Thursday, August 24, 2006

Living at the Florida Mall

I know. I have been very slack! Since returning home 4 weeks ago, I haven't put up a single blog entry. If you all didn't know any better, you might think I was still living at Universal Studios, and still suffering from a sore foot! So obviously, a fair bit has happened between then and now.

I've started thinking of a few new things to put up on my blog. However, as I can't stand to just leave a big gap, I'm going to have to do a couple of quick entries to round off my journey.

Well, after the day at Universal, we all packed up and moved to a different hotel... The Florida Mall Hotel. Here is a pic of our room...

And what an inspiring view we had out our window.... Not!


As you have probably guessed The Florida Mall Hotel is located in a shopping centre! Thus, the great news (at least for Kerri and I) was that when we were done with work, we could go and check out the shops! The Florida Mall has several large department stores (Sears, Saks 5th Avenue, Macy's, Nordstrom, JC Penney, and Dillards) and a whole heap of specialty stores. After almost 2 months of living in Antigua with a very limited number of shops, it really was a little over-stimulating!

It is also home to M&M's World! You might think that that would be heaven for me, as I looooooove M&M's. However, as American chocolate bears very little comparison to Australian chocolate, it was rather disappointing! Sort of like being lost at sea, surrounded by water, and dying of thirst! But, then again, it was probably a good thing that they didn't taste any good, or I might have been in a bit of trouble living under the same roof as a giant M&M store!!! In any case, it was a treat for the eyes with all the colours and the giant tubes of M&Ms, and the merchandise was amazing - you could get an M&M anything - clothes, toys, ornaments, jewelry, scrabble, monopoly......

Another Orlando highlight was a visit to Super Target!!! As you may know, I have an affection for Tarjay, and I certainly wasn't going to let the chance to visit a "Super" version pass me by. The place was huge, and as you can see the checkouts went as far as the eye could see....

(And, if you are wondering.... Yes, I did feel a bit odd standing in Target taking a photo of the checkouts! Things we bloggers have to do!)

Oh - and because I know Dad would be interested - here is the car we had in Orlando....


After a few days living, eating, and sleeping in the Mall, the time came for Mack and Kerri to head off for Toronto and for Dave and I to head home. It was soooo sad having to say goodbye after spending every day of 8 weeks together - even if we would all be back in Melbourne together in a couple of weeks.

However, just before we had to leave for the airport I raced downstairs for a quick visit to the AquaMassage place just near the entrance to the hotel. I had passed this place at least a couple of times each day we were here, and I kept promising myself a turn. And I certainly wasn't disappointed. What a delight! You lay face down inside a clamshell shaped "thing" (for want of a better word) where there is a plastic sheet type surface on top of you and above that the water shoots at the plastic - if that makes any sense at all. Hang on, I've just found a picture which seems to convey what my words are struggling to...


Basically, its the equivalent of having a spa without getting wet. You also get to hold a small remote device which lets you pause the water jets at any point as they go up and down your spine! Very nice. I only wish that I had had a turn every day that I was there, not just on the last day! In fact, they really should have these at airports so that you can have a turn as soon as you disembark a long flight!

posted by Nelle @ 10:16 pm

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