To continue on with my adventure...........
We left Jacksonville and continued south along the coast. The likely place to end would have been the hotel, where we could have changed clothes and taken much needed showers. That's not how a band trip works. Our destination was Blizzard Beach, where puberty-stricken bodies that haven't showered in 27 hours would be allowed to plunge down water park slides. Or, in my case, a middle aged body would be tooling around a lazy river, soaking up some much needed rays!
After six hours of fun in the sun, it was back on the bus, this time with wet bathing suits. We were finally headed to the hotel for what turned out to be the only few of hours of down time on the entire trip. I met my roommate (she was on a different bus; a parent that I had never met before) and we took our showers and dressed for our evening out. I'll interject that she was really quite nice and I had a good time talking to her, sometimes past 2 a.m. (she was a talker). However, the woman made me feel like a homecoming queen (and Husband generally tells others that I'm 'low maintenance'). This lady took 'low maintenance' to a whole new level. It literally took her less than 10 minutes to get ready each morning. She was kind enough to allow me the shower and bathroom first (it takes me 45 minutes to make myself feel presentable). Then I would wake her up and leave for breakfast. It worked quite nicely.
I had been forewarned about our upcoming evening by Middle Child's best friend, who went on the trip two years ago. And I quote her, "they plop a chicken down in front of you.......it's gross!" We were headed to Medieval Times. If you've never been forced to endure this punishment, let me describe it. You are herded into an arena with a few thousand people, squished together in long rows of benches with long tables in front of you, and served large amounts of questionable food by people dressed in Renaissance costumes. All the while, being forced to listen to an announcer yell some story that you can't follow in 'Old English.' With dozens of horses galloping around, kicking up dust, knights jousting, and some damn big bird flying around above your head. To put it in 15th century dialect, it was "sheer torture," as I texted to my friend who was seated in another section. To add insult to injury, you are expected to eat everything with your hands. Oh, and I didn't mention the paper crowns they try to make you wear, did I?
This guy in green was some sort of villian in the 'show.' The only enjoyment I got out of the evening was hearing the kids behind me yelling, "get a haircut" every time the guy rode by our section. I don't know why, but it struck me as funny.
Our evening ended and it was time to board the bus, count my group for the umpteenth time, and head back for a well deserved good night's sleep, before it's back on the bus and off to the theme parks.
(I may be gone for a few weeks from Blogger, due to another form of torture - jury duty. Wish me luck!)
We left Jacksonville and continued south along the coast. The likely place to end would have been the hotel, where we could have changed clothes and taken much needed showers. That's not how a band trip works. Our destination was Blizzard Beach, where puberty-stricken bodies that haven't showered in 27 hours would be allowed to plunge down water park slides. Or, in my case, a middle aged body would be tooling around a lazy river, soaking up some much needed rays!
After six hours of fun in the sun, it was back on the bus, this time with wet bathing suits. We were finally headed to the hotel for what turned out to be the only few of hours of down time on the entire trip. I met my roommate (she was on a different bus; a parent that I had never met before) and we took our showers and dressed for our evening out. I'll interject that she was really quite nice and I had a good time talking to her, sometimes past 2 a.m. (she was a talker). However, the woman made me feel like a homecoming queen (and Husband generally tells others that I'm 'low maintenance'). This lady took 'low maintenance' to a whole new level. It literally took her less than 10 minutes to get ready each morning. She was kind enough to allow me the shower and bathroom first (it takes me 45 minutes to make myself feel presentable). Then I would wake her up and leave for breakfast. It worked quite nicely.
I had been forewarned about our upcoming evening by Middle Child's best friend, who went on the trip two years ago. And I quote her, "they plop a chicken down in front of you.......it's gross!" We were headed to Medieval Times. If you've never been forced to endure this punishment, let me describe it. You are herded into an arena with a few thousand people, squished together in long rows of benches with long tables in front of you, and served large amounts of questionable food by people dressed in Renaissance costumes. All the while, being forced to listen to an announcer yell some story that you can't follow in 'Old English.' With dozens of horses galloping around, kicking up dust, knights jousting, and some damn big bird flying around above your head. To put it in 15th century dialect, it was "sheer torture," as I texted to my friend who was seated in another section. To add insult to injury, you are expected to eat everything with your hands. Oh, and I didn't mention the paper crowns they try to make you wear, did I?
This guy in green was some sort of villian in the 'show.' The only enjoyment I got out of the evening was hearing the kids behind me yelling, "get a haircut" every time the guy rode by our section. I don't know why, but it struck me as funny.
Our evening ended and it was time to board the bus, count my group for the umpteenth time, and head back for a well deserved good night's sleep, before it's back on the bus and off to the theme parks.
(I may be gone for a few weeks from Blogger, due to another form of torture - jury duty. Wish me luck!)
Jury duty for a couple weeks?!?
ReplyDeleteBe strong. . .
I think the dearth of down-time would drive me straight around the bend. . .
I have friends who have raved about MT. I can think of nothing more annoying...except for jury duty! Good luck with that. I do think some fake jousting between lawyers might perk things up!
ReplyDeleteYou are just confirming that you were/are crazy for having gone on the trip.
ReplyDeleteGood luck on the jury duty. I hope you get an interesting case!
We went to midieval times and kind of enjoyed it. we took friends and their kids and all wore white teeshirts to use as each other's napkins. no, i'm not kidding.
ReplyDeleteanyway, i am glad you survivied. jury duty, what fresh hell is that?
They have a version of that here, only it's based on the civil war. Same deal though about the food with no utensils. They even sing ridiculous songs at you as you drink sweet tea from mason jars - "Grab your cup and take a swig, now you're eatin' like a pig!" I wish I were kidding.
ReplyDeleteJury duty - hated it. Good luck!
Craig - It's horrendous.
ReplyDeleteFADKOG - You are correct in your assumptions!
Russ - The trip was FUN. Quit being so negative! (Now that's calling the kettle black, isn't it?)
Lime - You are more fun than I am I guess. MT was super annoying to me.
Agent - The Civil War? That is hilarious! Does the South win??