Niagara Falls: USA and Canada--June 29

Kathy here:  Jeff and I were up and out the door by 9:15 on Monday morning.  We stopped for a fill-up of both gas for the car and food (from Corky and Lenny's traditional Deli) for us, and hit I-90 for the trip to Buffalo  NY.  We passed through a bit of Pennsylvania and into New York state.  My first time in these two states.

At the last rest stop before Buffalo.  A pedestrian overpass over I-90

Zooming cars go under us.

We got a sandwich to eat later and continued our journey.  After following the signs and making lots of exits and turns, we found Niagara Falls State Park and after a short walk, suddenly the falls were there in front of us.  They were not quite as tall as I expected, but massive and impressive with two main falls.  The USA falls are straight and tall, but the Canadian Falls are horseshoe shaped and further up the river.

American falls looking at the Canadian Horseshoe falls in the background

No caption necessary other than "Wow"

The Rainbow bridge that links the U.S. to Canada

Jeff and I really wanted to go on "The Maid of the Mist".  I know it seems kitchy and old fashioned, but we bought our tickets and down down down we went in the elevator to the river below.

There were lots of folks in search of "kitch"

We boarded, but the usual suspect Asian tourons who had pushed in front of us in line, in the elevator, in the ticket counter line, and as we boarded the boat, got in front and on the sides of the vessel.  But there isn't a bad seat in the house and we had a nice fence to lean on when we were inevitably tossed from side to side.  Water and mist rained down on us as we steamed past the American falls and hovered in the middle of the arc of the Canadian Falls.  It was a deluge, and we laughed and laughed.  What was truly amazing was being so close to the falls that it felt like you were in the midst of the heaviest downpour ever - ice cold water pelting you while the Falls roar sounds like you are standing on the rail while Amtrak barrels towards you.  Exciting, scary and exhilarating all rolled into one!

Very wet but happy as I got to keep my XL  blue sandwich bag

Fellow shipmates

That smile says it all

The falls from the observation platform

From the water line

After our drenching, we exited through the souvenier stand (they learned something from Disney) and walked back to the car.  What a fun time!  But we were ready for a rest after all that walking and drenching.  After a fruitless search for a SIM card for my phone, we got directions to the Rainbow B and B.  We found it on a quiet street within walking distance of the casino and hearing distance of the falls.  It also had a nice quite peaceful balcony.  We promptly decided to stay another night.  But first we had dinner at the buffet, lost some "loonies" at the casino and walked down to see the falls at night. 

The Balcony.....so peaceful

Red White and Blue falls

 Our first day on the border of the USA and Canada was a rousing success.

More of Cleveland--June 25-28

We checked out of the Intercontinental on the evening of the 24th and after dinner and ice cream, arrived at the home of Jeff's cousin Alan Berger and his wife Gayl.  They were kind enough to allow us to stay at their lovely home in Pepper Pike while we continued our visit to the Cleveland area.

On Thursday morning, the 25th, we went to see Jeff's Uncle Joe.  He is living in a nice nursing home and is doing very well, considering that he will be 90 years old in October.

After that visit, we decided to drive to Chagrin Falls.  Chagrin Falls is a small touristy town east of Cleveland.  It's my favorite part of Ohio.  Lots of rolling hills, greenery, nice homes and narrow winding roads.  While there, Jeff bought me a heart shaped necklace for my birthday.  Thanks Honey!!

Part of the falls

The Chagrin Falls Township Hall

After having a lunch of only ice cream,  we needed sustenance.  Jeff used to take his Friday night dates to a pizza place called Geraci's.  His memory didn't fail him.  The pizza, pasta and atmosphere were delicious and welcoming.  We took our time and had a relaxing meal.

On Friday, We went to see Aunt Dixie.  She lives out in the country and after a visit, we decided to go for a hike.  We drove a short distance to one of the parks in the "Emerald Necklace" a series of green spaces that rings Cleveland.  This park had an old house called Squires Castle.  Then we went for a hike up into the hills.

Jeff and Aunt Dixie

Yoo-hoo.  An old favorite.

Squires Castle is really a hunting lodge built by a millionaire.

I appreciated the brick work.

The "castle" part of the castle

A lovely respite in the woods.

