Sunny Florida

This weekend I made the trip to Florida to visit my good friend Mike from Ramapo.  I took a flight out of Atlantic City Thursday night.  It had been raining in New Jersey all week, but the skies cleared to see me off.  When I landed in Florida, it seemed the rainy weather had followed me.  But it was not to last.

When most people go on a vacation they like to sleep in and relax.  This was not to be the case for me, however.  Friday morning I awoke at 7am to do my 20 mile training run.  I left before the sun came up, but once the sun burst through the clouds the temperature soared.  It turned out to be 92 degrees by noon.  The heat really took a lot out of me.  I only brought one bottle of water along and I could feel myself getting dehydrated.  Nonetheless, I completed my 20 miles in 2:46:15.  One of the best runs of my life.  I was very excited.

There were a couple things that struck my interest during my run.  I didn't have to worry about deer running in my path as I would in New Jersey.  Instead, 'panther crossing' signs donned the sides of the streets.  Also, I usually map my runs out using Google Maps.  This application does not tell you which roads are public and which roads are private.  Therefore, my route took me through some private, gated communities.  These were entertainingly filled with the common species of 'Elderly Floridians.'  One such woman tried to direct me from the street to the sidewalk while driving past.  I had to laugh out loud for that one.

Watch out for the panthers.... apparently.

The next day Mike and I took the trip to Orlando to see the sights.  The first night we were there we went to Downtown Disney which was conveniently located a short five minute walk from our hotel.  We went to two different bars and each produced an interesting set of stories.  The first we sat right next to a couple from New Jersey.  The woman knew people that Mike knew from high school.  The saying "small world" comes to mind.  The second bar was an imitation Irish pub.  Within we met an interesting group of authentic Irish girls that worked in the Ireland section of Epcot.  While standing at the bar a man drunkenly fell behind us spilling his full beer all over myself, Mike, and one of the Irish girls.  His friend felt badly for his drunken actions, so he slipped us a twenty dollar bill and told us to have a drink on him.

The Florida sun shining the the window of our hotel room.

Saturday morning we headed over to Universal Islands of Adventure.  Our day began with a ride on the 3D Spiderman ride.  After a night in Downtown Disney, 3D rides were probably not the best thing early in the morning.  Mike and I both left feeling a bit of nausea.  Then we headed to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter.  I am not a devoted Harry Potter fan, but let me tell you, I thoroughly enjoyed this fantasy world.  It was so intricately designed with every detail meticulously crafted.  It reminded me of a 19th century European city.  We had Butterbeer, which is apparently a favorite drink of the students of Hogwarts.  I think its just a really frothy, cream soda, but we can pretend.

The castle at Hogwarts.

 We went to Ollivander's Wand Shop and Mike was chosen to "be chosen by a wand" because "a wizard doesn't choose his wand, a wand chooses his wizard."  It was quite a funny demonstration and everyone in the audience had fun.  Afterward, they tried to sell Mike the wand that had chosen him but he kindly declined.

It is amazing to think that the entire world of Harry Potter was, at one point, just an idea in a single mother's mind and is now replicated in one of the biggest attractions at one of the most popular theme parks in the world.

All in all, I had a great time on my weekend getaway to Florida.  Thanks to Mike for being a great host and friend.  Until next time....

Thanks