Waka Waka (This Time for Africa) (The Official 2010 FIFA ...

Here's to the start of the World Cup 2010 in South Africa.  Let the games begin!!  Check out blogs of two of my friends currently in South Africa attending the games: "Sending Sarah to Africa" and "T's World Travels."  Go USA, Portugal and Brasil (in no particular order!).

Niagara Falls - May 19, 2010

One cool thing about my job is that I get to travel once in awhile.  The program I work for at United Way is funded by the state and the program exists in other areas of the state as well.  Most face to face meetings happen in Albany, where I stay with Colin’s parents and save the state some much needed money.  But in 2008, I got to visit Rochester, NY for the first time and in 2009 I traveled to the Catskills. 

This year our meeting took place in Buffalo, NY.  I have seen photos that prove I have been to Niagara Falls before, but I do believe I was in a stroller at the time.  This business trip offered me an opportunity to see the Falls as an adult. 

The weather was amazing for my trip, so I lucked out in booking a relatively early flight out of NYC.  Arriving in Buffalo early afternoon to a warm 80° and clear, blue skies, I decided to explore the area.  Never really looking closely at a map of Niagara Falls, I always thought the Falls were in walking distance of downtown Buffalo.  When I asked the hotel staff how I could get to the Falls, I was told it was at least a $50 cab ride!!  Apparently Niagara Falls is its own town about 30-45 minutes north of Buffalo.  Per the hotel’s recommendation, I decided to check out Delaware Park, a Frederick Law Olmsted designed park located 3 miles from the hotel.  I was able to take a bus for $1.25 and enjoyed an amazing day walking through the park.  

This is the 4^th Olmsted park I have visited, having seen Central Park in Manhattan, Prospect Park in Brooklyn and the Biltmore Estate in Asheville, NC.  The park had a nice little walking trail around the lake.  It was very warm and I didn’t have a lot of water with me, so I kept my exploration to a minimum. 

After an enjoyable meal at a nice restaurant in Buffalo called the “Wine Thief” a small group of my colleagues and I took a trip to the Falls.  It was nearing dusk and I just kept hoping the whole drive that we would get to experience the sun set on the Falls.  I was sure to bring my camera.  Unfortunately, we just missed the sun, but the sun’s reflection on the clouds made for some great effects.  We walked around a few areas and it quickly got dark.  Some areas of the Falls were pretty scary.  You could almost lean over the ledge and see how far the water travels from the top to the bottom.  I kept praying we would not experience a rockslide!!  My colleague Christine was a great hostess and gave us some interesting facts about the Falls and chauffeured us around Buffalo.  It was great to tie in a little vacation with my meeting and get to see such amazing natural beauty.

This next one is my favorite photo.  The sky is pretty amazing!