cruising on out!

Don’t likeMiami – all very dodgy looking however we got a lovely man at our  hotel who organised a shuttle to the port to get our ship. There were 6 cruise ships docked that day so it was chaos!  You just left your bags with others by the side of the road and walked off hoping to god they knew which ship to put them on! After that it took us an hour in the heat to actually get on the boat – good time to people watch tho. Some very pushy, loud Americas there.

So on the boat, up-grade our drinks package and first beer, first cocktail, another beer, another cocktail by the pool, all before we got into our room and then up stairs to leave!

Lots of huge, expensive houses on the keys as we passed with flash boats packed up outside (just like Miami Vice!)

FIRST DAY AT SEA

Lovely to start with a day a sea. Slept in (first time to be able to since we started on our trip) – big buffet breakfast and to the pool.  Then to check out the shore excursions (we hadn’t booked any before hand as we weren’t sure) and then off to book what we wanted to do. Back to lunch (more food and cocktails) and then to the pool for swim, cocktails – live band playing etc Oh this is what I call relaxing! We had a nana nap then off to the fine dining restaurant for lots of rose (the wine lady was impressed with my ability to down those buggars!) and then to watch ‘Captain Kate” do a meet and greet.  yes we have a lady captain who looks tooooooo young to handle this big a boat!

We have discovered lots of English are on board as well as Americans. They have been all very friendly and happy for a chat.

Show that night was a show with singers, acrobats, dancers  etc. Very good but I was a bit blotto. Then it was up-stairs for a Silent Disco! Seriously – it was incredible. There were at least 300 – 400 people each with headphones on that light up. You set your headphone to a channel (there were 3 channels to choose from – golden oldies (rock), top 40 or some latin American thing). Most were on red which was great! The funny part was that you danced to what was going on in your headphone! That was why it was silent – cause you take your headphone off and the only noise was a huge group singing some chorus of a song  - and the others were just dancing to their own beat! Such fun! The people there were old and young and it started at 10.30pm so most were quite happy like me!

At 11pm we went to an adult comedy show which was very funny and not bad words or themes at all. Midnight I turned into a very tired little pumpkin!

2^ND DAY AT SEA

Suffering from the night before and had only 2 beers all day! Didn’t want to get up and have breakfast and only went to the pool after some Panadol took effect! Very seedy all day and swore to lay off the booze which is silly if you have an all-inclusive drinks package! The weather so far since arriving in America has been 31 – 32C and a bit humid. Still like this on the boat. Quiet day with a latin-American guy for the show who was quite good.

ST Thomas – US Virgin Islands.

Finally – woke up and there was land ahoy! (haven’t seen land for two days – nothing!). it looks all hilly and bush but some lovely houses there. We had a snorkelling with the turtles tour. There were about 20 – 25 of us and we went out on this lovely catermaran  with sails etc. 3 young guys and girl were in charge and they were all brown and enthusiastic and funny with rock music blaring while we sailed! The snorkelling wasn’t as great as the Pacific Is (murky water – not much fish – and it is an marine reserve!) however we did see large turtles in their natural habitat swimming along the sea floor.  The water was sooooo warm!

On the way back it was sun, rum punch (free and lots of) and rock music with people up dancing! Exactly what you think the Caribbean would be like. I am so happy! We are now waiting to leave and onto the next island. A magician show tonight but to bed early after that. The sunshine does take it out of one!

America - here we come!

hi guys,
just a quick email to let you know we have arrived in the U S of A - no probs with flights out, had a little sleep on the plane over (with help of pills). Slept kneeling on the floor with head on seat with 2 pillows! (we were in exit row). Was very comfy and app. not allowed but no one wanted to wake me! America has gone all electronic with immigration ( big e machines that read passports, take photos, finger prints 4 fingers etc) so you think sweet ... that was easy....... but you still had to wait 45min in line to get your passport stamped and more photos  taken! Talk about big brother.
We found American airlines terminal easily and some lovely assistant looked after us  when their checking in machine didn't work. More x ray machines for luggage etc. It was a 6 hour flight - NO SCREENS and NO free food or drink! Luckily I asked before we got on so could take on some food.
Arrived in Orlando at midnight with a spectacular electric storm taking place that you could see from the plane (lots and lots of lightning).
Our hotel is wonderful. It was so hot here even at midnight - and we were tired and dirty and wanted no drama - but they were great! It is like a huge resort with a huge pool that has sand around it (on the 2nd floor too).  Y0u catch a water taxi free to the entrance of universal studios (only takes 5 mins) and makes getting around easy.
We got to sleep about 1.30am and then up at 8,30 and straight to the theme park. First up was the Rocket rollercoaster which I asked Dave to go with me and by god! After wards he was covered in sweat and sick and just wanted to vomit there and then! He had already taken an anit-nausea pill which obviously didn't work.
So he was a misery for a while. I went to Shrek by myself and we walked around to ET, did that by myself, and saw the Blues Brothers band and the Stomp drummers (all outside free shows). Quite cool. We went to a Minions 4 D show which was funny, watched the parade and back to the room by 3.30 for a sleep!

