OUR TOUR AROUND THE WORLD SHOWCASE
Im not sure where the time goes
.and Im sure Ive lost all but two of my fans(Dad and The Cruz Family) However, I am back
and I thank you for holding on during the longest trip report hiatus ever!!!
When I last left off the Bennetts were hungry and thirsty and heading for the World Showcase
.
Bubba had been looking forward to the WS all week and in hindsight, we should not have waited until the last day to tackle em. Well, one more reason to go back
for a more in depth, sober tour of the countries!
PP was excited as well, because she had heard us talking about eating around the world. This to PP was almost the equivalent of seeing live animals
She loves animals and food. Bubba and I also love food
.Animals
.Not so much. Before PETA comes and attacks me
Im not an animal hater
just not a lover. I will not make excuses for my feelings
nor will I harm your animal. However, if your dog jumps on me or licks me, please do not expect me to think it is cute. Ok
.rant over!
Back to the good stuff
.EATING. Oh and maybe a drink or two
.or eight.
We wander towards the countries and decide to do the dyslexic version. Counter clockwise. Do most people start in Mexico and go clock wise
or is that just me?
It was around 11am and the WS was just opening for the day.
I dont know if Canada was not open yet, or if we felt it was not quite exotic enough for us
but in any event
.my notes say: Glanced at Canada. And that is exactly what we did. Im sorry Canada, maybe next time.
We passed by the UK and took some pictures. I want to thank the nice woman who stopped to take our photo on the bridge
but I have some advice: When you stop to take another familys picture
please be sure you have actually used a camera before. Thats all Im saying. After our picture fiasco, I wanted a beer. WHAT??? The beer cart is not open yet??? Well goodbye UK. France has wine
and they are open.
Into France we wandered
.and somehow wound up in Boulangerie Patisserie. Pastries and wine? Sounds like a good time to me. PP stared at the pastry display in awe
.after many minutes I convinced her that I had heard the chocolate mousse was wonderful
and Bubba loves chocolate mousse. She was convinced. I was also convinced with their white wine. And only $2.75 a glass
.had I known what a steal that was in the WS, I may have never gotten past France that day.
We sat outside at the bistro type tables and enjoyed our respective mousse and wine alfresco. PP and Bubba devoured the mousse and my wine disappeared quickly as well. It was such a small glass, I decided I needed another. PP and Bubba went across the way into a shop to browse. I went back into the pastry shop to get another glass of wine. Sounds easy enough, right?
I ordered my wine, the nice French girl pours it
.tells me how much it is..and then proceeds to ask for my id. What? I have five bucks on me
.and nothing else. Ok, wait a second
let me find Bubba, he has my license. I walk out of the shop and begin screaming across the way to PP(whom I can see
but no Bubba). I tell her I need my id. Did you know that an 8 year old does not know what that means? I say it three more times until I realize PP is clueless. Go get your father, I yell.
I dont recall if there were many people in the courtyard that MORNING, but if you were there and had to witness the crazy alcoholic mother screaming at her 8 year old daughter to get her id, because she wanted more wine
..I am sorry!!! It must have been traumatizing.
Finally Bubba comes out of the shop to see what kind of mother is yelling at her daughter to get her id
and realizes it is his pride and joy
.his wife. He quickly hands me my license, and I am finally able to obtain my second glass of French wine
.inexpensive French wine
I dont want to say cheap
The French dont like us much as it is
and calling their wine cheap would just add fuel to the fire.
We checked out yet another gift shop
but got nothing more than a headache from all the perfume being sprayed.
It is time to head to my all time favorite country. Morocco. Since the planning stages of this trip, I have been trying to convince Bubba to eat a sit down meal here. PP was an easy yes
they have lamb
and she loves lamb. So does Bubba
but not lamb covered in cinnamon. Bubba is a steak and potato kind of guy. While he likes to think he is an exotic eater, he simply is not. The best PP and I could do was Tangierine Café.
We were planning on eating a little bit at each country, so we didnt order a meal
just a few apps. Taboule and marinated olives. Oh
.and some Moroccan red wine. I was also able to score some pita chips from the cute Moroccan boy. Bubba was amazed
something for free in Disney.
