Taking the Falls on Victoria Day

Victoria Day celebrations along the great undefended border, 2012!

The fire works are always set off over the crashing water of Niagara Falls.

The tiny lights you see on the bottom left are on the American side.

I'm sure they wonder why we celebrate the birthday of a long dead Queen

 who, as far as I know,

never came here. 

But they've never asked

so we've never had to come up with an answer.

And who cares anyway.

It's our long week-end 

and it marks

the beginning of

SUMMER!

It wasn't a long display,

 (they don't want patrons away from the casino for too long),

 but it was one of the best I've ever seen.

This is part of the crowd walking back up Clifton Hill after the  display was over.

As you climb you will see many true Canadian artifacts

such as this fellow with his moving head and flashing red eyes.

Of course this is where Canadians go for fun, games, prizes and rides.

And if you'd like to join us, well pony up my friend!

We'll gladly take your American dollars, English pounds,

Euros, pesos, beaver pelts

 or whatever else you may have!

These guys work in a window

like some ladies in Amsterdam,

but this is Canada.

They are making fudge.

There is an open area at the top of  Clifton Hill.

Everyone in the world passes by.

It is a great place for people watching.

You can see the Casino tower at the top.

No I didn't go on it.

I'm sure you get a lovely view of the Falls

but I'm not one for heights.

And of course there are moose in Niagara Falls.

They don't usually wear their ceremonial red jackets,

but hey it's the Queen's birthday!

Hope you had a royally good long week-end!

Queen Victoria's Superstition

Queen Victoria wearing the Diamond Collet Necklace, Earrings and her large diamond bracelet. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Even though I love them, I can't wear opals.

And apparently, neither could Queen Victoria.

 ***

My mother would have walked across the burning Sahara at noon before she would let me wear her opal ring.

"Opals bring bad luck unless you were born in October," she'd say.

But the ring was pretty and because it was hers it was special to me,

so after she passed away I took it to the jeweler and asked if the old superstition was true.

"Oh no!" the jeweler laughed. 

"Queen Victoria started that old story. 

One day she was wearing an opal brooch  that came undone and exposed the royal bosom."

"How dreadful!" I said thinking of the onlookers.

Now I have to tell you that it was Movember and the jeweler was wearing a rather magnificent mustache.    

Luxuriant and waxed to a fine point it was a sight to behold.

I suppose that was what made me decide to go ahead with my plan.

I mean if you can't trust a woman in a mustache, who can you trust?

I had the ring re-sized.

Six weeks later I was in an ambulance on my way to the hospital paralyzed with sciatica.

The next few months passed in a blur of excruciating nonstop pain and drugs. 

Whatever they tell you, believe me when I tell you that Percocet does not come close to easing nerve pain.

The best that can be said is that I eventually discovered that if I took two Percocet and two gravol it  knocked me out for a few hours.

I never wore the ring again.

I've never had sciatica before or since.  

But I don't blame Queen Victoria. 

I'll be out watching the fireworks this weekend with everyone else.

I blame the jeweler.

Jeesh.

It will be years before I trust another woman in a handle bar mustache.

Have a Happy Long Victoria Day Week-end everyone!