Tonight was water taxi to the start of the Universal Studios and they have this huge food area/ street by the lake with bands and bars etc. Very cool just to walk around and still only 3C less heat that during the day. Its like being in the Pacific except there is a lot more walking involved!

Ok – second day at Orlando. Up early to get into the Universal park before 8am. We had it sorted this time. Straight to Harry Potter World ….. god it was amazing. Just like stepping into the movie with the shops and buildings all looking like they did. I went on a ride called the Grindots  (you go through the bank like they did in the movie).  Dave refused to go after the day before’s little sick problem. Then some butterbeer at the ‘Leaky Cauldron’. Really cool.

After that onto the Hogwart’s Express at Kings Cross Station (so real) which was a real steam train and you sat in proper carriages with a movie type playing through the windows so it was like going on the journey Harry etc took.

At the end you walk out and into Hogsmeade Town with snow on the buildings (you really need to know the movies – if not all of this is wasted space!).

There was another ride I went on which went through the real life-like Hogwart’s Castle and it was like being on a broom stick and in a quiddich game (cool!) I felt sad Dave couldn’t do this as it was his thing (harry potter ) more than mine.

You just wander out of this make-believe and go into Adventure World which was all dinosaurs (ride in water which Dave came on) and a close-up with a raptor!

Unfortunately I discovered 2 more water rides and the last one we were absolutely soaked! So bad but luckily it was 30C but still took all day to dry out.

We found Transformers and super-heroes (Spiderman ride – no dave) and then the big roller coaster called the Hulk!! I went on (discovered the way to avoid queues is to go on the ‘Single lane’ which is for only 1 riders cause you walk pass all the others and walk straight through as they use you to fill up seats – clever eh!)

Anyway – it was a good day at the park and finished off with this chocolate factory dessert place that would have you drooling!

We left the hotel at 5pm and caught a ‘limmosene’ to the Orlando airport ($49). I had to educate the check-in girl (and another one who joined in the conversation) who thought Kiwis was as in kiwifruit. I showed her the kiwi bird I have on my bag ( oohhh I didn’t know a kiwi was a bird!) and told her all about it! This was with a big queue behind us, but they loved it! Unfortunately just getting on a 1hr flight to Miami involved lots of queueing to get through security and I got tagged to be checked and body felt all over (do you mind me touching you all over in front of people mam, or do you want to go to a closed room? Argghhh!!) any way so here is me getting felt up all over by this huge Afro-Am lady while Dave is laughing his head off at my looks of horror! Then she swabs my fingers and puts the paper through a machine just like on Border Patrol! What! A drug carrier – me??? Thank god all was good, but Dave asked her what she was testing for (drugs?) ah no sir  ……. EXPLOSIVES!! So do I look like a terrorist?! Drama not over yet cause as we were taxiing  to the runway Dave swore he saw his bag being put onto a luggage trolley by itself – so that led to the whole flight, and then onto a train at Miami airport to even get to luggage claim – worrying and worrying about what do we do if his bag was left behind? We went through all these senarios – but guess …… there it was all happily sailing round on the conveyor belt tucked up next to mine! On yay! Thank bloody Christ!

London!

I think I have said this before but I really like London!
We drop the car off and arrive at our hotel which is by Euston station. Really not much of a 5 min walk to Kings Cross station which is the best underground station to be near by.
That afternoon we walked around - checked on where everything was and went to a show (Les Mis) in the Westend. Had to check it all out on maps but this was Friday night and the place was bedlam! People everywhere!We sat down at a pub, bought a pint and just watched everyone go by, had a pub meal and another pint and looked around the west end. Only to discover we were in Soho on one street, walk a couple of streets and found China town over a few streets (quite cool with lanterns and pergolas etc) Some very dodgy meat hanging up in the windows, live crabs waiting to go on the grill alive ...... Anyway went to the show (Dave's choice) and very well done. The men singers were fantastic, very strong and powerful. The two main women roles however had quite weak voices which was a shame. The inn keeper wife and husband were just plain hilarious! better than the film. All in all a long day considering we had driven from Brighton, dropped the car off, got to London.

