Universal Studio & Islands Of Adventures.

Universal Studio & Islands Of Adventures

Day 23.

Islands Of Adventures.

Wow this sums up most of the expressions for this park, finding myself saying it as I turned the next corner, when I got off a ride and with every part of this park.

This was like nothing I’ve seen before, I mean all I have to compare it to is our theme parks, this is our parks but on drugs.

We had to wake up 6.45am so we could get there by 8.40am so we could get to most of the rides with ease, so waking up that early was a struggle, especially because we didn’t get to bed until 12am the night before.

Riding the bus in the morning cold and foggy, well worth the cold and bus ride.

Arrive get our tickets sorted, we had bought them the night before at a vendor around our hotel, there are ticket vendors everywhere around Disney World, trying to sell you cheap tickets to everything, they can give good deals.

So we got in line, doors opened at about 5 to 9, we were told to get to Harry Potter world first because during the day they close the whole section because it always reaches maximum capacity..

We rushed to Harry Potter world, seeming to be not the only people with the same idea, by the time we got the Harry Potter there was already a 25 min wait to get on the main ride.

Walking through the Hogwarts gates immediately seeing the Hogwarts, this was amazing the detail they had put into this ride, it really captures the image perfectly and allows the dream to become reality, I mean come on we all dream about being a wizard or is that just me.  

Hogwarts over looks the town, we walked into the castle, heading to the main attraction with no idea what it was or even what was going to happen.

Finally making our way through Hogwarts, passing many of the amazing details they had implemented to give it the authenticity of the movies, but them perfectly executed. Passing the talking frames, walking through classrooms, passing the entrance to Dumbledore’s office and there was so much more, I cant tell you them all you need to get up there and see for your self.

The HP ride was, well because we didn’t know what to expect, when we got up the top and got seated, we where on a conveyor belt, I was like what is this?

It soon all changed, the ride was breath taking, riding around the ground, fighting dragons, my smile didn’t disappear for awhile after that ride. This ride is a must do if venturing on the shores of U.S.A, your time and money is to value and well worthy it for the experience.

The rest of HP world is great and is again a must see, there are two other rides, but they wouldn’t be the next best thing.

They have a lot of the shops from the movies and it is well worth taking the time to see them all, you will see some good stuff and will be good.

Now how can the rest of the park holed up to something as good as that, you’re thinking, well it does in other ways.

The park is divided 6 parts all packed with fun, fun for all ages as well.

In order from right to left, first, comic book, Toon lagoon, Jurassic park, Harry Potter, lost world, Seuss landing and comic world.

Each having at least one main attraction, weather it be a ride or a show, and then they have some many other little things to help occupy yourself and fill the day with no boring parts.

Ok ill only list a few high lights, there was so much you’ll get bored reading about one park.

Hulk Roller Coaster, Pop-eye Water Ride, Lost World Show. Three other good rides.

The food wasn’t too bad with pricing better then ours, there was nothing over $10, but Carly got a meal that was cold and looked like someone had taken a bite out of the patty. They have a good meal deal $19.99 per person and you can eat as much as much as you want, we didn’t do it at IOA but we did at US. It worked out so much better because I paid the money and every time I went up and got something to eat Carly and I shared, this made our day go from $40 for lunch and dinner to $20 so it worked good.

I think this family next to us realized what we where doing so I moved away, see they all had meal deals and I bet they were like “man I wish we where as smart as him”, what can I say, I’m shift especially with Carly, I need to save the money so I can buy her flowers,(she wishes).

We got there like I said around 8.40am and didn’t leave until 9.30pm then we didn’t get home until 11,30pm because all the busses we had to catch home had either stopped, or were on the last run, lucky for us I talk too much and became friends with the drivers and they held 3 buses so we could get home, that’s not joke. I love the public transport in Orlando, ours needs to replicate it.

Day 24.

Universal Studios.

Wet, Rain, and a poncho would come in handy.

See Carly and I planned to do US on the Monday because we knew it was going to rain, we didn’t expect that much and not for as long as it did, which dampened our day, literally.

We didn’t get to US early because we needed to sleep after the late night before.

Jason & Carly
Signing Out
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Day 19, 20, 21 and 22

Days 19, 20, 21 and 22 (SEAWORLD).

Well for some reason I’ve skipped a day or mixed them up so I have to advance our dates and we are up to day 22.

So if today is 22 and on day 19 is where ill start.

The real Day 19.

Sun, Sand, Beach and white bums.           

All of what I’m talking about below, being South beach, not main downtown Miami, even though downtown is great in other ways.

