USA 1982 Niagara Falls

 Our initial idea of summer holidays in USA was to cross it from South to North with longer stays in Florida, Washington, Niagara Falls and New York.
We were told, that the best view on the falls is from Canadian side, people told us that there is practically no control on the border. On the other side - we got single entry visa. We did not try.

Now was the longest leg.
Firstly I enjoyed driving the car.
Generally I am not an enthusiast of cars and driving, but my only experience was driving a miniscule Fiat 600 in Poland and some better car on absolutely flat Kuwait deserts and here I got a power and a feeling of rolling green hills.

Secondly, we drove barely few hours and... Niagara was there...

The photo does not show it but there was a big display - Niagara Falls Information Office.
We entered.
- Are you travelling to Niagara Falls? - asked a young guy.
- We are.
- You are extremely lucky, this is a last point you can easily book accommodation  and organize some exciting tour.
Do you know what happens now in Niagara Falls?

-???

- There is a massive baptism of newcomers to the Baptist Church, Thousands of people will be submerged. On top of it there is big motorboats competition. 
There is only a handful of vacant places and we are the last place you can book them.

We booked in a haste.
- I suppose you will arrive in Niagara Falls in the afternoon?
- Yes.
- I suggest you wait till night and then see the Falls with all the lights over and around and then visit it again next day, walk around, take a boat trip and so on.
- Sounds a good idea.
- Here I have a very special information, only for you.
- ???
- There will be unimaginable crowd and traffic jam around the Falls. You will get stuck in the car and there is a very small chance you will get a parking space and watch the Falls close and freely
But there is a secret...
On your way to the Falls you will be passing a solid gate - Water Authority - No Entry.
Stop there and push the gate. It is open. Drive in and there you will see the concrete path. Drive there, switch off the lights and in a couple of minutes you will notice a bridge over your heads and big crowds on it.
Here it is!

Sounded exciting.
In appreciation we bought also ticket for some historical show.

I do not remember how long was the ride, definitely few days.
All the way we were surrounded by unending wonderful green hills and forests.
It exceeded all expectations.

Finally Niagara Falls.
Very nice, sleeping city, no crowds, Vacancy notices every second home.
We reached out accommodation, I asked about the massive baptism, they never heard about it.
Still, the accommodation was very nice and we were happy with it.

Evening came, time to see the Falls.
Everything went according to the instruction
There was a gate with a No Entry note, it was open, we drove in and noticed concrete paving down, drove there...
There was a big sign - Danger, this is a canal, may be flushed at any time, do not enter.

It brought memories of R. Polanski's movie Chinatown, there was a plot of illegal water flush from state owned water reserves. It gave me some idea where we are.
Now I look back with disbelief - I decided to drive, just warned family to be ready for jumping out from the car.
I switched off the lights, soon we reached the bridge. We were noticed, some people directed torches at us. We left the car and climbed up.

The light show was impressive but I was tortured with question - is our car still there?
It was.

Next day morning visit was long and more relaxed.
We had a boat ride but the visibility was very limited.

We walked a bridge under the falls, a narrow path and a curtain of roaring waters, finally view from the top.

It was great but probably view from Canadian site is better.
Historical show was very good but we had no knowledge to appreciate all historical aspects of it.

Time for New York, we drove down to Finger Lakes and there we really felt that we are losing something.
We found there lakes and waterfalls much more impressive than Niagara and what more important - there were touchable...

It was best demonstrated by Michael, at one stage he ran away from us on some narrow path, to the bush. We found him holding branch of some bush
- I am not going from here!
It ended with big tears.

We got accommodation at some camping site.
Walking around we noticed some lady slicing tomatoes into thin sliced and putting slices of onion on them.
- Look, like in Poland - noticed Sylwia loudly.
- Because we are from Poland - was the answer.

We stopped for a chat.
Stanisław and Wanda. They lived already few years in USA.
Stan came first looking for a job as a physiotherapist.
It ended with driving a taxi.
One day he picked up a passenger at the airport.
Stan was very talkative person so he entertained his passenger during a long drive to the city centre.
At the end, the passenger gave him his card
- I liked your talk, contact me, I may have an offer for you.
The name on the card was Potamkin.
This one - CLICK.

After a short interview Potamkin offered Stan a position of his personal driver mentioning that it is only temporary, after few weeks he may have a better offer.

He had.
He found that Stan got much more potential than just driving his boss.
He offered him position of a manager of some used vehicles depo. He will learn from the accountant what are the tricks of this position. He will be expected to deliver each month some well defined profit, if he will make more profit.. it is his own business.
Still he can call Stan for an occasional drive if there are some important visitors coming, he is sure Stan will entertain them with his smart talk.

Amazing!

Stan gave us his phone no - ring, it would be nice to meet, maybe we can help in something.

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