the last week (minus the last 2 days)

we've had dodgy internet for the past week. It's two days behind so bear with me cause I'm pretty exhausted.

12 Friday
Today we did the Grand Canyon. It was pretty cold when we woke up. There was ice on the ground (not like a little bit of ice but enough ice to pass as snow). It was all very exciting. We had a pretty awesome spread for brekky. Thankyou America and you included continental breakfast. We always eat heaps when its free so we tucked in and devoured our way through a fair amount of cereal, bagels, bread, yoghurt and eggs (we never know when we will be eating next!). We then headed to the departure place for our helicopter ride. They didn’t know who we were and couldn’t find our booking so that was kinda stressful. Turns out we were supposed to be departing from the west rim of the Grand Canyon and we were currently at the south rim. We decided to head to the west rim cause we wanted to do our original helicopter ride cause it sounded waaaay cooler then what they were offering us. Let me tell you, the drive from the south rim to the west rim takes a long time. About 4 hours. Of driving. On freeways. Dad was not impressed. But we are glad we did cause the Canyon was amazing! We got on a helicopter and they flew us around for a bit and then took us to the bottom of the canyone where we jumped on a boat and went up the river a little and then back down it. The current absolutely pelts down that river. Like seriously…going back down the river took hardly anytime and we let the current do it ALL. We got some pretty awesome photos and stuff. We then headed to Phoenix, Arizona. A nice 6 hour drive to add to our already hefty total of driving for that day. When we finally arrived in Arizona we basically just bunkered down for the night. Although Dad did say there was decent Christmas lights closeby so we went on a little excursion to find them. We didn’t find them. We went to bed.
13-12-08 Saturday
Sunday, Sunday we headed to New Orleans (pronounced New Orlans). We didn’t drive there because that would have taken forever so we said a fond farewell to our rental car and jumped on a long flight to New Orleans. We arrived in New Orleans and went to the hotel via these amazing Christmas lights. They totally left Arizona’s lights for dead. We then headed into town and meandered down Bourbon Street. Apparently it’s all changed since the hurricane so we didn’t hang around and listen to the music and drink in the atmosphere for very long. It was a little wild for the family with all the drinking and drinking and dodgy music and drinking and smoking and drinking so we headed home. But it was nice to see New Orleans “at it’s best”. We did get told off for taking a photo. The woman was so incredibly rude about it as well.
We then headed to these gardens and walked around for a while. They had their Christmas light out and it was all romantic with couples all around, hugging and stuff. Mum and Dad caught the bug and it was like total third wheel for me and Tamika. Apparently old people still enjoy holding hands. I think they should do it in the privacy of a cosy corner without children anywhere near. We then went home…to this amazing Inn. It was pretty sweet but the beds were really skinny. Tamika and I haven’t slept that close in like…forever!
14-12-08 Sunday
We hit the town of New Orleans today. Went to Café du Monde, had their awesome beignets (icing sugar covered fried pastry donut things – really really good), we checked out the Mississippi (which may have been nice if I wasn’t sick of hearing about it from Huck Finn – stupid year 12), wandered down the markets (all the artwork…), caught a tram/bus thing (so loud…and SLOW, but unlike cityrail it was always on time) and drove around and saw some pretty cool bayou trees. We also saw some of the devestation from Hurricane Katrina. Three years on and it’s still pretty bad in areas. There was this one house, in a rich area, and we were looking at it going, “there’s something strange about that”. We looked a little closer and it turns out that the guy was raising the house so that it was on stilts. And he wasn’t just raising the house, he was also raising the concrete slab foundations. Strange. We then headed back to the airport and chilled there for a couple of hours while waiting for our plane. When we arrived in Orlando, Florida, it was late…like 11pm so we headed to our hotel. When we walked through the door we were totally in love with the place. There’s 2 rooms, a bathroom, a kitchenette and I’m sleeping on the sofa bed. I get my own bed, in my own room. Who could ask for more?? Boy am I gonna sleep well tonight.

15-12-08 Monday
Today’s breakfast was pretty good. We eat heaps when its free at the hotel cause we’re never quite sure when we’re gonna eat next. We hit Epcot today. The place that has the giant golf ball looking structure. The first of four days at the Disney theme parks. It was pretty cool. Mainly it was all educational stuff with a few rides thrown in and shows. We got to ride a Segway (a awesomely cool mode of transportation) and we played a recycling game (it was waaay cooler than it sounds) we also checked out the nations. We are so totally buggered now. A huuuuge day it was full of walking and standing and walking and standing. We didn’t eat anything at the park cause we were way to busy doing rides. There was this Coke place and so we went there and grabbed a whole heap of free drinks and that’s all we consumed over the period of the day. The night show was pretty cool. Lights, lasers, fireworks, water, a giant earth with images projected onto it and fire. Breathtaking, but the fireworks were a little bit like the San Christmas Carols, or new year in Sydney. We are totally spoilt with fireworks back home. We headed home via Taco Bell (their food is awesome and its pretty much all we’re eating over here along with the free breakfasts).
We are totally exhausted now. Ready to hit Hollywood Studios tomorrow.

16-12-08 Tuesday
We caught up with Daniel today. He dropped in, stole breakfast, chatted and took off. It was great seeing him. We are half way around the world but in the same state, 2 miles from each other and we totally didn’t plan it. We then headed to Hollywood Studios.
We have totally figured out the line thing. The trick is to grab a fastpass (which gives you a time to come back) and then you head out and watch a show. You then go ride and then head off and get another fastpass then see another show. Basically means you don’t wait in any lines. We saw a couple of stunt shows, a couple of music shows (Beauty and the Beast, The Little Mermaid), did a couple of rides, it was great. We walked, and stood, and walked, and stood. It was heaps of fun. I have one thing to say though, Americans seem to have a fascination with wearing matching shirts. Not accidentally, but entire family groups. There was this one group that had shirts that said “Disney Family Vacation 2008”. Retarded!!!
Anyway, I’m pretty tired and wanting to go to bed so until next time…