It was a beautiful day in Miami, sun and sea what more can you ask for a great beach? Topless babes, hot weather, beautiful water, the list would go on, the best thing is we got it all.

The day couldn’t be better, no clouds and the water was a perfect temperature.

Miami, when thinking about it, to me, was cars, parties and a lot of other unattractive activities that don’t appeal to me. Landing in Miami, shocked with my misconceptions, not all wrong but there is so much more to it all.

Walking the streets, the feeling it brings, is un-among others, it felt like I had stepped out on the USA and landed in a new country. Hearing more foreign languages than English was weird, but added to the uniqueness of Miami.

Coming into Miami with no real desire for it, leaving with such an enjoyment of the atmosphere and life of what I felt, I could call Miami home (if I was rich).

Miami is a must-do destination if you are traveling in the U.S, if you head down here you can’t be cheap. South beach will need to be done with good accommodation, have something within walking distance from the main strip, its just brings the night life and daily activities much more accessible.

Day 20.

Gators and a high pitch voice, give us giggles.

Well it start off with a tour of the Everglades, swamps, gators and an airboat.

The drive was about 40 mins to get there not too bad, we saw a different side to Florida then we had before.

Rocking up, there were lots of tour groups, really just looked like an old gas station.

We got on the airboat and did a 15 min ride around some swamps it was fun, saw some alligators and wildlife, next was a 10 min animal show, that concluded the most part of the tour. The guy who did the show had the funniest voice ill try putting up a movie soon.

To me I didn’t enjoy it, the factors for that where the alligators in the swap, there were just 2, I saw more on the bus ride up there. Next was the animal show it was way to short, he show only 4 different animals, all for brief amounts of time.

I felt that it was just over priced for what you got, although it was a nice experience and it was fun, if you do go down, don’t over anticipate what your getting and it will be fun. If you are into this and want more bang for your buck and have a little more money, in New Orleans they feed the alligators while your in the boat and it’s a long tour, that would be my suggestion.

After that we met up with john before we parted ways with him, sad to leave, he was my first good friend on the trip and we really had fun with him, making us laugh, we hope to catch up if we cross paths again.

After that we had to wait until 11:45 pm to catch the bus to Tampa.

Day 21.

Kicking our bus trip off, screaming people, sleepy driver and sleep.

What a day, boy oh boy, what a day.

Starting with the bus ride, we found out that we need to travel all the way back to Orlando then catch a connecting bus to Tamper Bay, then we would have had to catch a bus back to Orlando the next day. This sucked because we thought the bus would go straight to tamper as it was closer to Miami then Orlando was, so we had to make the decision not to go to tamper this time round, so many reasons for that decision.

The bus driver was crazy, swerving on the road, he got a roar from everyone on the bus, they were yelling and screaming, chanting and taunting, this made me nervous. The screaming went on, really it wasn’t that big of a deal, he just went over the bumpy lines on the side of the road.

For the rest of the trip, many of the passengers were keeping a constant eye on the status of the bus driver and how he was going, it was funny for a while after some of the jokes were really good.

Met a cool guy on this ride, his name is Paul (kennezs), we had a good chat most of the trip and in the greyhound station as we waited 4.5 hours for some sunlight.

When sun broke the horizon, we headed to the city, for starbucks, we had to find a place for us to stay, we haven’t slept in over 24 hours and it was taking its toll on us.

We found a place to stay after sitting in there for 4 hours, they were looking at us thinking, what are they doing, we only got a drink when we first sat down, to that was gone after 20 mins.

Our troubles begin now. DON’T EVER BOOK…

Deciding on a hotel, we booked through expedia that gets you cheap rates with hotels and what not.

We got to this hotel at 2:15pm they said our reservation hadn’t been confirmed, so I called expedia explained what the hotel told me, they said the booking was confirmed before we had even got to the hotel. This happened one more time after an hour of sitting, same answer again now this time I made them send a fax with the details of the booking, the hotel then said they hadn’t received a fax, but it might be coming.

By this time I was getting angry about the fact of how long we had been waiting and we hadn’t slept at all, I gave them 30 mins for this, by that time they still had nothing.

I became awake with her lies when she gave me conflicting information.

I called expedia and exploded at them with the fact of how long we had been waiting, and the fact it happened the first time we booked with them also. The girl who I was on the phone to was helpful she called the hotel and spoke to the bitch who lied to us the whole time, she couldn’t even man up when her lies got pulled up and made another girl deal with me, so I could check in. they had no reason for not letting us in other customer have been coming off the street and getting rooms. Yes they had rooms available they have over 300 rooms and there is only about 20 cars in the lot.

