A Georgia Girl in Germany

Back before we left Stuttgart, we took an afternoon trip to the Fernsehturm Stuttgart (Stuttgart TV Tower). We went in April 2008, so it was still a little chilly outside -- even more so from the top of the tower.

This was the world’s first TV tower built from concrete, and was placed in service in February 1956 after 20 months of construction. It has two observation decks -- at 490 feet and 504 feet.

We had a wonderful view from the top -- of the city, forests and vineyards. It wasn’t quite clear enough to see the Black Forest and Swiss Alps.

The top of the tower reached to 711 feet. It was pretty windy on the observation decks, so I can only imagine how windy it was another 200 feet higher!

Benjamin thought it was a bit too chilly and windy, so he found a place to sit down -- inside.

It was a nice afternoon excursion, and the kids enjoyed exploring one of the city’s more well-known landmarks and attractions.

Labels: Benjamin, Germany, MacKenzie, Travel, Zachary

These are the rapids as the Niagara River approaches Horseshoe Falls. They don’t look quite as rough as the ones on the other side of Green Island, but I still wouldn’t want to be in them knowing what’s just down the bend.

Even here the water doesn’t look too rough, although just to the right of the small island of bushes is a 176- to 188-foot drop down the Horseshoe Falls to the Maid of the Mist Pool. The height of the falls depends on where the measurement is taken, the season of the year, the weather conditions and the amount of water being diverted for industry and hydroelectric power generation. The average flow of water over the Horseshoe Falls during daylight between May and November is 675,000 gallons per second -- more water is diverted during nighttime and the remaining months to produce more hydroelectric power.

Just seeing that mist, knowing it began 176- to 188-feet below the river level here, is enough to have me in awe of the mighty Niagara River!

This view is simply awe-inspiring -- how the water just seems to disappear. This shot is taken from Terrapin Point on the U.S. side of the Horseshoe Falls. Terrapin Point’s name comes from the terrapin rocks that were once part of the Horseshoe Falls. In 1829, a wooden walkway was built out to the brink of the falls, and from 1833 to 1873 a stone tower stood at the end of the walkway allowing visitors a unique view of the falls and the Niagara Gorge. In the early 1970s, cracks were discovered near the edge of Terrapin Point so it was closed to the public until 1983 when the area was stabilized and once again safe for visitors.

No walkway these days, but this is still a pretty amazing view.

MacKenzie and Benjamin are enjoying the updrafts from the falls.



A good view of most of the Horseshoe Falls from the U.S. side.

One last family photo before calling it a day. Looks like we finally managed to dry off after our Cave of the Winds experience!

We had to make one last stop before heading back to our hotel: the “Twist o’ the Mist” for ice cream. Yup, we have to sample ice cream everywhere we travel (not just in Europe!).

Benjamin found a nice seat for enjoying his Bubblegum-flavored ice cream.

Zachary enjoyed a “Mint Ting-a-Ling” cone and MacKenzie opted for the “Chocolate Panda Paws” cone (and me too). Ah, what a great, adventure-filled day!

Labels: Benjamin, Canada, MacKenzie, Nana and Papa, Stateside visits, Travel, Zachary

About 700 years ago, Niagara Falls separated into three distinct falls: the Horseshoe Falls, the American Falls and the Bridal Veil Falls. As time passed, the water roaring over the cliff edge eroded the soft layer of shale beneath the tougher Lockport Dolostone caprock and formed a cave behind the Bridal Veil Falls. This cave was discovered in 1834 and was estimated to be 120 feet wide, 100 feet high and 50 feet deep. In 1920, the ledge of rock that formed the cave broke free of the gorge wall and fell into the river, leaving no trace of the cave. But, visitors can still trek down beside the Bridal Veil Falls. Once again, we were issued disposable raincoats, but this time we were also issued disposable sandals. Hmmmm.

The current Cave of the Winds tour started in 1925 after modern elevators provided access to the lower gorge area. The elevator shaft was hand-chiseled away...from the bottom up. Before the elevator was built, visitors accessed the gorge via stairs. The flora and fauna at the bottom of the falls was very lush and green, as would be expected with that much water running nearby.

Zachary lost his ornery spirit for this tour, and readily wore his raincoat. We managed to stay pretty dry for the first dozen or so yards of the self-paced tour.

We soon came to one corner where the mist and water roared awfully close to the path. The boys didn’t seem to mind though.

More lush landscape at the bottom of the falls. Each winter, the state parks staff takes down the walkways and platforms due to potential damage from ice buildup at the falls, then reconstructs them each spring.

We witnessed a few folks getting doused at this spot, but it came and went as the water surged. I think Zachary was hoping to get wet here...just a little though.

Benjamin enjoyed reaching out to this flow of water as we continued on our trek. He had the silly giggles, and his hair was getting pretty wet. The water was cold!

As we continued forward, we couldn’t see as well from the mist, although the rainbow was a nice touch.

