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Simeon Mitropolitski is a Canadian analyst, of Bulgarian origin, and a former syndicated columnist with the Bulgarian News Agency (BTA). He is the author of several hundred articles dealing with hot political and economic topics, both national and international.

He was part of the first group of Bulgarian intellectuals and students that began the opposition movement that finally put an end to the communist regime in this country in 1989, and in 1996-1997 participated in international observation teams during the elections in several Balkan countries - Romania, Albania and Bulgaria.

In 2002 Simeon and his family moved from Bulgaria to Canada where they live now in Montreal, province of Quebec. Simeon is a Master of Political Science from McGill University and a B.A. of Political Science and History.

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At the beginning there was only the Falls (Niagara Falls). Then came people to admire it. It wasn't until very recently that on the Canadian coast (where else) the Casino was built. It won't take long before the Casino turn the falls into secondary class tourist attraction alongside the slot machines.

For more than a hundred years since the middle of 19th century the prime and indisputable tourist attraction at Niagara has been the falls. Since 1846 millions of visitors have admired the falling waters from the boats "Maid of the Mist". People came from all over the world to see this natural wonder so step by step a whole industry was created on the both sides of the river to host and entertain the dear guests.

Every 15 minutes, all day long, 6 months annually small boats take from both coasts brave tourists into the very mist of the falling and thunderous waters. Since the middle of 19th century boats have become bigger and bigger, taking 100 then 300 then even 600 passengers every quarter of an hour. Even with such capacity, and given the ticket price of approximately $10, the annual revenue of this once prime tourist attraction reaches $70 million. If some day boats become even bigger that will increase the revenues, but can this tiny river hosts boats as large as Titanic? Thus the tourist revenues from this attraction will increase but only slightly.

The real revolution came 6 years ago when the Casino was built on the Canadian coast, right in front of the falls. Thousands of slot machines, hundreds of gambling tables, 9 million visitors per year and as a result - $50 million in revenue per month. Even today the Niagara Falls Casino attracts 10 times more money than the falls itself. But this is just a beginning. By 2006 this Casino will be enlarged and its capacity will be doubled. To turn the Canadian coast of the river into a small version of Las Vegas - that's the bright future as it looks like from today's perspective.

There are all reasons to believe that Niagara Falls (Canada) can be the next version of Las Vegas. It's approximately not too far from the most populated areas in the US and Canada. Everything between New York City and Detroit falls within 4-5 hours of driving from Niagara Falls. Just one bridge separates the US from the Casino, the local population of course is English-speaking and the dear visitors can use their US dollars anywhere in Niagara Falls (Canada)*.

Niagara Falls demonstrates the real relationship in our societies between the power of nature and the power of money. Even if we talk about a real natural phenomenon, its power to attract money pales before the power of the greediness.

At the beginning there was only the falls. Then people came and built the Casino. It's only a matter of time to see how this Casino and its updates overshadow the falls itself. The falls won't disappear of course; it will become just another by-attraction of the people going to spend their money at the Casino tables. There will forever be people going to Niagara only to see this natural phenomenon but their share in the total tourist arrivals will diminish from year to year.

NOTE: All prices are in Canadian dollars ($1 US = $ 1.50 CAD).

* I suggest exchanging US into Canadian dollars before entering Niagara Falls (Canada) because the exchange rates around the Casino are really disastrous and have nothing to do with the real exchange rates.

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