Okay- so when we last left off, we had just left on our first day of being in DL-- to go back for a nap at the Hotel across the street and down the way. For reminders- we stayed at the Fairfield Inn that is not on property- but is about a ten minute walk from the gates of DL.
I got back tot he hotel and immediately layed down-- Mark wasn't tired so he decided to go out to do a little retail- part of his job is going to all the stores he is reponsible for in making his $200,000,000 quota every year.
So off he went-- I drifted into sweet slumber and after ten minutes of hard sleep I was awakened by the screams of children playing and running in front of my door and the SLAM! of the doors next to me on both sides.
It went on for the next two hours while I dozed in and out of consiousness. I was miserable and said a few bad words.
Mark finally came in after I had gotten up and showered and got ready for supper. I was excited b/c if you remember, we had been able to score a Reservation for Blue Bayou- the restaurant inside of POTC- and a place I have dreamed of going to forever.
It had gotten COLD and I hadn't brought anything warm- so we went Sprinting to a store at DTD to grab us some heavy sweater type jackets that we'd seen. We only had ten minutes to get back to for our reservations.
Going into the park at dusk--
So we get there and I'm sorry- I didn't take pics of it-- but it's really dark inside and I couldn't get any of them to show up on my camera.
The meal did not go well.
We were not seated against the water- which is totally fine- we had a beautiful view of the restaurant- there are lanterns hanging all over the place inside and it is truly beautiful.
When we were seated, the waiter came and he was foreign- it was hard to understand him and he wasn't exactly the friendliest person around, even though I smiled very lovely to him.
I ordered the "Isla-Cruces Crab Cakes - Succulent pan-seared Crab Cakes, topped with her-citrus beurre blanc and mango slaw. With blue Bayou potatoes and seasonal vegetables. $30.99"
with the salad--the menu says it comes with either the salad or gumbo.
Mark ordered the "Royal Street Seafood Jambalaya - A robust combination of king crab, jumbo gulf shrimp, mahi mahi, tasso ham, andouille sausage and chicken, tossed with Cajun-style "dirty rice" $28.99" and here is where the meal took a turn for the worse.
He ordered the gumbo but said he also wanted to pay for a salad. The waiter said no. Mark looked at him and said "Excuse me?" and the waiter in broken english went on this rant about how he would have to be charged for another WHOLE meal--for ONE itty bitty teeny tiny salad. It took a good five minutes to understand. Mark was disgusted.
So he got the gumbo, I got the salad. I gave him half of my salad.
I'd never heard of something so preposterous in my life........ and I've eaten at some SWANK restaurants, let me tell ya.
The salad was good- the gumbo, he said was okay.
After that, the waiter was very prompt in getting the meal out to us- I think he was very busy b/c he really didn't pay us much attention.
The crab cakes came out and .... they were really really bad. Frozen to be sure with no taste whatsoever, and the Blue Bayou potatoes were nothing more than those boxed scalloped potatoes you get in the grocery store. I took three bites of both, and got sick.
You see, there are restaurants that insist on using a spice to add flavor to their mass produced food. Many of the chain restaurants use it-- and I am allergic to it. I get violently ill upon ingesting it. It immediately causes me to have cramps, flushing, dizziness, nausea and pain so intense that I cannot stand up and usually have to go to bed.
I am very careful about what I order in restaurants b/c of this allergy-- and choose wisely based on past experiences - I know what it is usally used on- anything like "Grilled" chicken or fish. I thought I was safe ordering the crab cakes b/c I've never had it used on those before.
Mark took one look at me, saw what was happening and sprang into action, ordering me a coke while I sat there panting like I was in labor. It makes me feel like I can't catch my breath. He grabbed my purse and went searching thru it madly for my pills to counteract it- I keep them on me at all times.
I got up to go to the bathroom to get a wet papertowel and felt like I was going to faint. So I sat back down and luckily my coke came. I drank it, Mark paid the bill, and helped me to hobble outside.
Sometimes if I catch the rxn early enough- I can slow the progression with the pills and a lot of times even though it is excrutiating- walking helps a ton. So we walked. And walked. And walked more.
So----- Blue Bayou? Not a fan.
Once the pills kicked in and I was feeling a bit better and it didn't hurt being me so much anymore, we decided to use the FP's from Indy that we'd gotten first thing that morning.
This was a really fun ride. It reminds me of Dinosaur in AK. The vehicles are the same type. There is one scene in this ride that is totally awesome- and I won't spoil it for you- but if you get to go, you'll remember me telling you this and you'll smile. Worth it to see it.
When we got outside- it had gotten dark.
It was getting close to time for the fireworks- well, almost an hour to wait-
so we grabbed a little spot on the pavement along with everyone else in front of the castle and waited. The CM's kept coming by and making everyone scootch closer together- and I wasn't feeling the Kuumbaya love so I didn't move. Rebel.
When it was 5 minutes to showtime, this CM came by and told us that the show might be cancelled.
Due to winds. So about that time an announcement came on and said they were delaying it to see if the winds might die down. Twenty minutes went by...
another announcement-- cancelled. This was our one shot at seeing them-- the next day we didn't go to the parks and went to Hollywood instead and THAT night was the last night while they changed them.
So with bitter disappointment in my heart---we did what any good joBirds do when upset- and need reflection time---we got coffee.
ANd sat down and reflected on our first day at DL--
Sea-- what is the name of this little place where we sat? Is it Carnation Cafe? It's next to the Bakery, outside. We loved it there.
So then it was back to the hotel-- the next day, Sunday, we went to Hollywood and that was quite the experience.
LOL. And I love the Kennywood sign!
Nice touch!
I'd say we have a good 6 inches. Unfortunately that is nothing major in these parts and school was not cancelled or delayed! He's bounced back before, so I really think that he can do it again.