Now some of you might be thinking we the hotel maybe didn’t know about the booking or had not information, but no that isn’t true, to book a room and get a confirmation number, expedia gets in contact with the hotel confirms availability and then gets a booking number, they then send it to you once all confirmed.

She blamed It on expedia the whole time. I have no idea why she wouldn’t let us in but it pissed me off, all we wanted to do is sleep.

The problems haven’t stopped the reception is rude, rooms stink basically if it wasn’t for location and price this would have nothing going for it at all. The shuttles aren’t free they cost, no Internet in rooms like stated.

When we finally checked in and got in our rooms it was 4:10pm

(Sorry for the full description there I don’t want to have to write the review two times)

Like I said getting in our room at 4:10 we hadn’t ate anything as well because of the bus, so we went to an all you can eat buffet down the road before we slept, we ate the lights out. There was so much food, where do we start and where do we end was the main trouble we now faced. We ate our guts to capacity, and then hobbled back to our rooms where we hibernated for the night.

The time was 5.10pm by the time we were in bed for our nap.

Day 22.

Sleep and Sea World

We woke up, unaware of time, Carly slugged her way over to check the time, oops umm, is this real its 8:15am the next day, we had slept around 15 hours.

We had to check our emails because we had emailed our friend Bob, who we met on the bus, he was the nicest guy you could imagine, Bob was also as tall as a tree. Bob had offered Carly and I, free tickets to sea world as he worked there.

He had emailed us back with what we had to do and how to get in.

We met up with Bob at the front gate, and he got us in and was this one of the best things I have ever done.

Let me explain a little about this area first and one of the reasons SeaWorld is good.

We if you can look at a map of Orlando, you’ll see that Disney world is massive, it is way to over bearing and it will make you lose your head if your not helped out.

This makes the fact that SeaWorld isn’t apart of it all so its out of the Disney cluster, its so much better and you will thank yourself after visiting SeaWorld for picking it over something else.

For Australians you will know our SeaWorld, it is mostly skipped out of the other theme parks, as it doesn’t hold that much stuff to keep you busy or interested with it.

Well not this SeaWorld it is amazing, the Shows here are better then the rides and that’s saying something because the rides are amazing as well.

We saw three of the big shows them being, Dolphins and Whales then Sea lions and Otters followed by the famous, Shamu show. Not even photos give the shows any justice, they had better choreography then all dancing I have seen, they leave you with your mouth on the ground, if I saw this as a child I would have wanted to work with animals. Its great for everyone, the Sea lions and Otters show I don’t know if it’s a comedy but it was very funny for everyone, and very well done. Both Dolphins and the Shamu show just were amazing, the acrobatics in the show 1000x better then so you thing you can dance, so stop watching that crap and get down to SeaWorld and learn from the pros.

All jokes aside, there was so much more to do as well, the roller coasters breath taking, I was nervous when I got on them so that’s saying something, with so many loops, twists and turns you never knew what was coming.

So we want to thank Bob for something that if we hadn’t met him we wouldn’t have experienced, and it was amazing, a must do in Florida!

 


Jason & Carly
Signing Out
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Day 19.

Day 19.

Sexy Legs, Sexy bum and well a long day.

Well we did plan on a early morning hitting up the beach but with all my burns I was in no state to get in the sun for a long period of time, no matter what.

With nothing on mind we had wanted to hire bikes and ride around Miami, so we did it.

It started off slow because after riding for ages I got our camera out and realized there was no sd card in there, so I raced back while Carly sat at this beautiful park, right on the waters edge.

After the ride to get the card we got on our way, it was going to be a long ride and long day.

Riding for 2 hours we got hungry, stopping at hooters in bayside Miami, we had a nice lunch, there were buns everywhere but I didn’t mind.

We got back on the bikes and peddled away and just enjoyed Miami, it is an amazing city equally as good as south beach.

Its more of one of those moments, that you just had to be there, I’m sorry for you all that are reading this because your not here, but I do hope/recommend that you get down here around this time of year maybe a little bit after because the prices are through the roof due to Spring break and Americas biggest electric music festival that’s going on next week.

So your like why did he start this day with that, well our bums and legs are in all sorts of pain, we got back at 6pm that’s 7 hours, we busted it.

High lights: all of it we made our way down to Coconut grove which is amazing and saw Madonna’s house. 

Jason & Carly
Signing Out
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Day 18.

Day 18.

Well it was a tomato of a day, for me, Carly enjoyed that fact.

Well the day kicked off mid morning, heading down to the beach to soak the rays up.