We found a table outdoors once again
and PP was in her glory. She absolutely loved the taboule. It was good
but not as good as the different wine. It was like no wine Ive had before
although looking back, it could have just been merlot out of a box
and I would have believed it was authentic Moroccan wine. Either way, I enjoyed it
.and I think I am starting to get a little buzzed. We finished up, while Bubba watched. Ok, I lie
I think he ate two olives. Wow
how adventuresome Bubba!!!
We walked the streets of Morocco
took some pics and headed into a gift shop. Did I mention I think Im getting a little buzzed? There is a picture of me that clearly displays this buzzed state. Me in a fez doing a very odd pose. I cant remember who took the picture, but be assured, who ever did not
was hiding around a bend pretending to not know me. I think I am funny
.others in my family tend not to agree.
Is anyone else beginning to feel a little drunk reading this??? It gets better, so put your beer goggles on and pull up a stool.
It was now time for Japan. After a quick look around, we realized we were all hungry. We had tossed around eating at Teppanyanki, but opted for Tempura Kiku. Bubba loves tempura, and I love sushi
and who doesnt love sake?? PP was a bit skeptical, but is always up for a food adventure.
We hiked up 103 very steep steps to get to our lunch destination and were seated immediately. We had a very nice waitress
lets call her Kim
I know that is not Japanese, but really people
three glasses of wine, heat and 103 steps does not do much for my memory.
She brought us warm washcloths and while Bubba and I knew what to do with them, PP did not. I looked over and she was washing her face and arms with it. Sorry Japan
PP leads a very sheltered life here in Pennsylvania.
Bubba decided on a very fruity drink
or so that was the description. When it arrived it was more like a bottle of peach schnapps and vodka dumped into a glass with a paper umbrella. But Bubba enjoyed it
and PP enjoyed the umbrella. I of course ordered
..Sake
you were thinking wine werent you? PP got, of course, a coke!
While we enjoyed our drinks, we watched the chefs preparing the tempura and sushi. Our food came out in record time and we dug in. PP first tried a piece of tempura. Nope
too bitter. Then she took a bite of sushi
.nope, too seaweedy. Finally she settled on some white rice
.just right. Ok, so PP is not up for Japanese.
Bubba and I inhaled our food and drinks, while PP picked at her rice
and we were off. It was probably time to find something substantial for PP to eat anyhow! While she did not enjoy the food of Japan, she did love the culture.
Down 103 steps
very carefully, as that sake tends to go down smooth, but doesnt do much for ones coordination. It was time for a smoke. What is this??? A smoking area in plain view? We all sit down to relax for a moment, I satiate my horrible addiction and we chat
with what seemed like a nice woman in a wheelchair. Much to Bubbas dismay, she begins complaining about having to smoke in designated areas. She just doesnt seem to understand why you cant just walk around ashing on little children. Bubba is appalled, but keeps his mouth shut. I tried to explain, that while it is annoying to hunt out smoking areas, it really is cleaner and safer for the parks. Oh well
.not going to change her mind.
We walk past America, but the next show doesnt begin for 20 minutes
and none of us are all that interested. We live here
.we get it.
It is in America, that I decide I need a restroom. Thus far in the parks, most restrooms are easy to find. Not in America. I had to walk approximately the same distance from NY to Ca. Finally, I found it
.and was insanely out of breath. I power walked back to PP and Bubba, for fear they would think I was napping in the little girls room and found them on a bench. PP was munching on the worlds largest Turkey leg. It looked a bit disgusting to me
but she assured me it was good. Ill take her word for it. Although her word is that it was really HAM. Yup, the child insisted it was ham and not turkey. In her defense, it was pink
.and smoked
so I can see where she got this crazy notion from.
No drinking in America
because frankly, I do that all the time anyway. Off to Italy.
This is where the day becomes a little hazy
.(That is exactly what I have in my notes) But I will do my best
and if Im not sure
I will make it up
as all good trip reports have some element of fabricated nonsense.
I spotted the gelato cart immediately and PP was game. She chose pistachio and I went in search of some Italian wine. I found a cart selling bellinis and wine
I really wanted a bellini
but Bubba had been so forthcoming with the cash today, I decided on a glass of wine. I know we are in Disney
but why oh why are the bellinis so expensive?
