So I am back from my holiday, and it's time to update you all again.
As many of you know, my grandmother passed away while I was in the US. Fortunately she hung on until I was able to see her, and she even got to meet Andrew and give 'Nana's seal of approval,' which was very important to me. She was the last of my grandparents, and the only one I got to know as an adult, so I'll miss her a lot.
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My Nana with my older brother
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My Nana and me last Christmas
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Due to this semi-unexpected sadness, much of my time during my trip was spent visiting her while she was ill and then making arrangements after she'd gone, but I did enjoy a nice trip with Andrew in the rest of the time.
When Andrew and I got to the US, we hung out in Connecticut and New York City for a few days. I showed him around the areas where I grew up, my high school, and where I hung out. In NYC we went to a Yankee game with my cousins, Jay, Ed and Edward, and Edward's girlfriend Joanna. Joanna was so nice, and was a nice addition to the group. Everyone got along with Andrew really well, which was awesome, as they are my closest (in age and in terms of friendship) cousins. All we were missing was Marie Erin and her family (who sadly live far away in Texas) and Bridget, who was back in Montana. I wish I got to hang out with them more, cause they're a fun bunch.
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Andrew and I at the game
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Being touristy
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Cousins! Ed, Jay, Me and Edward!
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After the game we all went over to my Aunt Jane's house for a BBQ. It was very fun, and hopefully not too overwhelming for Andrew. :)
The rest of our time in the New York area we went into the city and saw some touristy bits. We checked out Times Square and the awesomely humongous stores there, along with the Empire State Building, Battery Park, Ground Zero and the WTC memorial, and just walking around and exploring the city. We also caught up with Andrew's parents, who were coincidentally doing a USA trip at the same time, so my dad, Anna Marie and Andrew's parents all met us for dinner. I think it went well! :) We also met up with my cousins (once removed?) Janet and Laurie, which was nice, as I hadn't seen them in awhile.
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Times Square
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After a time in NYC, we jumped on a plane and headed to Orlando for Disney World! My dad very awesomely used his Marriott Points to get us a snazzy hotel in Orlando, which was AMAZING.
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The lake in the middle of our resort
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View of the pool by our villa.*
The main pool area
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First night in the pool!
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Our first day we hit up Magic Kingdom, which I think should always be the first stop on a Disney Tour Guide. Magic Kingdom is one of those places that when you go you remember going as a kid, and how much you loved it. It was a great place to return to as an adult. We did all of our favourite rides (except Space Mountain, which sadly was a 2 hour wait with no Fast Passes left by the time we got there). But we got to do virtually everything else we'd wanted to do. The only downside was that it was HOT. We managed to hit Florida during the massive heatwave, and so it was upwards of 95 degrees for most of the week.
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First view of Cinderella's Castle from Main Street, USA
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Another view of the Castle
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I am Princess Minnie!
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We stayed until after dark to see the Electrical Parade, which was awesome, as always. The music is all still the same, which is great, because it's such a blast from the past.
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Charlie's Dragon
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Big Ben (a la Peter Pan)
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Cinderella's Castle, illuminated!
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Fireworks! I tell you, there is nothing more romantic than watching fireworks at Disney World... I mean, if you factor out all the screaming, crying, and loud people/children all about.*
Ooooo.... Ahhhh....
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The next day, we went to Animal Kingdom, which is one of my favourites! We explored all of the areas and went on all of the good rides. In particular the Kilamanjaro Mountain ride was amazing. Such a great roller coaster! Also, the River Rapids ride, once I was convinced to go on it, was pretty awesome, and it was already raining at that point, so getting soaked wasn't really an issue.
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Wheeee!
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The Tree of Life!
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Watching all of the aminals
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We actually got forced into this by a photographer, but I'm glad we saw Baloo and King Louis anyway!
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Getting ready to see 'A Bugs Life' 3D movie in order to avoid the torrential downpour that was going on outside
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View of Kilamanjaro roller coaster - AWESOME.
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Animal Kingdom Parade, featuring explorer Goofy
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We ended our evening by eating in my personal favourite restaurant - the Rainforest Cafe
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The third day we went to Epcot! This, I think, is the best place for the adult in me. The rides there are all sort of like low-key, educational-type rides, and the food was delicioussss. The one ride that was NOT a good ride for me was Mission Mars. Now, don't get me wrong - awesome idea, really really well done. However, apparently the spinning, G-force-creating, simulator rides are not for me. I managed not to get sick, but only just, and felt pretty ill for the rest of the night, and part of the next day. Fortunately we did that ride last, and so I was able to go home and pass out.
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Spaceship Earth!
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My personal favourite - Mexico!
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China!
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Italy!
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Andrew and Me!
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Epcot after dark!
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On our way home after the fireworks.
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On the next day we went to Hollywood Studios (Formerly MGM). It's still more or less the same as the way it was. Sadly there were downpours and thunder for most of the day, so many of the cooler rides were closed. It did clear up, however, so we got to see the Summer Nightastic, which was a really awesome show/pyrotechnics display.
