Orlando!

FINALLY! For the long Veteran's Day weekend, I made my way to the Sunshine State (meh) to visit my best friend (who lives too dang far away). Obviously, there are a couple of things you just do when you're in Orlando, so we did the things.

Pre-Day 1: Dinner at a Latin restaurant, to remind me how poor my Spanish has become over the years. And catching up on our entire lives since we saw each other... 3 months ago. Seriously, there were a lot of things that needed discussing. Then we found our way to the Fort Knox of Airbnbs (my very first Airbnb).

Day 1: Universal Studios

*insert music that makes your heart soar*

Permission form to Hogsmeade? Have fun at Hogsmeade.

Because of course this was our first stop. There was no way I could be this close and not come. It seriously made me so ridiculously happy. We started with the Dueling Dragon's roller coaster (both sides), and then headed toward the simulator ride inside Hogwarts castle. The simulator was my favourite ride (rivaled only by Poseidon's Fury), even though it was the last my stomach permitted me to ride. I am not at all a roller coaster girl. Not. At. All. But I did 2, and whatever simulators are classified as...

After that, I was perfectly happy to explore Hogsmeade and Universal Studios sans rides. I watched the Durmstrang boys and Beauxbaton girls perform, as well as the Hogwarts Frog Choir (which made some unique song selections). Got a couple of things at Honeydukes, a bottle of Pumpkin Juice, a Butterbeer (not as good as the one in London, unfortunately), and generally soaked it all in. My friend is most certainly a roller coaster girl, but isn't into Harry Potter, so for a bit we were perfectly happy to hang out separately.

There is so much detail that went into the construction of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. Very likely, as much detail went into other portions of the park, but this is the one I know best. From shop and restaurant windows, even those with nothing inside, to the support structure for the Owl Post, thought was put into everything. The wood would probably have been enough, but nope, there are owls that move and make noise in the rafters. 

We did a number of other things, wandering the entire park, buying some bugs from Jurassic Park, riding the carousel in Seussland, etc. The Lost Continent was an amazing portion of the park, but my heart belongs to Hogwarts. 

<3 <3 <3

Checking Orlando off the list!

Day 2: Disneyworld - Epcot!

Chevy Test Track

Disneyworld grows its own food.
Did you know this?!

My friend and I are both big travelers, and Epcot was totally up our alley. But we started with the Chevy Test Track ride (twice) and the NASA Mars Mission rides. In the end, we'd also do Spaceship Earth (which was gorgeous) Living with the Land, the Three Caballeros... We did many more rides, but a very different style. 

However, the big draw of Epcot is the national exhibits. *sigh* We haven't been able to travel together much, but we got to share stories about the places we've been and eat our way around the world. We munched our way through the Caribbean (pescado con coco), Greece (Greek Nachos), Patagonia (boniato purée), New Zealand (green-lipped mussels), China (mango green tea, strawberry red bean ice cream), Africa (buttered chicken), Poland (golabki), Italy (cannoli al cioccolato), Morocco (chocolate baklava), and Brazil (pork belly). We took in a show about France, and saw Canada in 360˚ with Martin Short. We wove in and out of buildings reproducing those from across the globe. And it was magical. 

All day, and only a slight tan.
Sunscreen, keepin' that porcelain skin pasty-white. 

An amazing weekend with my amazing friend! <3