WBFO covers turtle

Earlier this week, while working as a tour guide, I had Greeks approach me with Google translate trying to find a way to their bus, for which they were about to be late.

Cyrillic to English is not an easy translation. Finally I had a breakthrough.

“Are you supposed to meet your bus outside a building shaped like a turtle?” Smiles and relief came as my voice typing translated.

I sent them up the path from the trolley stand, through Cataract Hotel Park, to their bus, saved by the turtle.

Tuesday night, on another tour, a family from Central America was trying to plan out their day for today. I sent them to Power City or Marketside for breakfast, told them about the Underground Railroad Heritage Museum, Power Vista and Schoellkopf Elevator. I even explained how to take the Discover Niagara Shuttle to Lewiston.

They were very interested in Whirlpool State Park and the Rapids. Then they asked a question I couldn’t answer: “where do we learn about indigenous people?”

I suppose I could have sent them to read signs at Artpark, but there is nowhere left that celebrates the culture of the people who were here before us.

There is nowhere to learn of the Iroquois or what really happened at Devil’s Hole.

The Cataract Hotel is a distant memory. The turtle is not. The same rabble rousers who attempted to have the building registered for a historic preservation designation are still out there pushing things forward.

Most recently, they received coverage from WBFO. There isn’t any progress to report but as long as the building stands, there is still hope.

As for those visitors who ask questions, I’ve started on writing a tour guide of sorts. Early chapters include where to eat as in pizza, wings, Italian, breakfast and lunch. Less known hiking in the gorge. The NACC, Underground Railroad Museum, Power Vista and Polly King.

I will also address Niagara County wineries. Some wineries don’t see value in participating in the Niagara Wine Trail. I will be including the wineries

https://www.wbfo.org/local/2024-08-11/turtle-building-supporters-seekin…