I'm like OMG THREE MONTHS IS SO LONG and on the other hand, it feels like I arrived yesterday. 

Whatever! This post is not supposed to be about my weird feelings, but about last weekend!

Friday - Niagara Falls

I worked till 4pm and then I drove with my hostfamily to Niagara Falls, Canada !! 

We stopped for dinner in Seneca Falls and at around 9pm we arrived in Niagara Falls.

I shared a "suite" with my hostfamily, so I had my own bedroom, but we shared the bathroom.

The view from our room was breathtaking.

My hostmom and I went to the falls to see them in the dark. It looks really pretty.

View from our room

Canadian Niagara Falls = Horseshoe Falls

Before going back to the hotel, we ate pancakes at IHOP - they serve breakfast all day long. Pancakes, Waffles, Crepes ... I wish we had one of these in Ithaca!

Saturday - Niagara Falls and Buffalo

We got up when the children woke up ... You really don't need an alarm clock when you have children.

So the day started early, but the breakfast was goooood. I love hotel breakfasts. Cereal, croissant, bacon, scrambled eggs, waffle, muffin ... That's my kind of perect start into the day.

We went to see the Falls in daylight and I think they're even more impressive during the day, because you really see the water flowing and it's just SO MUCH water.

There are the American falls and the Canadian Falls, the Horseshoe Falls. I guess these are the famous ones. I didn't even know that there are different Niagara Falls before I went there.

American Niagara Falls

By the way: Germans pronounce the word Niagara letter for letter. We say N-I-A-G-A-R-A. Americans say N-I-A-G-R-A. They skip the second A.

However, we also went behind the falls. There are tunnels and holes in the wall and you see the water falling down in front of you. Damn impressive.

Behind the falls

I felt so small looking at the falls. They reminded me of how powerful nature is ...

Afterwards, we drove to Buffalo, NY. Back in the US! I really want to go back to Canada. Toronto is not that far away ...

In Buffalo, nothing really interesting happened. We ate lunch at some - apparently - famous Italian restaurant. They had pictures from celebrities who ate there hanging on their walls. I only knew Keanu Reeves :p My hostdad said it's famous because it's so old. The food was good, but not THAT good. American.

Keanu Reeves was there ^^

Afterwards we only went to some kind of Art Gallery and to a book shop.

I don't really understand American cities. They are not walkable. They do have sidewalks, but nothing to look at. Only buildings. You can drive with your car to a museum or somewhere else, look at that, get back in your car and drive home. You could walk through the city, but there is really nothing to look at. It's so weird. I didn't see something like a "shopping street" either. I guess they have their malls for that, but I really miss that in the cities.

Buffalo

Back in Ithaca, I went with my girls to Pizza Hut and we slept in one of their houses because we had to leave early for

Sunday - Philadelphia, Ocean Grove

Loooooong way there

We left around 6am after a rather short night and arrived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania around 11am.

It was love at first sight! I LOVE Philadelphia. It's an old city and I don't know, it has a certain atmosphere ... It's my favorite American city after NYC so far.

We went to see the Liberty Bell and the Declaration of Independence which was signed in Philly. They don't have the handwritten one, but the guy there said that the one they have is one month older than the handwritten one. Alright.

For lunch, we had - of course - Philadelphia Cheese Steaks. They have nothing to do with normal steaks. But they were good!

Cheesesteak

After that, we drove to the Rocky Steps, you know, the steps from the Rocky movies? I haven't seen these movies but I saw that scene where he runs up the steps. So that was cool too.

Then, we drove to New Jersey. Actually we only wanted to go to an outlet, but it was close to the Atlantic Ocean, so we decided to go there too.
I just love the sea.

Finally, we went to the outlets. Apparently, the taxes in New Jersey are not as high as in New York, so that was gooood. You know, when you buy something here, the price that's on the item is not the price you have to pay. You have to add the taxes which is really annoying.

Actually I didn't want to buy anything because I really have to save some money. But ... I am weak. I couldn't resist!

We were in Ithaca again at 00.30am.

Such a great weekend !

xoxo
Christin