We’ll as girls can do, tanning is just unthinkable for me, I get bored, fidget, and really with so many girls walking around I can’t keep my eyes closed.

So I walked, I really didn’t think about how long I went for, or realize how far I had walked until I had to walked back.

Well I started my walk, the beach wasn’t as nice as I expected at first there were sea weeds floating, making it undesirable to swim in. So I walked, this place is filled with people, some areas shoulder to shoulder, not the nicest. Walking the beach realizing how people sort of all sat together then there would be a big gap in between the next group, they were different types of people as well. Noticing that age brackets or social ethnicity would break each group, creating a interesting walk for me, with each new group came something new and surprising but it was so fun.

After walking one way for about 30mins (I was unaware of time), I turned around and headed back, this walk was so long because I couldn’t remember where I was sitting, what I had to guide me was by using there life guard huts, everyone as unique as the next, this helped me so I finally got back.

We finally got in the water, brrrrrr, it was so cold at the start, colder then normal, then we jumped under. This water was just not beautiful, it so the perfect temperature, after getting under I didn’t want to leave the water, but I did.

 Well, I was tired from my walk, so I lied down on my towel, my back facing the sun, dazzing in and out, I felt the sun on my legs and I was thinking why is it so hot on my legs, I wanted the sun to move up on my back.

I drifted in and out, heavy eyes dropping, so this went on until I ended up turning over, stomach facing the fun, my legs were on fire and I didn’t know why.

Soon finding out that I mustn’t have put sun block the back of my legs, they went the reddest I have ever seen, I have the rose tattoo on the back there, it has red shading on the rose peddles that are the same color as the burn.

We didn’t have a watch or any thing to know the time, so we went to get something to eat for the first time today, we found out the time was 3.15pm we had got to the beach at 10:30. With that we didn’t know were the time went so, decided to go have a shower and a rest so we could go out that night.

Well we didn’t know what to do, so we hit up the main strip of South Beach, as it was a Sunday night it wasn’t as packed as the night before, but it was still packed.

We decided to get some dinner, as we were waiting I saw the tattooist that had done some work on Lil Wayne, you can watch them tattoo him on Youtube, anyway I went in, I had to get something done, those hands had touched him.

Very undeceive, I wanted something nobody has, or something I hadn’t seen yet, I got thinking throw some ideas to Carly and decided on one. I got it for a steal the guy didn’t want to let me leave so I gave him a ridiculously low price and he said yes.

Got it done and I love it, had some worries after paying but I think it came a lot better then I pictured, once it is fully completed I will be happy.

After this we went back as it was 11.40pm, had nothing else to do ad we were tried.

 


Jason & Carly
Signing Out
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Day 17.

Day 17

Today we got the bus from Orlando to Miami.

Well it wasn’t as fine and dandy as that, there was stress, confusion, relief and excitement.

The day started early, getting up at 5.40am to get to our bus.

Nothing exciting happened all morning and it just went slow, we got on the bus, this is when the worries started. We didn’t get accommodation before leaving, we didn’t even look at accommodation or the prices of what it was going to cost.

I jumped on the Internet on the bus and started looking, there was nothing, no hostels with vacancies nor was there any hotels that we could afford available.

So for the rest of the 5 hour bus ride we just didn’t think about what we were going to do, because it was looking like we wouldn’t be in Miami for long or sleeping on the beach.

As the trip went on we met 2 girls and a guy that were heading down to Miami also, we had a really good chat for the rest of the bus ride. They were originally from Austin Texas, they offered to show us around when we get there so we’ll be seeing them again. Laura who I spoke to mostly is 21 and she can show as around Austin and Houston Texas, so it will be very fun for the both of us.

When we got off the bus we didn’t know what to do, my laptop didn’t have any more battery and we had on idea where or if we would find something.

I met a guy from brazil and he was staying at Santa Barbra hostel and we were going to go to where he was staying and try to get a room, lucky as we get trying to get a taxi a guy asked me about my accommodation. This man was John, he said to me that he was doing the same thing, an impulse made him head down too, but wait he was with a girl, Alexandra whom he met on the bus, that was doing the exact same thing as him.

So here we have 4 people who on impulse were heading down to Miami and somehow all meet up and find out we all don’t have anywhere to stay.

Lucky for Carly and I, they knew a number that gets you accommodation and cheap, Alexandra was on the phone for about 20 mins finding cheap and good places to stay.

We found one it is called Chelsea hotel, it is beautiful and it’s on south beach.

We can walk across the road and up one street and we are on sand, its about 1 min walk. The cost is cheaper then hostels around this area and its almost $150 cheaper then hotels in this area, its amazing, I didn’t expect it to be so good, but its so good.

