marias
Mouseketeer
- Joined
- May 11, 2004
- Messages
- 121
The Team:
DH: Long suffering one (42)
DD: Beautiful, amusing and very so slightly stroppy (9 going on 19)
MIL: Sexagenarian
FIL: Sexagenarian
Me: Planner, worrier, pessimist (35 almost)
This is another all time favourite; we had a fab morning browsing round the shops. Made the obligatory stop at Bath and Body works to stock up on hand soap and anti-bacterial gel (you just can't get the variety of fragrances at home) followed by a quick grocery trip and then home for an afternoon by the pool. It is great having the villa; we dont feel the need to eat out all the time so tonight we made chicken salad followed by a cinnamon toast, ice cream and hot chocolate sauce sensation what a concoction. Blow the diet; I havent eaten like this in months.
Wednesday Discovery Cove
As the weather has been closing in around mid-afternoon we decide to check-in and get an early dolphin swim and Im glad we did. Once we picked up our cards (which also gets us into Sea World) we made our way to the lockers and were assigned wet suits/jackets and floats if needed (I needed). This was followed by a briefing after which we were introduced to our dolphin Diego. The time spent in the pool interacting with Diego was amazing and the look of sheer joy (which thank heavens was captured by the park photographers) on DD's face was something Id never seen before. All was well until it was time for the Dolphin to pull you through the water. Now I must say at this point, I had thought long and hard as to whether I should take part being more or less petrified of drowning but decided I would probably regret not having a go (oh boy I should have listened to my heart and not my head). So the trainer asks if I want to do it or a simplified version. Again my head is listing all the reasons why I should so I agree and the other trainer who is waiting out in 12 foot deep water swims in to collect me. OK so Im wearing a life vest and Im not going to drown but as soon as we start to swim out I start panicking and almost drown the poor girl trying to help me. Diego swims up close and it is amazing being so close to him, however, I dont think he wants to drown either J and by the time I have my hands positioned on the fins he is a little restless and swims off at a million miles an hour (well it felt like it at the time) bucking like a bronco. It was all I could do to hang on for dear life. The trainers favourite phrase was good job Diego was this good job for trying to drown me nonetheless the phrase was repeated endlessly through the holiday (and is still creeping in on occasions 4 weeks later). After the swim we headed off to the cabana to view the photos. Group shots and ones of DD were divine, even DH looked really happy. Now the photo of me being pulled through the water was a different story. You know how they say a picture paints a thousand words well the thousand words were TERROR, SHEER TERROR! Needless to say we didnt have this one.
I must say for anyone reading this it was the most amazing experience and I wouldnt have missed it for the world (even being afraid of water) however with hindsight (and what a wonderful thing that is) I really shouldnt have done the deep-water swim.
The park is fantastic and the attention to detail is superb (sun cream, snorkelling gear, wetsuits, swim vests, floats and towels provided).
After a short while in the petting pools (sting rays and other fish) we go into the main pool area and DD and DH bob off down the lazy river whilst I float about until they return. By now we are feeling hungry and head over to get some lunch. There was a good selection of food all being prepared in front of you and it was really tasty. From here we took a stroll through the aviary where DD and DH fed birds that landed on their hands and I played the happy tourist taking loads of photos. DD and DH decide (well DH is dragged kicking and screaming) to go back to the lazy river while I soak up some sun. By the time they get back a storm is threatening and we head for the changing rooms followed by more retail therapy where a squeaking, vibrating dolphin is just begging to be bought. We also picked up our complimentary photo (which was really disappointing as it was out of focus which is surprising as they were using powerful kits). By this time it is thundering hard and we dash to the car expecting imminent rain. In the end we make it home long before the downfall.
Maria
DH: Long suffering one (42)
DD: Beautiful, amusing and very so slightly stroppy (9 going on 19)
MIL: Sexagenarian
FIL: Sexagenarian
Me: Planner, worrier, pessimist (35 almost)
This is another all time favourite; we had a fab morning browsing round the shops. Made the obligatory stop at Bath and Body works to stock up on hand soap and anti-bacterial gel (you just can't get the variety of fragrances at home) followed by a quick grocery trip and then home for an afternoon by the pool. It is great having the villa; we dont feel the need to eat out all the time so tonight we made chicken salad followed by a cinnamon toast, ice cream and hot chocolate sauce sensation what a concoction. Blow the diet; I havent eaten like this in months.
Wednesday Discovery Cove
As the weather has been closing in around mid-afternoon we decide to check-in and get an early dolphin swim and Im glad we did. Once we picked up our cards (which also gets us into Sea World) we made our way to the lockers and were assigned wet suits/jackets and floats if needed (I needed). This was followed by a briefing after which we were introduced to our dolphin Diego. The time spent in the pool interacting with Diego was amazing and the look of sheer joy (which thank heavens was captured by the park photographers) on DD's face was something Id never seen before. All was well until it was time for the Dolphin to pull you through the water. Now I must say at this point, I had thought long and hard as to whether I should take part being more or less petrified of drowning but decided I would probably regret not having a go (oh boy I should have listened to my heart and not my head). So the trainer asks if I want to do it or a simplified version. Again my head is listing all the reasons why I should so I agree and the other trainer who is waiting out in 12 foot deep water swims in to collect me. OK so Im wearing a life vest and Im not going to drown but as soon as we start to swim out I start panicking and almost drown the poor girl trying to help me. Diego swims up close and it is amazing being so close to him, however, I dont think he wants to drown either J and by the time I have my hands positioned on the fins he is a little restless and swims off at a million miles an hour (well it felt like it at the time) bucking like a bronco. It was all I could do to hang on for dear life. The trainers favourite phrase was good job Diego was this good job for trying to drown me nonetheless the phrase was repeated endlessly through the holiday (and is still creeping in on occasions 4 weeks later). After the swim we headed off to the cabana to view the photos. Group shots and ones of DD were divine, even DH looked really happy. Now the photo of me being pulled through the water was a different story. You know how they say a picture paints a thousand words well the thousand words were TERROR, SHEER TERROR! Needless to say we didnt have this one.
I must say for anyone reading this it was the most amazing experience and I wouldnt have missed it for the world (even being afraid of water) however with hindsight (and what a wonderful thing that is) I really shouldnt have done the deep-water swim.
The park is fantastic and the attention to detail is superb (sun cream, snorkelling gear, wetsuits, swim vests, floats and towels provided).
After a short while in the petting pools (sting rays and other fish) we go into the main pool area and DD and DH bob off down the lazy river whilst I float about until they return. By now we are feeling hungry and head over to get some lunch. There was a good selection of food all being prepared in front of you and it was really tasty. From here we took a stroll through the aviary where DD and DH fed birds that landed on their hands and I played the happy tourist taking loads of photos. DD and DH decide (well DH is dragged kicking and screaming) to go back to the lazy river while I soak up some sun. By the time they get back a storm is threatening and we head for the changing rooms followed by more retail therapy where a squeaking, vibrating dolphin is just begging to be bought. We also picked up our complimentary photo (which was really disappointing as it was out of focus which is surprising as they were using powerful kits). By this time it is thundering hard and we dash to the car expecting imminent rain. In the end we make it home long before the downfall.
Maria
