So from Toronto, we boarded the 11:15pm bus to Buffalo, and travelled for approximately an hour through Niagra Falls Imigration to the Buffalo terminal, where we waited for two hours for our onward bus to Cleveland. That was the extent of our visit to Buffalo apart from a later return trip to catch our connecting bus to Niagra. I wish in a way we had seen more of the place, but time did not really allow this. It will just have to be somewhere we visit in the future.
Eventually we arrived into Cleveland at around 8:30am - tired...actually probably more exhausted than tired, with aching limbs from being scrunched up on a bus for far too long. We headed for the lockers to keep our backpacks safe whilst we explored the area, but we were limited to 6 hours and they were $5 each, which might not sound a lot now, but to two travellers that was a lot!! Instead we decided to lug our bags around with us. We asked a woman at the Station Cafe where the Visitor Information Centre was located, and the blank look told us everything - this probably was not a tourist destination!!
We trekked down to the waterfront to enjoy a breakfast picnic on a park bench, next to the Rock n Roll Museum and the Cleveland Browns Stadium. We must have looked odd with our backpacks on and our travelling attire, as each passerby stared at us as if we were from another planet. I think by this stage we were just so tired, thinking of where to go and visit whilst hoisting our backpacks was just too hard, and so we took the easy option, and decided to take an earlier bus to Detroit.
By 4:10pm we were in Detroit - it had been a good trip chatting to a lovely guy from Cleveland who was heading to Detroit to do the marathon - we discussed our travel plans with him and he was more than happy to share some inspiration. We now had renewed vigour and so with our bags safely locked away this time, we left the station. Our thoughts of Detroit before arriving were of a city with its heritage in cars and music. We were welcomed openly by the people of Detroit and they seemed happy and jovial.
As we wandered toward what we hoped was the centre of the city, we were looking for somewhere, anywhere to eat, but we were struggling. The city seemed to have seen better days although it did look like it was being rejuvenated. It seemed strange there were no people around and most places seemed to be closed or in a state of disrepair. In amongst all this though, we found a running exhibition which seemed to be at odds with the rest of the city - it was modern, forward thinking and attracted people. They were offering all sorts of free samples, which was fortitious for two weary travellers. In return we appeared interested in their stalls for a few minutes then made a swift exit.
Back at the station, we caught the 8:10pm bus back to Cleveland - and settled down for our second consecutive night on the road!
At just after midnight we arrived into Cleveland and endured a two hour wait for our bus back to Buffalo. We people watched...it ceases to amaze us how many people travel on the Greyhound at night - obviously there are our fellow traveller type folk, but 'normal' people also travel at night too from all walks of life. We rushed to get our connecting bus to Niagra being overtaken by a bus load of New Yorkers - luckily for us the driver seemed to like us and had saved a 'couple' seat for us on the bus knowing we would be the last ones to board - what a lovely gesture!
Finally at 7:30am the next day we arrived into Niagra having completed our own 'marathon' - a tour of the south shore of Lake Erie and a fleeting explore of Cleveland and Detroit.
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