After we booked the room it took an hour for us to even get the key, to book the room you needed to be 21 so john had to book it for me and then I paid. While booking expeadia the company we booked it with, somehow stuff the booking up and booked us somewhere else. They couldn’t find out booking and we could do anything, they ended up just giving us the room even with out us having a booking in the system.

After we worked it all out we headed down to the beach we walked the strip and soaked up Miami.

Its bold, in your face, colorful, fun, full of life, crazy, people, cars, bikes, tans, thongs, topless, but mainly there is just everything you could imagine in one of the most beautiful places in the world could have.

We spent the night with John and Alexandra, walking the strip, enjoying it as well all hadn’t been there before. John is funny loves having a laugh, he loves basketball I love that because we can talk all night especially with march madness going on. Alexandra is a bar tender in Phili and just had enough and wanted to go away so headed down here to look for work, she’s fun, loves to have a good talk.

 We all headed out for dinner and had some pizza, chatted and it ended out to be really fun.

After we all went back to our rooms, Carly and I went back out for a walk, we hit up the main strip and walked from end to end, its crazy, its spring break so there are people everywhere. Its fun because compared to New Orleans, not being able to stay out after dark and able to feel safe, where we went for our walk at 10:20pm and felt pretty safe. People were everywhere, and the streets were full of parties and its just such a buzz. Night life like a street party and a fashion show, to know it’s like this year around almost, its just an unsure real feeling compared to anything I had felt before.

To sum up Miami, well I never felt like it was going to be the thing for me but more for Carly, but the life on the streets the music in the air from corner to corner, its just so much fun.

 


Jason & Carly
Signing Out
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Day 15.

Day 15.

Well well well, what will today bring.

With the city not having as much to it as we expect, we wanted to exaggerate all possible leads on things to do.

Morning, we woke up that’s about all we had of it, mostly because by the time we got out its wasn’t morning anymore.

 it was maybe the best sleep I have every had, the bed is the bed for me its perfect its hard but soft gosh its good if I could steal it I would, I hate my bed at home.

Well we got to walking, we only walked to the bus stop, then got a bus.

The walk from downtown to Renee’s house is really good because Orlando, it has got lakes everywhere and nice foliage. We had done it the day before because we went over budget so I wouldn’t let us spend any more money because it was light and he have all the time to walk for 1.3 hours.

We went downtown to book our skyline tour, at the information centre. The information centre has a little booklet that has a map with a route that you can walk and see the history of Orlando. The map provides 28 buildings or locations, its history and some information/facts on them, fun if you like architecture and old buildings and history.

After that we saw this massive line for something, we followed it and it was $1 subs at a place Jimmy John’s, they were really nice and a good change from everything I have been eating.

After that we went on our sky line tour and saw the city from a good height up, very nice if I wasn’t busting to got to the toilet, I made them wait for me go. I tell you the people in that building must have been very important because the toilet paper they had was from the plant of comfort, it was amazing (need to find some of it). I know men use toilet paper for one reason and you might think its gross but if I gave you that paper, it would shut you up.

As it was around 3pm we had nothing to do, we decided to go to the Florida mall this thing is huge, shops, shops, and then food court. We didn’t leave there until 9pm that just shows the extent of the time I spent in Lids (a hat shop) Carly hated me but there were to many hats and I didn’t have enough money for all of them, so I didn’t get any,But it was huge and there is so much more then Australian shopping centres. We met a group of 3 girls, they were really nice and funny, Cotton On. has opened stores all round USA and that's were we met the girls. They where down here in Orlando on vacation, i think they all came down from Chicago, hopefully will get to meet up with them up there.

Than we came back to Renee’s, organized what were going to do over the next week or so then we went so sleep.

It was a fun day all in all, we hope to get to Universal studios theme park with in next 2 weeks

 


Jason & Carly
Signing Out
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Day 14.

Day 14.

Bye Bye New Orleans, Hello and good-bye Mississippi and Alabama. HELLO Florida.

Well it was exciting to leave New Orleans, I had a, well not a relief but we were ready to move on and see some new stuff.

Well we we were off , hours in to our ride we had to change bus at Mobile, Mississippi.  At this small station but comfortable. This is were we met those south Americans that got on our nerves (not really, they were the funniest. We love you both)

Following that we, the awesome four, travels though the night passing city by city. Some places include: Biloxi, Mobile, Panama City and Tallahassee

Finally arriving at our destination Orlando, we had to say good-bye to Glaucia and Rodrigo. They we still traveling down to Miami were they would depart back home in around a weeks time.

