In the past, I worked as a naturalist on a 200 passenger cruise ship which did many 10 day cruises from Montreal to Chicago, Toronto to Duluth and Montreal to Boston.
As the ship travelled through the Welland Canal, we took the passengers sight-seeing in Niagara Falls. The crowds were always enormous. Not so at the moment as American tourists are staying home.
Part of the excursion for passengers was a trip very close to the falls on the Maid of the Mist. It was always packed and some were on this day:
Some were not:
Other views:
NATURE POETRY
A child said What is the grass? fetching it to me with full hands;
How could I answer the child? I do not know what it is any more than he.
I guess it must be the flag of my disposition, out of hopeful green stuff woven. – Walt Whitman (1819–92)
Miles Hearn
Magnificent photos Miles of this wonder of the world.
You’re getting pretty handy with that camera.
An amazing time to go–clearly! (Like Venice is said to be just now, free as it is of the usual mobs. ) Was “The Maid of the Mist” not discontinued at some point? Looking closely, I see there are masks. But how can it be so crowded? How can that be permitted? Where is the social distance, here? Obviously, the boats that were empty should have been used to thin out the numbers on each one!
Stunningly beautiful pictures of what is still a natural wonder, in spite of its commercialization. Thank you so much, Miles!
The Maid of the Mist is an American company. That is why they are so crowded during COVID. The Hornblower Boat is Canadian hence the few numbers of people. I know this because it was just on the news tonight (July21).