The wild & crazy Clifton Hill in Niagara Falls, Ontario, with its carnival spirit and general weirdness, is home to arcades, fun houses, playlands, mini-golf courses, the Niagara SkyWheel, wax museums, and bowling alleys.

Ripley’s Believe It or Not

Ripley’s Believe It or Not

Fudge on Centre Street

Niagara SkyWheel and Strike! Rock n’ Bowl

Great Canadian Midway

Bronto’s Playland

The Fun House

Movieland
Since we have an extra (5th) Thursday in August, I’ll participate in the Lens-Artists Photo Challenge – Colorful. I’m also doing an extra photo invitation of my own, on this bonus Thursday. π
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βPHOTOGRAPHYβ INVITATION:Β I invite you to create a photography intention and then create a blog post for a place you have visited. Alternately, you can post a thematic post about a place, photos of whatever you discovered that set your heart afire. You can also do a thematic post of something you have found throughout all your travels: churches, doors, people reading, people hiking, mountains, patterns, all black & white, whatever!
You probably have your own ideas about this, but in case youβd like some ideas, you can visit my page: photography inspiration.
I challenge you to post no more than 20 photos (fewer is better) and to write less than 350-500 words about any travel-related photography intention you set for yourself.
While Iβm in Spain walking the Camino de Santiago from August 31 β October 25, and then in Portugal from October 26 β November 6, I kindly request that if you have a photography post youβd like to share, please simply link it to the appropriate post, this one or my next one as soon as it publishes. I will try my best to read your posts while Iβm on my journey, but I wonβt have a computer or the time or ability to add links to my posts.Β
My next scheduled photography post will be on September 6, 2018.
This will be an ongoing invitation. Feel free to jump in at any time.
I hope youβll join in our community. I look forward to reading your posts!
the ~ wander.essence ~ community
I invite you all to settle in and read a few posts from our wandering community. I promise, youβll be inspired!
- Jo, of Restless Jo, posted some interesting photos, popping with color and character on a gloomy day, when she visited Ma Shipton’s cave.
- Jude, of Travel Words, posted some elegant photos of a boat from the Belle Epoque fleet in Geneva.
- Sue, of WordsVisual, posted some stunning photos of Cordoba’s Mezquita.
Thanks to all of you who wrote photography posts following intentions you set for yourself. π
All the fun of the fair, Cathy π π Many thanks for the link. Last day! Is Mike anxious, or fully confident in you? You’ve been through some times, together and apart. I bet he’ll be counting down the days to Braga and cheering you on, as will we. My very best wishes for a successful walk, hon. Much love!
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I don’t leave till Friday night at 10:30 pm, so tomorrow will be a long day of waiting, as will Saturday, as I wait for the 9:30 overnight train. Mike is anxious for me because of my knee and he knows how much I want to succeed and not be in pain the entire time. Yes, Braga on October 26, the day after my birthday. Hooray! I wonder what will happen during my journey. I really don’t know how it will go. Thanks for your love, hugs and encouragement, Jo. xx
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What will you do if you can’t continue to walk, Cathy? Rest up somewhere till Mike arrives, I suppose. The outward journey doesn’t sound like much fun, but at least you’ll have made a start. π π
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There are many options, Jo. I can take a bus to the next town, or walk less mileage, and then take a bus to Sarria and do the last 100km. Hopefully I won’t get so serioiusly injured that I can’t walk at all. If that happens, I don’t know what I’ll do! I can’t wait till I get to SJPP and am ready to start. It still seems like a long time till I get to that point. I will start the walk on Tuesday, the 4th.
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Good luck for your trip!
And a link as well about an expedition to lost places.
https://transmutation.me/2018/05/23/abandoned-dreamings/
I feel my right knee hurting a little bit and distinctively after a heavy via ferrata yesterday, this was really much easier 20 years ago. Cool greetings from the Austrian Alps!
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Thank you so much, Ulli. I’ll link your post about abandoned places to my next photo invitation on September 6. I won’t be linking for the next 9 weeks, so feel free to add links to any post in the comments while I’m gone.
I’m sorry to hear about your right knee. It’s my right knee that is also causing me problems. I’m sure in the Alps you have a lot of walking and climbing to do! I hope your knee recovers quickly, and I hope you enjoy the rest of your holiday. I agree, it was much easier 20 years ago! π
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It really is a crazy place Cathy, nice photos. Not much longer to departure time now. All the best and safe travels Iβll be thinking of you.
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That street was something else, wasn’t it? Over the top for sure! Thanks again for your good thoughts. I so appreciate friends such as you, Pauline. π
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Wishing you the very best for your trip, Cathy, I’ll be cheering you on from a distance! Safe travels, and enjoy! xx
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Thank you for your good wishes, Sue. I really appreciate them, and I’ll need them for sure. π
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Go, girl!!
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I don’t recall any of this on my visit to the Falls in 2005. Looks like a horrible theme park. A shame they couldn’t just celebrate the natural beauty of the place without all these add-ons. Stay safe Cathy and happy travels π
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It was one street leading down to the Hornblower Cruise area, Jude. It was loud and obnoxious, but it was fun to photograph. I know, I agree 100% it would be so much better left natural. But you know how so many people are profit-motivated. Someone must make the most money off the most number of people!