We arrived at Orlando at 4am in the morning, fun right. We had organized to stay with a girl called Renee who hosts on couch surfing. Carly and I haven’t don’t this before, I’v stay at places in Australia but never in another country.  With this we were very weary of it and didn’t know what to expect.

With arriving at 4am we didn’t know what to do we couldn’t stay at any hotel or really go anywhere, Renee offered to pick us up, but I had to refuse the offer. We still hadn’t experienced backpacking, hadn’t had to be uncomfortable or put out to a great extent, this was a perfect start for us. Plus there is know way I would expect somebody I had never met to come and pick us up at 4 in the morning.

So we waited.. and we waited.. time ticked and it tocked, but we really it was just slow waiting. It was fun see people come and go, it would fill right up and within 10 mins it would be empty then fill up and the cycle would continue.

We met very interesting people again while waiting, it seems that not all people that catch grey hound are loony actually quite the opposite. There was a lady, Eloise, she was very nice, we talked and talked. Never leaving America in her life but she was fill with travel and lifes knowledge, her personality was very caring and like sharing secrets, not weird ones for you thinking dirty. Just stuff most people don’t know and I liked it, we exchanged email and hope to speak again.

We had fun, though time, did take its time.

8:40 hit and we decided it was light enough we could travel downtown.

We didn’t really take much in at the start, but it all hit us soon after.

We first us went to the Downtown information center, this is very good because they have a lot to do that’s free and they can give you most if not all the information that you need. Yes, I know that may sound weird but in New Orleans the main information spots, must have been paid more for certain attractins and restaurants so they didn’t like to push much free stuff or good local things. I personally recommend using the little info booths all through out the city if you find yourself in New Orleans,  they are a lot more friendly and are willing to give you more info, I met a guy named Jack and he was very cool we are in contact still (facebook of course) he might come down to Australia one day and I can show him around. His stall is next to the stairs to the free ferry.

Back to what I was saying. They also give you skyline tours and take you around Orlando showing you the sights, so downtown Orlando information center.

Following that we walked down to the main lake in the City, it’s called Lake Eola, its almost the center of the city. Its beautiful down there with an array of wildlife its is a very peaceful places. We watch a man with the squirrels given them nuts and making there noise, his name was Bob. Bob helped me get some cool photos of the squirrels, he love them so asked me if I could send him some to his home. He also is very nice, hopefully if you ever come down here I would hope you meet him, because the squirrels are very funny around him.

After no sleep on the bus and none at the station we were very tired, Carly got to nap while I watched the bags for an hour. Then, and only here in the US of A, I had a man, a man that seemed very nice and im sure he might have had good intentions. We after my New Orleans experience with the big guy (GOD), and his followers, when this man can up to me I, well I don’t know I just let him go. He talked about god he talked about him he talked about how Jesus was going to come back, none I had a problem with, he wanted to express his believe I have no problem with. Following the 5 minute conversation well him talking, he asked me “can I do a prayer for you” as long as I didn’t have to hold his hand I didn’t care, and I could use as much help as I can on this trip. He prayer for me and it was long, it was funny though, he kept stuffing up and repeating parts, but he did his best, following this, he dropped the bomb.

After completing the prayer he asked me for money with some story of how he has none and its what god wanted of him, I explain well I might not have any money for you, he then replies “ well I can walk you to the supermarket and you can buy me food there”. My jaw hit the ground and I didn’t know what to do, was it a joke or what, he goes on about god and what not, then asks for money. I think he thinks, that because of his belief in god that is a weight off him and that he isn’t swindling people, so I just gave him $2, to leave us alone.

It don’t know if it has the same impact on you maybe it was one of those you had to be there moments but for us it was like “Really”. Let me you know this man was very well dressed not homeless, then again the homeless in Orlando look more like business man then homeless people.

On to the city of Orlando, it was weird or more I guess, wasn’t anything Carly or I were expecting, now its nor worse or better then he had expected because we never had a clear image of it, just were our imagination took us I guess.

But I tell you I never expected this, some of what I did think was along the lines of, big, over crowed and just the hustle and bustle of a city. Well its none of that at all, it feels like a giant holiday resort, the people are really nice, there aren’t really many people at all if there are they are out of sight and the city is quite small in a lot of aspects. With saying all that I wouldn’t change a thing about it, its beautiful, clean and a great city.

Around 12:30pm we arrived at Renee’s house via bus, not with a little confusion for us. We got off the bus and didn’t know the direction we had to go, so we walked and we got about 5 streets before I wiped out the laptop and used our wireless to find our location and where we had to go.

