We stayed with my Aunt Julie in Tampa. It was fun to be with Julie and Todd in their natural habitat of humid hot florida. I felt like it was a higher end Galveston. Beaches are way better in Florida though. My favorite part is walking on the beach looking at shells. Julie and I looked for a few hours while Chris studied. I didn't bring my phone and apparently he called me twice. Time flies when your looking for shells! My neck was even sore the next day.
We took off to Orlando for a couple of days and stayed at the Hilton while soaking up the sun and swimming in the pool. We played a little mini golf and sat by the bonfire and tried out their fitness gym. It was a fun hotel, and a lot to do.
So Chris has this thing...where he likes to be SUPER early to amusement parks and be the first ones there and be the first one on the ride. I go along for the ride and have no complaints, just happy to be at Universal Studios. We wait 30 minutes until the guy in yellow opens the park and kids in front of us start sprinting. We first test out the HULK ride. I wanted to just go straight to the Harry Potter Park. The guy said it was already busy and the amusement park had just opened! I guess they let people in an hour early who stay at the hotels at Universal Studios. We then make our way to HP Land but go on the rides a long the way. So I guess Universal Studios is known for these virtual reality rides. I had no idea that that was the majority of their rides, but we gave them a shot. After the first few I started to get a little nauseous. Then after the Simpsons ride, Chris needed a break from the virtual reality and just to sit down. We headed to Hogwarts and looked around Diagon Alley and Hogsmead. This was by FAR the coolest part of Universal. I think they just need to get rid of the other rides and expand the HP park. Everything was centered on it anyways. They had props from the movie there and HP music playing. They had a shop where you could buy your own wand and where the "wand picks you". Even moaning myrtle was in the stalls of the bathrooms, well her voice anyways. We had lunch at the Three Witches where we got ButterBeer. Basically like creamsoda and butterscotch syrup with cream-- super sugary and the frozen kind is the best :).
We shot aliens at Men In Black and went on a super cool roller coaster where you choose your music and you rock out while riding. At the end of the day we were worn out and made our way back to Tampa where we saw the sunset and watched entertainers on the street swallow fire and ride a giraffe unicycle not to mention the guy who got out of restraints and chains.
Running on the beach is one of my favorite things to do but running with my husband on the beach is my favorite! He is a speed demon and likes to make sure he is running faster than me:).
The last day we went swimming with the manatees. I honestly admit I had no idea what a manatee even looked at. I looked at a picture of them on the internet and thought they are so ugly! But they are so ugly that they are so cute...they are " gentle giants" and we were able to spot one in clear water and go swimming with it. They sleep with their head buried in the sand and then they go up for water every 5 mins. I don't know how you get sleep with that need?
Now back to reality where Chris took his Ocaps and next week I have two 12 hour shifts and two tests. What fun!!!!!!!!!
Tons of swamps and alligators in Tampa!
Love the St. Louis Smith's
