After realizing that we couldn't escape ourselves, we were resolved. To live with them. Ourselves, I mean. But hopefully in better spirits. Still upset, I set forth. DS was calm. DH was calm. I was nervous. But I wanted to do something. I had my cry, and was ready to journey forth. It was only the second day, after all. We had the whole vacation still ahead of us.
With that type of attitude, we headed towards the World Showcase, starting in Canada. Which we ran through. Quickly. Because of ZZUB. Or did we?
We stopped in France, Japan, Germany, China, & Mexico. Wouldn't it be funny if I ended it right there? There you go, folks, that's what we did.
Can you guess what we did in each of those countries?
While you ponder that, I'll describe France for you. As we headed over, there was a performance going on, a balancing act if you will, which I'm sure has some official name that I'm not aware of. It involved a lot of chairs and someone standing on top of them all. We sort of caught the tail end. And stopped. And watched. In the heat, but with the good sense to stand in the shade.
Because this was interesting to DS, and if it was interesting, we were doing it. Savvy?
At least we could be somewhat accomodating now that rational thought had appeared to return to him.
As we were getting ready to leave France, we happened upon the character line for Belle. Surprisingly, I ended up in the line. Who'd thunk it?
Anyway, we did offer for DS to meet her, but he was still feeling character shy and we did not press the issue. Belle was quite gracious, and I was loving my photopass. It came in so handy on this trip, allowed me to go through lines by myself, DH could be with DS, and nobody had to worry about cameras. Heaven.
In Japan, we browsed, because we really love that store. Even though everything is SO expensive. It's just fun to look. And DS had so much fun browsing, and was being very good about putting things back.
He and DH had a ball playing with a variety of little plastic wind up toys. They were so cute, I debated getting him one, and then let it pass, thinking we'd be back later. I had the pleasure of watching someone pick a pearl. No matter how many times I've seen it, it just doesn't get old for me. We were a little wiser, as well. We completely avoided the back room. You know the one I'm talking about? The one full of candy? Yup. Because even though it was Japanese candy, if it looked like candy, it wasn't coming within a 10 foot radius of the child. End. Of. Story.
Now, DS was developing another curious habit. He figured out all those little carts MUST have something good. And so he would ask if he could have something. The first time it was cute. The second time, I was suspicious. By the third time, I was onto him, and we figured out our way around it, or how to work with it. I told you we were getting wiser. Since, however, his first request was for Kaki Gori...which shockingly enough, I have never had, we gave in. For a couple of reasons. I'm fairly aware that there's no nutritional value and probably loads of sugar in this lovely shaved ice concoction.
But it was HOT. I really don't think there's a smilie to convey how hot it was. Well, maybe this guy.
Except not so angry. Anyway, we were feeling a little peaked. Dehydrated, if you will. And I figured, well, if it is just glorified frozen flavored sugar water, at least it'll get some liquid in the little nut. He picked orange, which was a tangerine flavor of sorts. I was worried it would be too exotic for him, but he just loved it. Nice, cool, and refreshing. We stopped in some shade over by the cart to eat it, and we have some great pictures of him eating it. He did share a bit with me, and there's this great photo of us with our heads both bent down to it at the same time. All you can see is a brunette head and red head, and this little ice cone in between. And even though there's no smiling faces, I think it's one of my favorite pictures. Because it's just funny. And that's my DH. Grabbing those shots that no one else would necessarily think of. Of course, I was not surpised to note I was sporting some fairly decent cleavage in that photo as well. Which really leads me to wonder about DH's intentions.
Now, I'd gotten some water for DH and I, so we were feeling a bit better. Or so I thought.
As soon as we started walking again, bam! NoEmeril.
I just did not feel right. Nauseous, even. We had to stop in Italy. The boys ran around the piazza and played a bit while I sat on a bench in the shade, reapplied sunblock, and slowly got some water in me. It was so funny, I could feel people staring at me while I was putting the sunblock on. What you've never seen a partially Irish girl reapply the only thing that will keep her from burning to the color of a ripe tomato??? I know I'm Italian too, I just didn't get the olive skin gene, okay!!!
After sipping the water, I did feel a bit better. I think my initial unease was just drinking the water a bit too fast, and it hit me. Sort of like when you work out and chug your water after, it just doesn't sit right.
I watched DH and DS playing, and just enjoyed that for a bit. And people watched. Because that's what I like to do. And I'll admit it. After I got my sunblock on, I reapplied my pressed powder and lip gloss. I swear, I'm not that girlie. Okay, maybe. Sort of. But I was sweating! And sunblock makes you have this weird sheen to your face, and if you don't put pressed powder on to cut down the shine...well, let's just say you probably could have seen your reflection.
