The first time I visited Niagara Falls, years back in 2010, it did ‘Fall’ short of my expectations as a serene holiday trip. No offence to the ‘Fall’ though. I was a bundle of nerves ready to swoon at the slightest provocation. I viewed it as a Monster of all Nature’s creation challenging Man to a War of Might. I saw that as a preposterous, intimidating structure with a monstrous set of teeth waiting to pounce on any intruder to its domain. You can imagine my weak legs and weaker stomach, just gritting my teeth but smiling at my family, putting on a pretense of enjoying the trip. 

It was totally a different story in 2022. I was a different person. Hardened by the challenges Nature was throwing at us for the past two years, I was prepared to face any disruptions to routine life. Being kicked out of our comfort zones, all of us have learnt to adapt, improvise, innovate, in short, do anything to enjoy life in spite of what we are fated to face. I named this as ‘The Corona Effect’. Whatever havoc Mr.C (no gender bias, just respect) has done to families and finances, it has definitely made us stronger. The uncertainty of life is and was common knowledge, but the past few years it hung on us like the Sword of Damocles, driving us to count our days on the planet. Like Shakespeare said, “Death is a great Leveller”. Did he say that!! I must verify. 

This time around, Niagara looked truly a Wonder of the World. It did make a point of the insignificance of Man as a tiny speck in Creation. And it did elevate the country which made the best out of it, as a tourist spot. The various levels at which there were sturdy wooden platforms for viewing the Falls, and to get as close as 15 feet away from the mighty column of falling water (approximately 750,000 gallons of water falling per second with the wind speed of a hurricane), was decidedly fun and an exhilarating experience. The crowd was all in awe and screaming OOOOHHH and WOOOW whenever the wind blew the water on their faces. I too joined them wondering how many were screaming in fear, like I did the last visit. The highest point of view, where everything was a blur, and speech was a slur, a total water mist with Man and Water having a Screaming Match, was a totally surreal experience. I could not feel a wobbly floor board nor see a rusty nail in the whole pathway in ‘The Cave of the Winds’, an apt name given to the man-made passages and viewing galleries designed for an exciting touring expedition. We could pat Uncle Sam on his shoulder for his meticulous maintenance job.

The calm Niagara River is totally ‘a calm before the storm’. The acres of land on the shores was wonderful to relax after the deafening trip to view the ‘Falls’ at close quarters. I sat and meditated, partly as a thanksgiving to God who got me out of the ‘Cave of the Winds’ safe and sane. 

One inference however must be shared. The Mighty Wonder is being maintained with all its spectacular natural grandeur intact. Nothing in the name of Add-on structures to mar its wild beauty. The thunderous sound of the water falling from the calm river resonates in our ears long after we leave the place.

Image (c) istock.com