Day 12

We went to vets to drop off my friends dog "Roxy" then went to "Big Boys" for some lunch. At "Big Boys" they sell burgers, sandwiches, toasties, milkshakes etc.

Big Boy

After that we picked up Roxy and headed home to prepare for church. I must admit I am not a very religious but if church was like the church in UK I would attend more often. They preach from the bible but make it relevant to life, they admit that they have been through hard times in life such as drugs and alcoholism. I was sat having a smoothy before service and I noticed how they one gentleman was reading his bible whilst drinking coffee and having a laugh it was something Ive not seen in the UK.

The gentleman reading his bible whilst drinking coffee

Unfotunately whilst we were in church an elderly man fainted during the service so when we got out of the building there were cop cars outside in aid of the person. I hadnt seen a police car so I captured it

Police car from behind

Police car from the side

For tea we went "Texas Roadhouse" they serve steaks and ribs etc. They give you free basket of bread with instead of butter they come with a cinnamon spread and they give you peanuts and on busy nights you would break the shell off the peanuts and chuck it on the floor then they would sweep it up after.

Peanuts

Outside the Roadhouse they had chalk messages outside. At first I thought it was some teenagers who had drawn on the floor but when you look closer it is advertising for the roadhouse

Day 11

Today we went Canterbury Village which had different small shops that included a Scottish, Irish and Italian Shop. There was all a "Christmas shop" that had Christmas decorations on sale all year round.

The Scottish, Irish and Italian shops

The Christmas shop, I like how the rails were painted the typical Christmas colours.

Later that day we went for some lunch at "Chilli's" and we bought a margarita and it was different to see that when they serve you your margarita they give you the shaker so you can keep topping up your drink.

The margarita shaker

Diners

In America they have nice little Diners, so I decided to capture as many as I could. I only saw a few Diners and I went into two or three but the ones I went into were so friendly and warm.

The Country Coney, Detroit

Tim Horton, Canada

Denny's Diner, Niagara

Marks Coney Island Diner.

Johnny Rockets Diner, Great Lakes Mall

Toasted Buns Diner

Day 10

Today again was mainly a relaxing day. We unpacked our luggage and shopping from Canada and picked up the dogs from the Kennel. We headed to the shops to get some food for tea and I came across a phone. This phone was there in case you needed assistance or to check stock levels of a different branch of the store, in this case the store is called Kroger. I've never seen one before so decided to capture it. It also have leaflets for you to find the items you wish

The phone in the shop

Day 8 and Day 9

This weekend we went to Niagara Falls in Ontario, Canada, one of the most popular destinations that people in Michigan go to for weekends due to the fact that it is well with in driving distance. On the way there we had to pass through the border. It was interesting to see what they do at the border and also how things changed once you were in Canada, for example the speed change from miles to kilometers per hour and how in America you can answer your phone whilst driving but in Canada it was illegal like in the UK.

We arrived at our hotel and we were over looking the falls and all you could see was the mist coming up from the falls, but the view was breathe taking. We went for a walk and got tickets for the attractions. You could walk along the falls, it was so peaceful just watching the water and, near the horseshoe falls because of the mist coming from it when you walked past you would get wet, the amount of water was unbelievable, at points there was even a question as to whether it was rain, although it turned out not to be.

The first attraction we went on was "Journey Behind the Falls". You were able to get right beside the falls and go behind the falls itself. It was so big and you got wet through but again so stunning.

The Falls from the side

After we walked through "Journey Behind the Falls" we moved on to the "Butterfly Conservatory". On our way there we drove past "The Clock". A big clock with Niagara Park on it, completely stunning. As I was about to get into the car I noticed there was a raccoon wondering around. I had never seen a raccoon so I decided to get as close as possible and capture an image.

Niagara Park Clock

Raccoon in the Park

We went into the "Butterfly Conservatory" and there were thousands of them flying around, it was gorgeous to see all the different colours and species of butterfly, specially for me with my love for butterflies. People believe that if a butterfly lands on you it's good luck and one landed on my finger and stayed there for a while. Whilst I was walking around I tried to capture as many as I could as well as some of butterflies that landed on other people.

Butterfly in the Sanctuary

A butterfly landed on a boy, because I kept photographing him he came up to me so I could capture another image of him and his butterfly

A butterfly that landed on my fingers

In the evening we went for a meal and every night mainly during the peak season they shine lights onto the falls and, on occasion have fireworks behind the falls. We waited and saw red and green lights shone onto the falls. When it gets busier they shine several different lights onto the falls.

We finished our first day at the Casino. It was massive. So many machines going off, bright lights, loud noises. We each played $20 (Canadian Dollars). We all lost but it was a joyful and full day.

The Casino in Niagara Falls

The next day we went out in the Skylon Tower where we could overlook Niagara Falls and the surrounding city. The views were amazing. After that we watched a 3D/4D of how Niagara Falls were formed.

The Skylon Tower we went up to overlook Niagara Falls

The last attraction was "Maid of the Mist". We took a boat ride up to the horseshoe falls where we stopped just yards from the actual falls and got drenched from the mist and splashing of the massive volume of water falling right near us. It was so cold but yet again amazing, to get close up to it and to have all the mist blowing in your face it was an experience of a life time. Later on we headed back through border control, to Detroit.

The boat is the "Maid of the Mist" to show you how close we got to the falls.

Day 7

Today we are preparing and packing for our trip to Niagara Falls over the weekend. So during the day the family I stayed with prepared the stuff for the dogs and we dropped them off at the Kennels. We then went for some lunch and then to a cinema called "Emagine" in Rochester Hills. They have two grades of seating. The upgraded seating has big reclining leather chairs, they serve alcohol and waiters and waitresses would come round to your seats to serve you. They check every single persons identification who orders alcohol, regardless of whether they are 21, 50 or 80, and, once they have been cleared to be over 21 years, they are given green tags.

The waitress taking our orders for the drinks

Day 6

Today my friend and I sat outside enjoying the weather doing Uni work. Later today we are going out to have a look around Kohls, a department type store in Troy. On our travels out we went past a postman delivering and picking up the mail in his van. People can leave post that they wish to send in the post box in the morning and leave a red handle in the upright position to alert the postman to pick up their post and have it sent.

The mailman collecting post from peoples letter boxes

On our way out we stopped off at a fast food place, a 'Drive-In', where you make your order and pay using the machine, then one of the staff members bring your order to you on roller skates.

Sonic, the fast food Drive-In

The person on skates, skating over to our car to serve us our drinks

So far i've been asking people who I meet in different restaurants and places to pose for me, so he posed on his skates for a picture