We all sat on a bench and enjoyed our treats. By this point Bubba was starting to egg me on. By this, I mean, he was saying how neat it would be if I had a drink in each country. We wont count UK and Canada
but all the other countries. And Im always up for a challenge. So, just to clarify, it was all Bubbas idea. And lets just say, that by the end of the day, I was glad we had skipped UK and Canada!
Half way through her gelato, PP announced it was beginning to taste like play dough
ok
no problem. Ill finish it. I have to admit
if you really think about it, while you eat it
it kinda does taste like play dough. Delicious play dough. Wait a second? How do we all know what play dough tastes like?
We wandered into a store with more perfume and therefore more headaches all around, I looked in the wine shop
but if PP couldnt bring a miniature Space Mountain home with us, Im couldnt bring home wine.
Somewhere in Italy I bought a magnet for my Dad. Please dont ask me where or how
but I did.
It was time for Germany. This is what I have written down: Walked around with white wine. I do not know what we looked at, if the wine was any good
or if we even liked Germany
.but I know we walked around.
OOOOH....I just found a receipt. PP bought a pin in Germany! A Peter Pan pin.
Ok, next up: China. I was on Bubbas mission to have a drink in each country, so that is where we stopped first. For some funky white wine. Please remind me next time I visit China to skip on the wine. But I drank it
We browsed a shop outside of China
and PP decides she wants a puppet. I have to admit, those puppets are neat. I took it upon myself to do a little street show with some of them
.while PP and Bubba pretended not to know me.
PP bought her puppet
and Im sure it came out of her money. The woman showed us how to tie him up so his strings did not get tangled
yeah that worked out well a few hours later.
We all walked through the Hong Kong display. Ask me right now if I have any clue as to what they are doing in Hong Kong? Maybe building a park of some sort
????? Dont know
if you want information, ask Bubba
if you want entertainment, ask me!!!!
It was off to Norway. Malestorm
.40 minute wait??? No thank you. We were not in a ride kind of place this afternoon. But did you know that Malestorm is a FP??? Who knew?
It was time for yet another drink. After we had looked around a bit, we headed to a drink cart. They were selling wine and beer. I glanced at their wine selection
and almost ordered a glass of white wine. Until I realized it was CALIFORNIAN WINE. In Norway! Ha
almost tricked me
but even after seven drinks, you cant fool me.
I question the poor Norwegian boy about their odd selection of wine. Apparently Norway is not known for its grapes. Who knew? Here is my suggestion: Take a bottle of Californian wine and pour into a bottle labeled Pinnekjott. Id buy it
and think it was delicious Norwegian wine
even if Pinnekjott does mean Ribs of Mutton.
Ok, so no wine. But I will have a Norwegian beer. That sounds yummy! Oh look
.a gallon size glass of beer. Just what I need.
We walk around a bit more and head into Mexico. I had yet to put a dent in my beer, and do I really need another drink? Bubba agrees
and doesnt press the issue of a drink in Mexico. We had visited Mexico on Saturday
so no need to give it the full attention we had every other country today. Ha! Yet another ruse to get Bubba to bring up back. More quality time in the WS.
We were all ready to go. It was late for us, and I think Bubba wanted to get me out of public. Do you think they give public drunkenness tickets in WDW??
We began our trek to the exit
all the while, I was still working on my gigantic beer. We arrive at the turnstiles, Bubba and PP walk right out
.Me??? Not so much. I tried
but almost got tackled to the ground by a security guard.
Apparently you are not allowed to exit EPCOT with a beer in you hand. Did anyone else know this rule??
What did mom do? She complained that she had just paid 6 bucks for the beer and was going to finish it. PP and Bubba watched in awe, from the other side of the turnstiles, as their loving mother and wife chugged her Norwegian beer next to a garbage can by the exit of Epcot. Mom of the year, I tell ya.
OK
.Im feeling a bit woozy
and need to lie down after that installment. But, I couldnt have my two fans waiting any longer!
Up next
our last night and more amazing restaurant karma.
(I figure this calls for a new smiley)
libby
to see another installment. I look forward to reading the rest. 