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Mickey's Sorcerer Hat
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The Tower of Terror - which we did not go on (I'm not a fan of falling rides!)*
Fantasia!
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The next day we took it easy, during the morning, which allowed me to more fully recover from Mission Mars and Andrew to watch the World Cup. There were, again, huge booming thunderstorms for the afternoon, during which we got stuck at the pool bar, but at least there was coffee and a tv to watch the football, and we did eventually get back.
That night we headed to Downtown Disney to poke around. Disney Quest was awesome, but not really worthy of taking pictures.
The following day was Blizzard Beach! This was exciting for both Andrew and me because neither of us had been there before. It was pretty awesome, AND I managed not to get a sunburn! It's such a brilliant idea for a water park, I loved it!
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Oh, if only it were that cold!*
Awesome slide at the top there *
And an awesome way to get to that slide! *
And a rather terrifying trip back down (yes, that IS me, with Andrew laughing at me at the top!)
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We finished up our day with a rousing game of mini-golf!
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The last day, we went to Universal Studios to see The Wonderful World of Harry Potter. I have to say, this was the highlight of my trip. I know Disney is great and all, but I LOVED this park. To be fair, it was a tiny space, and the lines were hideously long (it was opening weekend after all), but it was so well done, and so much fun that it was totally worth it. There were things that perhaps I'd have done differently, but it was pretty epic. I hope someday I have the opportunity to go back when it's not quite so packed, especially because Ollivander's Wand Shop had such a long line that we just couldn't be bothered waiting (it was another sweltering day!).
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The commemorative map!
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We got to the park around 8, and were greeted by this lovely line. Fortunately we only had to wait here until just after 9, and so were into the park in good time. However, we spotted many people still waiting in line around noon, so we arrived at just the right time!
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Ahhhhh! So excited!
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Chocolate Frog! I didn't get one, cause it was $10, but they were cool to look at anyway!
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The shops they had were the Owl Post, Honeydukes Sweetshop, Filch's Emporium of Confiscated Goods, Ollivanders (sort of a show and shop), The Three Broomsticks, and a Pumpkin Juice and Butterbeer vendor. The lines were all really long, and the stores were way to packed to even buy anything, but it was cool nonetheless.
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I'm at Howarts!!! :D
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The inside of the Three Broomsticks, where we ate lunch (only had to wait an hour!)
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The mirror or Erised on the line to the main ride (which, by the way, was AWESOME. Totally worth the 1 1/2 hour wait)
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A Pensieve*
Yes, all of these pictures moved, and were walking between pictures. It was fantastically done.*
At the entrance to Dumbledore's Office
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A display from Beauxbatons*
View of Hogsmeade from atop the Hippogryph ride.*
The Triwizard Cup, on the way in to the revamped 'Dueling Dragons' roller coaster
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So the new ride, that everyone's been raving about, is basically a broomstick ride through Hogwarts and the Quidditch Pitch. The new technology they use is actually pretty exceptional, and there is near-seamless transition between the 3D-ish video simulator and the 'real' animatronic area. Needless to say, it was awesome, and I wish the lines were less long so we could go on again.
After returning from Florida, we drove up to Boston to see my besties! We got to meet Megan's bf Elliott, her kitties Roxy and Lola (which Andrew was very excited about), and even Sarah from SC came up to visit, and Weather from Alaska! It was great! Sadly I do not have many pictures from Boston, except for one!
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Andrew, me, and Weather by Fanieul Hall!
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The night before returning from Boston, we got the news about my Nana, and so coming home was a bit more somber of an occasion than usual. We had a funeral for my Nana, and got to see my family again.
Andrew, sadly, had to leave for the UK, but I stayed for an extra 2 weeks. This was taken up by EMS in my hometown clinic of
New Canaan Veterinary Hospital! It was so much fun, and I even got to suture a wound closed, and did part of a dental cleaning and an ultrasound! It was quite slow otherwise (no surgeries at all!), but I still got some refreshment of my blood-drawing techniques and I even placed a bunch of catheters (something I hadn't yet been able to do successfully, but managed to do perfectly every time!).
The rest of my time in the USA was spent furiously packing up my house (and some studying in between), as my dad finally sold the house. It was a little emotional going through all of the things in my house (literally my mother kept everything), but we made good progress. I also got to see my Pookie Wookie, who is sadly being kept by another family until I can either return and take her back or get her sent to the UK. Saying goodbye to her again was also very sad, but at least I know she's in good hands.
Now I am back in the UK. While it was nice to see my family and everything, I was definitely ready to get back on my normal schedule. Plus, now I can finally concentrate on studying for my resit, which is fast approaching! I'm still sort of recovering from jet-lag and in general tiredness, but this afternoon I'm going to begin my hard-core studying. I WILL pass this resit, all circumstances aside.
Anyway, off to study now.
