Tuesday, 26 July 2011

Coach & Horses Pub, Niagara on the Lake, ON

After spending the afternoon at Fort George, Gord and I stopped at the Coach & Horses Pub on our way back to the hotel.

After spending hours walking around in the sun, my dark rum and coke tasted good!

Gord had an ale from Niagara College.

We were a bit hungry so ordered some toasted naan and red pepper humus. Yum!

Kateri was our server and she was very friendly!

We had stopped in six years ago found this to be a snooty place. It's been revamped and is much friendlier.

Fort George, Niagara on the Lake, ON

Gord and I spent the afternoon at Fort George.

During the War of 1812, Fort George served as the headquarters for the Centre Division of the British Army. These forces included British regulars, local militia, aboriginal warriors and Runchey's corps of freed slaves. Major General Sir Isaac Brock, "the saviour of Upper Canada" served here until his death at the Battle of Queenston Heights in October, 1812. Brock and his aide-de-camp John Macdonell were initially buried within the fort. Fort George was destroyed by American artillery fire and captured during the Battle of Fort George in May 1813. The U.S. forces used the fort as a base to invade the rest of Upper Canada, however, they were repulsed at the Battles of Stoney Creek and Beaver Dams. After a seven month occupation, the fort was retaken in December and remained in British hands for the remainder of the war. After the war, the fort was partially rebuilt, and by the 1820's it was falling into ruins. It was finally abandoned in favour of a more strategic installation at Fort Mississauga and a more protected one at Butler's Barracks.

Gord's an expert on the War of 1812 and I like history so it was a fun way to spend the afternoon.

Here's Brock's original grave.

Gord loves cannons.

It was fun to watch the musket demonstration. It's LOUD!

Here's Gord at attention.

The blockhouse was cool.

You had to go through a tunnel to get to it.

The view was great ... this is looking across the river at the U.S. who were attacking us back in 1812.

Here are me and Gord.

Then back down the narrow steps.

And back through the tunnel.

Here's the kitchen where the meals were made.

I would have been a terrible wife back then since I don't sew, iron, etc.

Patrick gave an interesting lecture about the weapons (swords and guns) ... you know how much Gord loves swords, you can imagine his excitement!

The prison ... oh oh! Let us out!

The soldiers' barracks ...



If you are in the area, you should check the Fort out ... it's really interesting!

Stagecoach Family Restaurant & Ice Cream Parlour, Niagara on the Lake, ON

Gord and I had brunch this morning at the Statecoach on Queen Street.


It's a cute place ... it reminded me of an old style diner.

Gord ordered a traditional breakfast of eggs, bacon, toast and homefries.


When's the last time you had what were called when I was a kid "dollar" fries?!

I had bacon and tomato on a bagel and home fries. Look at all that tomato ... good thing I like 'em!


I also had a couple glasses of milk. It was so cold and delicious!

Our server was friendly and took good care of us.

Starting our day swimmingly

Gord and I started our day with a swim.

Our hotel has a salt water pool.

We had it all to ourselves, which was nice.

The pool was refreshingly cool and the hot tub was ... well, hot.

What a nice way to start the day!

Happy birthday to me!

49 years ago today ... at 2:12pm ... I made my arrival into the world at the Grace Maternity Hospital in Halifax, Nova Scotia.

Here I am at my first birthday party!



Happy 9th anniversary to Gord and I!

Sister Sarah, Teena, Gord and Ken
July 26, 2002 ~ 5:30pm

City Hall, Toronto, ON

Monday, 25 July 2011

The Prince of Wales, Niagara on the Lake, ON

Gord and I are spending a couple days in Niagara on the Lake ... we were last here in the fall of 2005.

We are staying at the Prince of Wales, an old prestigious hotel downtown. When I checked in, I mentioned that tomorrow is my birthday and our anniversary and Cooper double upgraded us from a king room to a king suite. Sweet!

So we have a living room ...

Here's our bedroom ...

And here's the bathroom. Look at that tub ... you know I'll be checking it out! And yes, there is a phone in the bathroom!

There is a towel warmer ...

And look at the funky flush on the toilet!

I think we're going to like it here!

Here's Mitch in front of a picture Queen Elizabeth's granddad, Edward VII, whom the hotel is named after.

There is a turndown service with a rose.