And the lip gloss just made me feel pretty. So there.
When we started walking again, we found ourselves in Germany, where DS spotted another cart. Fortunately, it was the cart where they sell those big ole yummy pretzels. Bread! At least slight healthy! If not covered with yummy salt. Which he picked off and ate. Now I knew that we had a reservation tonight at the Coral Reef, and that DS had pretty much half eaten his breakfast/lunch at 1100. Although it wasn't necessarily what I would have picked for him an afternoon snack, it really wasn't that bad. So he ate a fair portion of it. I was proud of the boy, at least he was eating something!
In China, we browsed again, and DS had so much fun playing with those puppets. You know the different animals on strings? They are so much fun. Again, I made a mental note. Obviously, we'd be back again, so no big deal. We stopped and got him a mask at the KidCot station there, and they wrote his name, and also gave him two stamps for his birth year. Like they do every year. Because of his birth date, he is sort of in between two years for them, and therefore is represented by two animals. However, I know none of you will be shocked when I tell you what they say the true animal is, the one most closely related to him.
Try to hold the laughter, okay?
Or just let it out, why not.
The Monkey.
Well, he certainly is my little monkey, that's for sure. But my little monkey was starting to look, well...a little tired. Is it wrong that I was relieved?
As we headed toward Mexico, I knew one thing. I was singularly purposed my friends. There was a cart that was just for TK, and TK alone.
Oh yes, my friends. I NEEDED a margarita. Not wanted...needed. And DH was happy to oblige. I wonder why?
Perhaps he felt the need to loosen me up, who can say? As he balked at the price a bit, I said something to the effect of it being liquid happiness, and that he'd probably never noticed the price before because his dad always buys mine for me. It wasn't a dig, just a statement of fact, and a little tribute to the member of our party that was missing. That I wouldn't be able to toast with. Ah, FIL. I did miss him then. He's one of the most laidback people I've ever vacationed with. DH runs a close second. Hmm...you'd think they were related or something?
For some reason, DH was opposed to salt, but that's how I like 'em, so that's what we got. Standard lime margarita with salt. I shared. A little. Okay, I shared pretty well. For me.
It was DIVINE! How many different ways can I say yum? Seriously. I so needed that drink right then. DS was starting to nod off, I had a margarita, and I was a happy TK.
I will add right here, that DS tried to ask for some of the margarita. We had to explain it was an adult drink. He got it. I was surprised! No whining, or fussing. He still had half his pretzel left, so we redirected his attention to that.
We wandered back toward the front of the park, and just as DS was getting ready to fall asleep in his stroller, the fountain show was starting, the music kicked on, and he sat bolt upright!
Uh oh. I was worried. Da da da dum! Enter DH, Super Dad!!!! Perhaps I should call him Batman, that's his favorite. At any rate, Super Dad gets DS to sit back down, and just strolls him around the fountain until he falls asleep.
Meanwhile, I have the margarita. With salt. And it's lime. And so good.
I'm sitting over by Club Cool, having hoisted myself up onto one of the rock partitions, just taking it all in. With my margarita in hand, and a toddler about to fall asleep. Life was feeling pretty good.
I struck up a conversation with the family next to me. Their two little girls (tweens, I would guess) were just dying to take their grandfather (who they'd just met up with) in to try some Beverly. Poor guy.
I sat, enjoying my divine libation, and eventually (not too long), DH came back with a sleeping DS.
Handel's Messiah playing in my head, I asked DH if it was wrong to look forward to nap time. No joke, those were my exact words. At which he responded a resolute, "No." And we laughed. For a couple of hours (we hoped) we were off the hook. So we headed into Club Cool, finishing off the margarita and ready to try some sodas of the world. There were no Beverly jokes to be had, folks. We're both fully in the know. With DH's family being from Italy, he's actually known about it since before it was on tap in Epcot. So DH tried it first, and then I thought, well...let me just have a taste to see what all the grousing/crazy photos/complaining is about.
And you know what, folks?
Brace yourselves, okay?
It's not that bad. Honestly, I didn't see the problem with it. It's meant to be a cleanser, something you drink in between courses to get your palette ready for the next thing. Taken in that light, I think it's actually...sort of...good.
Proving we are a little bit weird.
Pirates.
Up next - So what do you do in Epcot when your toddler is sleeping?
Stay tuned to my own TR. There's much more on the buses yet to come!
