O Canada!

We returned this evening from a pleasant visit to Niagara Falls, Ontario. The Canadians we met were very nice, pleasant and helpful.

We enjoyed the grandeur of the US and Canadian Falls, both from up close (from aboard the Maid of the Mist) and from our hotel room (which overlooked both Falls). A bus trip familiarized us with local history and points of interest.

The erosive force of the Falls has moved them upstream 7 miles over the last 1200 years. It's estimated that in about 1000 years the Falls will move upstream and disappear as they join Lake Erie.

Sampled some fine local cuisine, including the best Italian food Janet and I can recall eating.

Unfortunately, Janet tripped on an uneven patch of sidewalk and we had to visit the ER. The service was not as fast (or free) as Michael Moore had led us to believe in Sicko, but the aides, nurses and doctor were caring, professional and competent.

The doc we saw is an American who became fed up with the US medical system and went to Canada. He (and several Canadians we talked to) liked the fact that every Canadian can get the medical care they need. We did learn that Canadians often wait awhile for routine (non-critical) surgery. Unlike many Americans, they believe in paying (through taxes) so people get the care they need; they believe they will benefit down the road when they need care.

Meanwhile, the doc said that Canadian doctors order less (unnecessary) tests and medications for patients, keeping down costs. One reason; they do not face the same fear of lawsuits if "something goes wrong".