Florida Trip (Day 4)

DAY 4

We stayed in until 12pm. What can I say in defense except that we were both very tired. I woke up around 8, despite being rather tired and went to exercise in the fitness center. After a shower, we decided to go to Lake Eola where there was a Farmer's Market, conveniently open only on Sundays.

We got out there at about 1:40pm and the first thing we did was go into a Publix, which was essentially a corner market/grocery store. I bought a banana there before we made our way to the Farmer's Market. It was open until 4pm so we had good chunk of time to see all of the stands, eat lunch, listen to live music, and buy some kettle popcorn and roasted almonds before continuing our walk around the lake.

What we had planned on doing was riding these swan boats out onto the lake. When we got there, I immediately knew it was probably too windy, but I waited to see if we could until we actually got to the other side of the lake.

On our walk around the lake, we saw numerous different kinds of birds [pictured here] and some were so brave that they ate food out of our hands. Because of this I consider many of them to be bolder than New York pigeons.

When we did make it to the boats, they were indeed not being let out due to strong winds, but personnel kindly allowed us to take pictures with the giant swans. After this, we finished our loop around the lake and stayed warm in the Publix while waiting for our Lyft.

From downtown Orlando, we made our way back to International Drive and from there went to WonderWorks, which can be described as an amusement park for the mind. It was kind of more for kids, but after I remembered that I'm a big kid, I actually enjoyed myself. It was very interactive and everything there was meant to teach something in a fun way.

Tai and I also got a free game of laser tag and access to the ropes course that was actually set up above one of the floors in the ceiling area. We didn't get to do that because Tai wasn't wearing close-toed shoes, but we did have fun playing laser tag.

After that, we went on this 4D ride where we're hooked up on a cycle rickshaw and being taken on a ride across the Great Wall. But things go hilariously wrong when our crazy little driver lights up a firecracker under his bike and breaks off of our cart allowing it to free-fly all over the Great Wall.

What really made the ride hysterical was these two ladies sitting next to me. I don't know if they were unprepared for the whole 4D aspect of the ride, but their, let's call it "commentary," screaming, and the like had me cracking up the entire time. So while I was enjoying the ride, I was mostly laughing at/with them and Tai. Honestly I almost started crying I was laughing so hard. Afterwards, they were apologetic for their language and such, but I just told them they made the ride for me.

We bought some souvenirs from the WonderWorks shop when we were all done and then walked to this shopping triangle nearby to get some Ben & Jerry's ice cream. (On the map it actually was a triangle, not a square.) It took us about ten minutes just find it because it was tucked away in a nook behind some escalators. But after we did get ice cream, we went back to a bar on the second level where we'd seen a band playing earlier. A couple of the waitresses told us the band was on a break and would be back on soon.

When they did start up again, they were actually pretty good; They sang three extended-version covers of Easy (Lionel Richie), Glad You Came (The Wanted), and Shape of You (Ed Sheeran), that covered the span of about thirty minutes. Also, we were the only ones there to listen at first, but by the end there was a little bit of a crowd and when the band was finished, their now captive audience called out for "one more song," but whomever their manager was said they needed to pack up.

They did have a tip bucket out, which makes me wonder if they were getting paid to play; I'm inclined to think not, but we did appreciate their music so both Tai and I tipped them before we left and hired a Lyft back to our hotel.

Thank you so much to those of you who read my blog and watch my videos. It means a lot to me and I hope you all enjoyed them!

Click HERE for Day 5!

~Olivia