Zachary’s turn for the silly giggles as the wind currents blew water all over him. I no longer had to remind him to wear his hood.

Aha! We discovered the reason behind issuing us the disposable sandals! By this point, we had all rolled up our pants legs, although it doesn’t seem to have done much good for MacKenzie.

We had the option to bypass the Hurricane Deck portion of the trek, but we all figured we could handle it, so we trekked out. From the moment we stepped onto the deck, we certainly felt the mighty spray and turbulent drafts of air from the roaring falls dropping into the Niagara Gorge. It looks like Benjamin’s being attacked by the water -- water at his feet, raincoat sticking to his damp clothes underneath and two hands holding his hood on his head. At least he’s still smiling.

Zachary and Benjamin decided the best way to get closer to the falls was to walk backwards. I was doing likewise so I could keep an eye on them.

WHAM! We were doused with a horrendous wall of water. All that water in the air is water flowing over and around me! Fortunately, I rigged a raincoat for my camera out of one of our previous disposable raincoats to help protect it from the onslaught of water, otherwise I doubt the camera would have survived without becoming extremely water-logged.



More mist and another rainbow -- and a smile on Zachary’s face.

The boys decided they wanted an encore on the Hurricane Deck, so I went off to a (somewhat) safe distance to watch the action. Yes, they’re huddled together -- with Benjamin trying to hide behind Zachary to keep the full force of the waves off him.

The onslaught of water didn’t let up.

Where are my boys!?!! At one point, they got separated from each other -- which worried Benjamin for a bit until he could get his bearings, wipe the water from his eyes and find Zachary again. Whew!

Yup, it certainly looks like Benjamin survived a hurricane!

I think they all got a pretty good soaking -- correction: DRENCHING.

MacKenzie didn’t spend as much quality time on the Hurricane Deck as her brothers did, but it didn’t take much to get the two of us drenched as well.

How well did the raincoats work? I’d hate to see how drenched we’d be if we didn’t have them on -- we’d still be drying out!

Once back on dry ground, Benjamin had to pose with this statue of Nikola Tesia, the Yugoslav inventor whose inventions were incorporated into the Niagara Power Station in 1896 thereby taking the first steps toward the beginning of the use of electric energy. Benjamin didn’t care anything about the significance of the statue; he just thought it was cool to climb on it and ham it up for the camera.

Labels: Benjamin, Canada, MacKenzie, Nana and Papa, Stateside visits, Travel, Zachary

Niagara Falls State Park is a great place to relax and spend the day, especially when the weather is nice.

This shot was taken from the observation platform while en route to our Maid of the Mist boat tour. What a breathtaking views of the American Falls and Horseshoe Falls from a bird’s eye vantage point. This shot captures it all -- the two larger falls and the skyline on the Canadian side of the border.

This is the Friendship Bridge, connecting the U.S. and Canada. It’s hard to fathom that Horseshoe Falls was not always located at Table Rock Point, where it is today. In fact, it moved seven miles from its original position near the present-day village of Queenston -- further down the Niagara River.

Before heading up to the observation platform after our boat tour, we ventured a little closer to the American Falls. There was lots of moss on the path from the moisture, so we had to be careful of our footing.

We didn’t have any new raincoats, but didn’t need them much here.

These rocks are known as talus. They have been breaking off and piling up beneath the falls for more than 900 years. There’s not enough water from the falls to erode them away, so someday the rocks are expected to reach the top, forming steep rapids instead of falls.

Benjamin is my little climber, and eagerly climbed this rock along the path leading to the side of the American Falls. Fortunately it was far enough away from the falls so it wasn’t wet and slippery. He still makes me nervous though.

He couldn’t pass up another climbing opportunity -- this time with the Friendship Bridge behind him.

Once he climbed down from the rocks, we went back up to the observation platform. You can see glimpses of all three falls between the railings. I think Benjamin enjoyed the view -- he stayed along the railings quite a bit

I couldn’t pass up getting a photo of me at the falls.

All three kiddos with the Horseshoe Falls behind them (and a glimpse of the American Falls over Zachary’s shoulder).

After coming down from the observation platform, we met up with Nana and Papa and headed toward Green Island and Terrapin Point. Of course, my two favorite girls had to stop beside the American Falls for a photo.

Another view showing the force of the falls -- the American Falls in the foreground and the mist from Horseshoe Falls further back

Yeah! Four smiling Cooks!

These are the rapids between the mainland and Green Island with the water flowing toward the American Falls. Zachary ooh’ed and awed over the rapids, especially since he had just completed two white water rafting excursions with his Boy Scout troop. The 1.5-acre island was once known as Bath Island for the bathhouse that used to be located there, which included showering baths, as well as warm and cold baths from the rushing waters of the rapids.” The baths were world-famous since many people believed the limestone minerals in the water would cure their physical ailments. The island also once had a paper mill run by the Niagara Falls Paper manufacturing Company.

Labels: Benjamin, Canada, MacKenzie, Nana and Papa, Stateside visits, Travel, Zachary