Only one street off the house.

Well we got there and we met Renee she is really cool, making it so much easier for us feeling comfortable. Renee’s house is really cool filled with are just like a lot of Orlando, Renee has the coolest dog, he’s big but so palsied.

We sat and chatted for about 40 minuets, then she had to go out, leaving us a key so we can come and go, which is so cool, food, we can eat what every is in her house. Because renee has hosted so many surfers there is information of things to do and just everything a traveler is looking for in a place to stay and That just sums up Renee house. To sum up Renee it would almost be impossible, but the most cool, fun and respectful person I say respectful because I recon I talked her ear off and not once told me to stop. If you are traveling thought Orlando, I suggest stopping by here and spending some nights with her it will make it so much more fun.

I wanted so badly to watch the Bucks vs. Magic (nba) game that I searched for tickets and found four tickets, which worked out perfectly, as Renee was meant to chat up with a friend that night and it could have been a good chance to get out with the locals and experience Orlando. Well there are two games with the two teams one tonight and the other on the 4^th of next month, well I must have crossed between two pages and not realized they were at two different locations. I found 4 tickets for $17, yes all 4 for $17 (Carly grills be if I us the words both or all, she thinks that I mean each, she has know idea) and as you can tell by the way I’m talking it didn’t go to plan. I purchased the tickets as I scrolled down seeing that the game was not in Orlando it was in Milwaukee. Turning to shamble not to bad because I found $25 about 40 minuets later.

We went out at around 3pm, back to the city we walked around Lake Eola, it is a cool little lake, filled with wildlife, they have 5 out of the 8 swans in the world and hoping to have all 8 soon. To me there only looked like 3 different ones, I just think when people found the swans they knew they had been found and was like well this one has a black spot so this not that same. There are many other animals that are like this like, crocs and alligators im sure they could just be the same, emus and ostrich and to me the biggest mistake is humans and gorillas. I’ve have met a lot of people that still act like gorillas, the man I met today the Jesus guy, would say so.  Well I know they are different but if we every need to cut down the number animals they could be starters.

Following that we hired a big swan so we could we could paddle around the lake, I know its for kids but its really fun, if your down here its fun, $15 for half an hour and if you get bored you can just chase the seagulls with it, that’s fun.

Following is that good work out, the countless hours without sleep, I was almost dead. Now when you are in the city or around/in ponds or parks and see the people sleeping, I always think weirdos sleeping around, and you always see backpackers sleeping, I had never seen the appeal of it. I laid down and they sounds of the water, birds, squirrels and just the relaxing feel that Orlando has over me, I slept and it was amazing. Now I will try to sleep by as many ponds as I can.

After that I went to subway for dinner and went back to Renee’s house. Something funny I almost wrote home instead of Renee’s home, this just shows the level on conform ability she provides.

We got to meet Renee’s friend Ryan, he is very cool and we all spent the night listen to music and chatting.

That’s day one in Orlando, different, fun, relaxing and beautiful about sums it up.

 


Jason & Carly
Signing Out
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Day 13.

 

Day 13.

What a bust it has been, bus here and bus there.

Today has been a pleasant bus ride compared to the ride from L.A to New Orleans.

We left this morning from New Orleans, with the hope that Orlando will bring us a good next leg of the trip.

The bus left the station at 9:50am 15/03 and is expected to arrive in Orlando at 4:00am 16/03.

Well the trip didn’t start out with anything crash, I read the newspaper for all of the first leg and before you knew it we rocked up at our transfer at Mobile in Mississippi.

We had to wait 1.5 hours before it was meant to leave, on this time we just waited.

A lot of nose and chatting came form these two weird looking foreigners, laughing like their jokes were so funny and they were cooler than everyone else.  

At first I didn’t really know what to think but I was like I need to speak to them, This guy named Rodrigo looked interesting, he looked like a Swiss army knife he had a pocket for anything plus he was a good looking chap.

Then you have Glaucia, well what could I say, I didn’t know what to think, I just through she was checking me out, thinking to myself gee hope or her boyfriend don’t see or this might end bad. Haha

All jokes aside, we just happed to sit behind them we got to talking and so far it hasn’t stopped.

They both didn’t know each other before coming over here, meeting at there job McDonald’s, where they had both been working for the past 3 months.

It was now time for them both to get on home, Rod is currently studying in Mechanical Engineering field, Glaucia was also studying but to become a architect.

There might be something blossoming or it could jus t be how the South Americans are.

