Travel is a funny thing for me. I ache to do it, and when I do it, I ache to come back. As both a young child, and as a semi-comfortable adult, I got to experience the wonders of being exactly where you should be. I have a song for that, of course.
Between that isn’t necessarily travel I didn’t want to do, but it was weird head and heart spaces. Like being disoriented. A little like time travel. It’s like going away for two weeks and it feeling like two months. Maybe it’s being with the wrong person at the wrong time at the wrong place, or they’re all wrong, or maybe all right. But just alright. Not like.. fantastic. Sometimes it’s going somewhere that once knocked you off your feet, only to find it feels all different. Wrongish. You’re pretty much going through the motions but you don’t feel the same. You need something different. And hey, that’s ok too.
There was a time in my life in which every travel experience was riveting, and returning was more bittersweet than just sweet. Sometimes just bitter. It’s probably because I had money and could go to the places I really wanted to go, which you can’t when you’re the middle child of five. Who can afford seven plane tickets? I certainly can’t. Four is my speed right now. Also when I had that early 20’s money and could go where I wanted, I was also spending it with the right person/people.
In my current phase, I’m somewhere in the middle, and somewhere in new territory. These ARE the places I want to go, even when that middle child syndrome creeps up and I complain that it’s never about me. It’s that strange middle of life/generations thing. We work hard to make our parents and our children happy. We work hard to travel and work and progress and connect and keep our balls in the air, and sometimes if you drop one, it’s like you drop them all. We don’t rest very well. I should say that it’s me. I don’t rest very well. I love to travel but I work so hard, that I have to do triple duty to clear things out of the way for my trip. Then I work a bit during the trip, and like a dog after the trip. Still totally worth it.
So here’s the 25 cent, highlights and lowlights, cellphone only photos, version of our trip to St. Augustine and Orlando. Was it overall positive and amazing? Of course! Very little negative, if at all. I did feel sick one night, but whatever. This trip had such imagery and such stories. When I go on a trip, and know that I take 7,000 years to edit the camera photos, it’s nice to do a 25 cent version here. Maybe more like 50 cents. I’ll post more photos with more in-depth thoughts, but ultimately?
The flight was smooth. I had the middle seat between both kids because I’m a Mama now and even though the window seat is my favorite thing on earth and the only one I choose.. well.. I’m a Mama. Des entertained us with his barf bag puppet:
There was a tree in the water on the first day, and by the second day, it had washed onto the shore. I took a lot of “real” photos of it to share “soon.” (had to air-quote that one) I wonder this tree’s story! And how long it was in transit:
We had four nights there in my in-laws’ newly purchased beach house. There was a TON of relaxation. I loved to sneak up to the kids’ room, overlooking the palm trees, and take book naps. The food, company, beach, napping time had a great flow. We played mini golf and went downtown a few times. Cassidy and I had a hot date – clearly the only northerners there because we chose to eat dinner outside! There was chocolate, there was ice cream, and I finished a book during the trip.
On Monday, we met my aunt at Disney Springs. We go every year and marvel at its growth. It’s definitely a good half day, and this is us knowing exactly what we want to do, see, eat, drink, etc. Like I like to go into Ghirardelli to get chocolate samples and a latte. And then go back in for more samples. Plus pin trading, the LEGO store, chocolate BB-8 from Star Wars, and the MARVEL store. Des loves the hot air balloons. Cassidy loves getting in trouble there, like he does everywhere.
We were in Magic Town at this point. Also, Santa gave Scarlet’s best friend’s family a hotel room in the same resort we were staying at, as well as TWO whole theme park days with best friends. I mean, really. Isn’t that the stuff of dreams?
Des had the best window view as he drifted off to sleep for the two nights we stayed at Art of Animation Resort, in a Cars Suite. I mean, imagine being five. I’m an adult and this looks right out of the Cars movies to me. It blows the mind!
We got up early on Tuesday to get breakfast and then head to Magic Kingdom. What else can I say about it? I did two roller coasters again. This time I didn’t hate The Barnstormer. I went on it twice! And Mine Train is SO GOOD. We went on Magic Carpets of Aladdin which was new to me! I went to the Hall of Presidents.. That was a new one. We saw the parade and the fireworks and the princesses and the shows and it was all so good! I still have yet to have a Dole Whip. Maybe one day?
The next day was Universal Studios. This was more of a half day for us, as we were headed straight to the airport after the theme park. Not only did I face a lot of things that used to be fears – crowds, airports, muggles, etc. – I went on two new roller coasters! That’s four for me now. I went on Ride of the Hippogriff and the Woody Woodpecker one that’s really ok for three-year-olds, but my roller coaster phobia deems me as good as three. E.T. is still my favorite ride of all time! Magic!
