Double Day

Today a double post, as we headed back to Orlando from Tampa and did not have internet in our hotel room the first day.

But let me start with day 8 of our trip. We had to check out from our hotel room in Tampa. It’s a great hotel, very close to the Tampa Bay Times Forum, where we had a great time at the Katy Perry concert. Today we woke up in time to check out and ate breakfast in the hotel at The Bar. After breakfast, we put all our belongings in the car and drove off.

On our way from Tampa to Orlando, we stopped at Dinosaur World. We have been here before a couple of years ago, but Xandrine likes it a lot and would like to visit it again. Since it is on our way from Tampa to Orlando, we do not have to drive a lot for it. This would be a good opportunity to visit the park again and check out what has changed. So instead of following the I4, we took a different road to the park and when we arrived, it was hot, over 100 Fahrenheit.

We took the chilly pad with us and needed it today. In the park most of the dinosaurs are the same as on our last visit. What has changed is, that there are more activities than the last time. There is still the fossil dig, but new to us was the dino gem excavation. We also got the chance to view a show about the excavation this time. Last time it was not there as I can remember that they were rebuilding the structure.

So we did the whole tour this time again. Saw hundreds of dinosaurs and Xandrine did both the fossil dig and the dino gem excavation. Besides that she also played at the boneyard, where kids can play in a sandbox excavating a dinosaur. The show was also very entertaining and learning experience. Very well done. After a couple of hours, we had seen everything and it was time for us to move further east towards Orlando.

Between Plant City, where Dinosaur World is located, and Orlando, where our hotel is located, is a place called Clermont. We have stayed in Clermont several times in the past, in a rental home. This time we visited Uncle Kenny’s BBQ restaurant, down by the Clermont Citrus Tower, for dinner. We have had BBQ here before and that was very good, so why not support the locals and do it again. Xandrine’s choice was not very BBQ. She had chicken tenders with fries, but she ate them with BBQ sauce, so a bit BBQ is in there. I took the pulled pork egg rolls and a meat combo of ribs and brisket. And they were very very good again.

After dinner we moved to Orlando and got at the hotel late that evening. We spent some time watching television before going to sleep.

The next morning, we both slept until after 10AM. We stayed at our hotel room the morning watching Food Channel. After that we went out for some shopping. We first stopped at Publix and bought a few things, but saw the whole store. Still amazing how big the stores are and what can be bought. After that we went to the shopping mall around the corner and before going shopping, we ate a bite at food court. Then we spent the rest of the afternoon and part of the evening at the Orlando Premium Outlets before leaving the mall for dinner. Today’s choice was made by Xandrine and we ate at Golden Corral. It’s packed in there and even when we left, after 10PM, there were still people coming in. From the Golden Corral we stopped at Walgreens for some afterbite as we were bitten by some insects a couple of days ago and those bites itch. Then around the corner of Walgreens, we were back at the hotel, where we quickly got ready for bed.

Double Day

Surprise!

Today I have a surprise for Xandrine. But that is not until the evening, so it is and will remain a surprise until then.

As I know that this will be a long day, we start slowly. After having slept almost the entire morning, Xandrine wakes up. We stay in bed for another couple of hours and I received a voucher for watching a children’s movie, so I put on Lego The Movie for her. We watched the entire movie and really enjoyed it. To her surprise (no not The surprise) at the end of the movie there are real people in the movie instead of just Lego.

After the movie she still wanted to stay in bed and watch television, but I started to get hungry, so we stood up and got ready. I already told Xandrine yesterday where we would be having our breakfast and that we would walk to it, as it was only a mile away. As we walked out the door and got around the corner of the hotel, we saw a huge sail boat approaching. After asking around, I was told that this was a very special occasion, as this is the official flagship of the columbian navy.

This special ship will stay a few days in Tampa, before heading for New York, where it will be celebrating the liberation day of Columbia, July 20th.

From there we walked further and finally got to our destination for breakfast, lunch that is. We sat down at the FirstWatch breakfast café and ordered our food. Xandrine had bacon and eggs (scrambled) with toast and fresh fruit and I had the Key West Crepe Eggs. Thin layered eggs with turkey, avocado, bacon, tomatoes and Monterey Jack cheese topped with sour cream. With that I got an English muffin and also fresh fruit. Very good breakfast-lunch.

After our lunch, we walked a bit and stumbled upon a Children’s Museum. I thought it would be a good thing to do today before going to the surprise this evening. Xandrine really enjoyed the museum, as this is not an ordinary museum, where you are not allowed to touch anything. This is a Children’s Museum, where you are supposed to touch (almost) everything. And so she did. She tried almost everything in the museum and at the end of the afternoon, it was time to go.

We headed back to the hotel and instead of going to our room, or to the surprise, we asked for the car, as I had to find one thing, she would need this evening, ear protection. So we headed to the nearest Home Depot and got some ear protection for her. Within 45 minutes we we were back again at the hotel and went to our room. We changed clothes for the evening and went to the surprise.

About 10-15 minutes of walking, we were in front of the Tampa Bay Times Forum, where Xandrine saw a merchandise stand with Katy Perry things. Now she knew what the surprise would be. She’s going to her first big concert, Katy Perry in Tampa, Florida. Inside the Times Forum, we walked around, checked out some food and drink stands, got ourselves some bites and drinks and bought some merchandise, to make this a special memorable evening.

Then we went looking for our seats, which was not so easy. We went from the 100-sections up the escalators to the 300-sections and we had to find our way to the 200-sections. After asking we found out, that we could take the stairway or the elevator near 101, which would bring us to 201 and from there we had to walk around to 212, where our seats are.

So we did and we finally found our seats. We had a great view over the entire Forum. I don’t think that the forum has any bad seats though. We saw a the first and second warming uppers trying to get the heat going before Katy Perry hit the stage. When she finally did, around 9PM, she started a show full of wardrobe changes and full of hits, which lasted for more than 2 Hrs straight. After almost 2,5 Hrs the show was over and ended with Fireworks.

Xandrine did not just love the surprise, no she she super-enjoyed the surprise.

Tomorrow we will say goodbye to Tampa and drive back to Orlando where we will stay for another week, before heading back to cold and windy Holland.

Surprise!