The next day we had decided to go into town to see Buckingham Palace, etc so walked down early to Kings Cross and on the way found a bar which was advertising cheap breakfasts, stroll in and on the big screen was ........ the all blacks! Dave ordered, sat down in front never to move again until the final whistle. Lots of cheering from our table ... had to apologize to the other customers who were Asian and very bemused by it all! Needless to say Dave was as happy as a sandboy and put him in a good mood for the day. And what a day!
Off  at Green Park and wandered along a long way pass Hyde Park (do you know they ride horses along the paths there .. amongst the cyclists and runners and walkers?!). Very pretty with the Autumn colours coming through. More walking and low and behold was Harrods! Never been there before so decided to look (couldn't afford). OOOhh Laalaa!

What a place ... never realised it was so big. Went from the bottom (wine) up. (the New Zealand wine section only had wines from Malborough - no Hawkes Bay ones at all)Amazing areas of high fashion clothes and shoes - each brand has it's little shop off a main corridor (say on the shoe level - Jimmy Choo has it's own little room). Was fascinating.

 I ended up in the Christmas Shop! Yes folks - Harrod's has a huge Christmas shop which is massive. I was in love ..... lots of people but honestly everything was so precious and fragile I couldn't get it back safely.

After Harrod's was back to Green Park and down through it to Buckingham Palace to see Queenie. There were lots of people going in the same direction and at the end huge crowds were lining the streets, up on the gates, down the Mall for what? we wondered? I of course got to the front to see as the road was blocked off, and then the palace gates open and soldiers in beehive head gear started marching and bands playing, and then another band etc. I was excited thinking it was something which Queen would be part of .. but no. Just the soldiers and bands!
On the way back through the park there was a lovely squirrel oblivious to all the crowds, just happily munching on an acorn.

After that was the British Museum. Now that is a huge building - takes up a whole block.This was Saturday so quite crowded, but not so bad. The first thing we saw was the Easter Island statue towering over us.
The museum put out a guide with the must sees if you only have an hour or so - so I put the guide book in Dave's hands and said .... take me there!

Naturally, after all this walking we were rather tired (been on the go since 8am) so walked back to our hotel (5 mins away from the museum) and crashed for a couple of hours.
Then it was up and off to Covent Garden this time for dinner and a show. We walked around the streets just looking, and honestly on every street and corner was a theatre. Our theatre was opposite the Opera House (very small). I saw Lion King, Carole King tribute, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and Aladdin all from our corner. Needless to say there were lots of family groups taking their kids to the kiddie type shows which was nice. Once again we had a pub meal - places were packed and people were standing outside on the footpaths drinking their beer. All restaurants had lines outside waiting for a table to come clear. Very busy place.
Our show was Mamma Mia (again Dave's choice) but something I enjoy. It was really good too. This time the women characters had amazing voices, with good back up chorus. The men were ok but not as strong. Very funny in parts and everyone up dancing and singing at the end. A good night. A long day!
Sunday was up bright and early to get to the underground by 7.30am to get to Baker Street (think Sherlock Holmes) to be picked up by a bus to go on our Harry Potter Studio Tour! We got picked up by 8.25am got there by 9.15 (it is out in the country  - these are the Warner Brother studios that made the films). Doors opened in at 9.30 and then you checked out the shop (huge!) and lined up to be let in. My god ... you started with a short film from the 3 main characters about the making of the films and in you go! They have most of the original props, sets, wigs, clothes, special effects props, all in different areas and made up like you would see on the movie. The whole place is made up of two big sound stages with outside area. You have TV's showing how they made these things beside them, and what it looked like in the movies in case you had forgotten. Luckily I had Mr Expert Dave who could tell me everything! Before we started we had a photo of us dressed up in cloaks and wands being wizards and I had a broomstick ride put on DVD! yay! very exciting!



I was blown away at how clever these construction and special effects people were. The designing of the sets and the detail in the props were amazing - yet you don't notice it all that much in the movies. I now know how they made the Quiddich game! Quite a few people but not pushing like Disneyland. They have groups of people go through every hour so it is quite controlled and everyone has time to look and read and watch the explanations etc. Nice to see these little kids having the time of their lives. I bought Dumbledor's wand to use as my magic pointer (it was the best looking wand).

All of that finished and we were back in our hotel about 3pm and crashed again!