Junichiro Koizumi was like any other awed tourist as he toured the magnificent Niagara Falls in Ontario on Tuesday. The Japanese premier is mixing business with pleasure as he makes the most of a farewell visit to his Canadian and US counterparts before stepping down in September. Describing the powerful falls on the US-Canada border as "beautiful", the prime minister took advantage of a giant pair of binoculars for a closer look. His trip to Ontario, where he met Canadian prime minister Stephen Harper, was the first stop on his North American tour. He later flew from Canada to Washington where the US head of state, George W Bush, hosted a gala dinner at the White House in his honour. The Japanese leader, who is known to be a devoted Elvis fan, is also due to visit the late singer's legendary Graceland home in Memphis in the company of his American host.
The famous cascade on the Niagara River is the most powerful in North America, with more than six million cubic feet of water pouring over the edge every minute. Visits to the spot rose sharply after the release of the 1953 flick Niagara starring Marilyn Monroe, and it is a favourite spot for honeymooners and tourists alike.
Just under two hours away by train is the buzzing city of Toronto, situated on the shores Lake Ontario. Canada's largest and most cosmopolitan metropolis, it has a thriving theatre and social scene while offering a host of leafy enclaves. A striking skyline is dominated by the CN Tower, whose revolving restaurant offers spectacular panoramic views for those unafraid of heights. If you prefer to keep your feet firmly on the ground, why not browse the Harbourfront Antique Market or take a stroll in the peaceful Toronto Islands.
In search of history? The Black Creek Pioneer Village offers a step back in time, recreating the atmosphere of life in a rural Victorian community in 19th-century Ontario with craftspeople in period costume demonstrating skills such as open-hearth cooking, weaving and blacksmithing.
Photo: AFP
Photo: AFP
Photo: torontotourism.com