That evening, we enjoyed a lovely dinner with Aunt Jan and Jeff's cousins Amy and Rory.  Aunt Jan had been very sick last year when Jeff visited, and it was wonderful to see her in such good health again.


On Saturday we needed to go back to the Cleveland Clinic to get medication that had been ordered for Jeff.  We took the opportunity to enjoy lunch at Tommy's on Coventry street.  It has vegetarian choices, but my spinach pie had tuna.  We made another toast to Uncle Jerry as he loved to eat there.  The weather had been iffy all week and on Saturday morning it was pouring rain.

Wet Coventry St.

Street art

Studying the extensive menu

Jeff's Sandwich

It was really nice to have Alan and Gayl's comfortable house in Pepper Pike to relax in.

Alan and Gayl's backyard fountain

The blogger

Alan

That night we went to one of the fanciest dinners I have ever had.  Uncle Joe and his aide arrived in his new wheelchair accessible van.  It's so nice that he can have more independence.

Jeff and I with Alan, Gayle and Uncle Joe

Sunday was our last day in Cleveland.  We started out at Menorah Park, Uncle Joe's Nursing home.  They served Bagels, lox and all the trimmings.  We were sad to say goodbye to Uncle Joe, but glad he is doing so well.

Saying Goodbye over Bagels and Lox

After a break for a nap and laundry duties,  we had another visit with Aunt Jan and Rory and Amy.  We enjoyed cake and coffee in her apartment and then went out to dinner.  Again, it was sad to say goodbye, but so nice that Aunt Jan is in much better health.

Jeff's cousins Amy and Rory

Aunt Jan and her loving nephew

On Monday, we left for Niagara Falls and Canada.  Goodbye Cleveland!  I love to visit all of Jeff's relatives and old haunts, but now it's time for more vacation.

Cleveland Clinic--June 22-24

Kathy again:  One of the reasons we came to Cleveland was for Jeff to go to the Cleveland Clinic to see if he could get some medical advice/treatment.  Neither he nor I were satisfied with the treatment he was getting from his neurologist in Eugene.  After months of pain and frustration, he contacted the clinic and made appointments to be seen by 4 different specialists.

We drove to Cleveland via highway 2, which is the slower and more pleasant way to get there from Detroit.  Of course we had to stop at the Tick Tock tavern for a dose of real Cleveland cooking to start our trip.  Then we checked into our hotel, the Intercontinental Suites, which is about a block away from the main clinic building.  The Cleveland Clinic is huge...over 150 acres and I don't know how many buildings. They have shuttles that take you to the various buildings.  And they even have their own police force.  People come from all over the world to go to the Clinic and many of them were staying at our hotel.

Scene on the way to Cleveland

Happy to be back in his home state

Leaving the motor city

Good ole' Ohio

At the Tick Tock

Our "Wellness Hotel"  It was very plush and comfortable

 After we checked in, we took a walk down Euclid Avenue to the CVS to get some drinks and snacks.

A Synagogue that has been turned into a Church.  It was built in 1910

And still had lovely Stars of David all over it.

A tower in the middle of nowhere.   They tore down the attached building.

Jeff's first appointment was on Wed. the 23rd.  He met with an internist who was going to be his case manager.  That Dr. took the most detailed medical history I had ever heard of.  And Jeff also went for blood work.  Very thorough.  After that appointment, we decided to get outside.  We went to the Detroit Art Museum and walked through the park. Then we went to Cleveland's "Little Italy" for pasta. 

It looks like the cars are floating in the fountain outside of the Clinic

The thinkers

 Me and my astrological sign

On Thursday, Jeff had 4 appointments in a row.  It was exhausting to go onto the shuttle, ride to another building, check in, talk to the Dr. and then do it all over again.  He saw a Nephrologist, Neurologist, Pain Specialist and finally, the Internist again.  I won't go into details, and most of you know the story already, but the specialists at the clinic were amazing and Jeff found the answers to all his questions.  We both feel that we have new knowledge about his health issues and that he is on the right road to feeling better.  Thank you Cleveland Clinic!!!!

Hallways in the Cleveland Clinic

When we got done with all that "doctoring" we found our way to Uncle Jerry's (RIP) favorite Chinese restaurant for dinner.  My Moo Goo Gai Pan was delicious and we ended the day with our favorite treat.