So where were we from last week’s edition? Oh yes, sleeping on my parent’s couch. I woke up the next morning, actually feeling really refreshed, the couch was comfortable. I notice that there is a room key on the table, it’s my room key. I get into my room, unpack, shower and then head down to breakfast. Thinking it would be only myself there, I have my headphones in, I survey the spread and make my first foray unto the breach. Obviously, I am joined by my brother, because when it comes to food, the Adesanya Boys don’t play. We both know the drill, products of the British boarding school system. You start off with the fruit and cereal, you then move onto the real food, and there they had an omelette counter. You could request any kind of omelette you could think of, ah home at last! Shout out to Embassy Suites, they are the architects of my round stomach on this occasion.
Full English breakfast downed, the rest of the party came down, and we begin to plan the day. I sneakily run off to organise the coach that will take us all to Fort Lauderdale and the luncheon before the ship, because I forgot to do it in Lagos. Coach and Lunch booked, I meet up with the rest of the group, who have already taken to the shopping experience like ducks to water. Anyone who knows me, knows that shopping for me is a chore. It is a necessary evil. I shop for a purpose and never for pleasure.
I called my brother who told me they were at the Premium Outlet Mall, what he failed to mention was which one they were at. So I get to the Premium Outlet, on Vineland Ave, and obviously no one is there. But while I’m here I may as well do a little reccy. I go through all the stores, and even had the mick taken out of me by a shop assistant, for being too British. We had a good laugh and even arranged to go out for drinks later. Having been up and down this complex a good few times, I call my brother who says they are still at the Mall, but then he says International Drive, and I know I’m on Vineland Avenue, so alarm bells start ringing.
I finally catch up with everybody, who now intrigued that there may be another shopping centre, and refusing to miss out on any sales, they all decided to go Vineland Ave. Not I though, I am going to walk around this mall, make a mental note of what I want, and then come back tomorrow after I have slept on it. As they all leave, my sister tells me that we are all set for the Disney studio tour and character breakfast… Huh? It’s all well and good for her, she has a one-year-old, who would have been thrilled by all of this, but I’m a grown big kid, I don’t do those sorts of things anymore (or so I thought). The rest of the day went well and then we went back to the hotel who had a happy hour special on all evening. Certain drinks were about $5 (Non-alcoholic too). Later on that evening my Mum calls me into her room and I see the booking reservation for the coach, oh no, the jig is up, they have caught me… Wait a minute, I’ve booked the coach. She just wanted to go over the plan for travel, as it wasn’t stated on the booking.
The next day we went to the aforementioned Disney breakfast, and it was actually a blast. There is so much to do there, especially for a big kid like me, and the breakfast is peak. I will refer you to the pictures. We took loads of pictures with all of the characters, and my sister even got to be in the breakfast parade. After that, the group split, some going back to shop, some went to see the sights; including Madame Tussauds and Ripley’s Believe it or not Museum. I, being my father’s concierge, went to find the best steak house in the vicinity of the hotel for dinner.
Steak house found, I now have to find a bar for my own excursion later that evening. I settled on Hooters, in my defence, it is two minutes walking from the hotel, and I don’t drive. Also I thought that with my British charm, I should be able to turn it into a bit of a laughing point. Please gentlemen, don’t do it to yourself, hooters is not the one. It is an overrated, poor man’s excuse for a sports bar. It was my first, and my last time there. Drinks were fun, but brief, I remembered that I had booked the coach for about 7am the next morning and I didn’t particularly fancy a 4-hour coach ride in less than tip top form.
Orlando done and we are on our way to Fort Lauderdale to get on a cruise …
ADETOKUNBO ADESANYA