Because of them this trip has been alot more enjoy able and also to add we are on one of the new Grey Hound buses, which come with EXTRA leg room, free Wi-Fi and they have power adaptors on the side, very cool.

Awaiting us in Orlando, we are going to be couch surfing and this will be a huge this for us, so depending on how we feel after it will determine if we continue doing so.

Im sure it will be amazing experience

 


Jason & Carly
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more coming

we haven't had time to update, there are 3 days that are in lou, that just need to be completed 

Jason & Carly
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Day 12

Day 12.

Yes I didn’t do one for day 11 nothing really interesting happen we visited some final places as it was the second last day we had to explore N.O.

(Day 11 quick rap up)

We visited the original Café Du Monde and let me tell you still not worth the wait, but they were so much better then the ones we first had from the other Du Monde. The were crispy outside and soft inside it was very good, way too sweet for me so I felt sick after the third one you should see how much icing sugar they put on them. So my conclusion is if you travel here you need to get to the original and it is worth it if you want to do the taste part of being a tourist. 

We then hit up the French markets and walked the streets and explored what was there.

Back to day 12, well I almost cried like a girl this was the best day since we had been here.

Starting off we had seen these 3 wheel sort of bike/buggies and you can rent them, so we to got some prices. While at the information center I didn’t tell Carly but I sign us up for what seemed to be the most boring 90 mins of our lives, I signed us up for a virtual tour of the city’s accommodation. So basically we would have to go into a room and sit there for about 90-120 mins and listen to what they say, then we could get the buggy for free which would have set us back $90usd so I said yes.

We had to fill out some details, as I started carly saw what I was doing and walked over to me, then I had to tell her. See I knew how she would react so I had to do it without her knowing until I was done, once I told her, the smile disappeared like chasing a lizard, couldn’t find it for ages. See luckily for carly we hit a snag the main guy wouldn’t get us go up, because we didn’t have an American credit card. Then he tried to explain it, I think he made it up because he looked at my card and said “see there is this sign saying not an American card” he wasn’t holding the card so I could see then I looked, couldn’t see a mark on it.

With that turning to shambles I had to try and find my next thrill, no matter what it was good or bad it wasn’t going to change my mood on this day.

The night before I got Carly and I some very good seats to see the NBA and was I happy, the tickets cost $120 each I got them for $25 each, some may call me cheap, some called me extremely good looking (I tend to not disagree) but I will happily settle with bargain hunter. Back to the point so I was very happy with the price and the seats. So I was going to be on a high all day. We were watching N.O Hornets Vs. Denver Nuggets

We didn’t really have much to do today, had done everything within walking distance and or things we found of interest to ourselves.

We took the ferry across the Mississippi River, boy was it cold the water would freeze you if you jumped in. The reason that is so cold, a man explain to me is, the water is always coming down stream from the snow and mountains where it is cooler most time year round. So there’s something new so when you go over the Mississippi it most likely will be cold.

While we were waiting to get the conformation from the guy I bought the tickets from, we stopped at McDonald's because they have free wireless.

This is where I almost cried like a girl, well not cried but my face went red with an overwhelming feeling of joy, Carly laughed at me because she had never seen me this happy or smile as big.

Well the reason of course, when I was walking into McDonald's I almost walked into this guy because I wasn’t looking where I was going, I look up and my jaw almost hit the ground. The man that made me feel this way was J.R Smith many of you don’t know how he is, well he plays NBA for Denver Nuggets, a team that I like and not only that he is one of my favorite players. There was one problem because I didn’t want to be a fool, in the slight chance I was wrong I couldn’t steer at him, didn’t want to be beaten up if it wasn’t.

I think he realized I recognized him because he scurried across the road, thank you for doing so J.R because this rabbit let me to the nest, what’s in this nest the whole family. So I got to see the whole Denver Nuggets team limber there way into the bus. The one thing that still gets me is why is he eating McDonald's before he is playing a game, he went on a shooting rampage at the game so mustn’t have effected him too much.

After seeing the coolest thing I most likely see this trip, I might as well go home now right..

After that we had to pick up our Greyhound tickets we were heading to Orlando tomorrow, also needing to get our Discovery Passes for the rest of the trip.

After picking up the tickets we headed to the NBA to watch our first game.

The game went to quick but it was good, at the start they had fireworks go off, they are in a closed dome and the roof isn’t that high, so full on. For you all to understand the game and understand our experience better then me explaining it with over enthusiastic words, words that most likely will sound like something out of a X rated movie or Playboy mag, I hope to post a new movie with some highlights over then Mardi Gra because N.O has alot to offer

That’s the most part of the day. 

 


Jason & Carly
Signing Out
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