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Wow-what a carnival-like atmosphere! And indeed truly colorful. Thanks for joining us this week Cathy, and best of luck for your amazing sdventure
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It is definitely a carnival-like atmosphere. I just happened to park uphill on this street and had to make my way down to the river for Hornblower Cruises, so I figured I’d snap some shots along the way. It was over the top! Thanks, Tina, for your good wishes. π
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Enjoy Spain and Portugal. Be safe!
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Thank you, Wendy. I really appreciate it. π
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Colourful and crazy to the max! π
Good luck on your journey,
Pit
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Thanks, Pit! π
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You’re welcome.
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We definitely have to go back to this area and stay for a few days. One day was just not long enough. Best wishes for your adventure Cathy, I hope it all goes well for you.
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I don’t know that you missed much if you didn’t see this street. It was only good for photos! I probably had too much time there. Thanks, Carol. I’m hoping for the best! π
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Cathy 0 I like your blog and look forward to connecting…
π
and your Niagara Falls photos – so well done.
I know this area well because my sister lives near St Catherines and we used to stay here on our way to see her –
I don’t really like staying on either side of the Falls and so we do not do that anymore – but we might stop and visit now and then
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Thanks so much. Well, those aren’t the best photos of Niagara Falls, only that kitschy street with all the arcades. I’ll be posting more photos over the next couple months. I can’t believe it was my first time to visit Niagara Falls. Now that I’ve seen it, I can check it off my list. I doubt I’ll go back. But I did enjoy it. π
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well even tho you say they are not the best – they actually felt professional to me – if that makes sense.
They were straight on – full and complete and it almost felt like what would go in a brochure. hm
Glad you were able to check it off the list – woo hoo
and on my last trip there – couple years ago – we were up walking for coffee at around 7 am and nothing was opened yet – ?
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Thank you! That is such a nice compliment. I was pleased with the photos because the sky was rather gray and I thought that made the colors pop. Wow, too bad about nothing being open for coffee early in the morning! That’s crazy! π
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it was crazy – not sure if it is the same now – we ended up eating at the hotel (sit down meal with just ok food) but the walk was still nice even tho a ghost town feel. My hubs said it must mean they cater to those staying out late – but usually such a tourist place caters to the early risers and late partiers
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PS – I looked at your inspiration page – and looking forward to pouring over it more later (and doing a challenge later).
I do have a little tip – I think it helps if you have letters under numbers for headings – makes it a little clearer.
The page is really packed and then when i scrolled down it felt ambiguous with a new set of numbers and more numbers under those?
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Thanks so much for this feedback. I know exactly what you mean. I will look at fixing it when I return from walking the Camino de Santiago; I’m leaving tomorrow and won’t be home until November. Are you talking about the photography inspiration or the prose and poetry inspiration? I was thinking I’d divide the prose and poetry into two pages, but I just haven’t had time, and I agree, I should either use dots or letter for the subheadings. I’m not sure if WordPress gives the option for letters, but I’ll check it out when I return home. Thanks again! π
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yes – dots (or bullets) might help – not sure – but you have time to play later – enjoy your walk and wow – what an adventure.
Sending good thoughts your way
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Thank you so much! π
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I bet kids love this place!
Cathy I know you’ll have a wonderful journey, take care of your knee – and your feet, enjoy every minute of your Camino xx
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It is all meant for the kids, Gilly. I’m past that, so of course don’t see the appeal, but I’m sure we would have stopped when the kids were little. Thank you so much for your good wishes. π
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You have so many good wishes for a safe and enjoyable journey along the Camino that I feel we should all hire a coach and drive along behind you urging you on should you falter. Take all our burdens and prayers with you and return us some blessings if you complete the journey, but if it becomes too much, don’t feel you have failed. I paraphrase The Lord Buddha when I say that it doesn’t matter what you do, the intention to do it is the main thing. Good luck.
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I would love to have a cheering squad on a coach, one that I could hop on anytime I needed a rest! And all that cheerleading would be fabulous encouragement. Thank your for the Buddha’s paraphrase and good wishes, Mari. π
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Certainly colourful fun photos. Enjoy the Camino and “forget about your knee. Happy birthday to be
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Thank you so much! I’ll have to try my best to “forget” about my knee. It will be the greatest celebration of all if I make it to Santiago by the 25th and they swing the botafumeiro. π
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