53'rd and 3'rd

New York City. I felt cliche just being there. From J.F.K, we caught a yellow cab to Manhattan East, just next to Soho along the dirty East river. Our host was the affable Mark Francis, a second relative of Sam and now New York resident. Mark lives in a sprawling restored post-world war two housing project with a vogue model named Valerie. Mark's cat is toilet trained and will defecate at will and without assistance on the same toilet as we did. Valerie owns three stretch cruiser bicycles which we used to explore the city on. We rode the cruisers across Manhattan, around central park and then some. One night, Mark took us out to a night club frequented by some of his friends into which we skipped the queue. The table of models at which we sat were given complimentary bottles of vodka from which we drank. Conversation was staggered and hesitant amongst the smartphone distractions and the music was 'undanceable' to. We excused ourselves around 3pm. The next day Mark and I played an immaculate game of paddle tennis on the paddle tennis courts within his housing complex. Paddle tennis is tennis on a smaller court, without tram lines using small wooden paddle bats. We then ate pizza, drank beer, rode buses and subways. We mixed touristy tour bus tours with coffee in obscure bookshops in the East Village. We caught the Staten Island ferry past the Statue of Liberty and watched Chicago on Broadway. We ate dinner at the Times Square Olive Garden, visited the ground zero memorial and watched the Saturday morning waterfight in Central Park. New York is a cliche. But the experience of being there is altogether something very different. 

View from the East River

Eclectic public wall, street art exposition.

Mark and Sam in Washington Square

Washington Square

I wondered quickly if I’d give my life so that a dragon could live. If someone offered me that deal, your life for the existence of dragons. I thought maybe yes, maybe no.

Times Square in the daytime

En route from East Village to Downtown Manhattan.

Twin Towers Ground Zero Memorial Pools.

Paddle Tennis

Drinks on Wall Street with suit-wearing corporates.

Mr. Mark Francis. Our gregarious New York host.

Times Square in the night time.

Mother nature trying, in vain, to reclaim what was once hers.

Central Park cycle tour

Central Park water-stop

Weekend picnic in the most populous city in the United States.

Beside the NYC underground, these were our preferred mode of transport.

Having been to Disney World as a young child almost 14 years ago, I had forged many longstanding and romantic memories of the incredible experience it was. To therefore revisit it after all these years with my exuberant wife in tow was a surreal experience. To arrive at Summer Bay resort, after 4 weeks on the road, travel-weary and ragged, was one of the highlights of our journey so far. Courtesy of a very generous father and a timeshare exchange, our lavish abode for the next 7 days was to be an 8 sleeper self catering condo overlooking Summer Bay Lake, set amongst several pools, bars and restaurants just outside of the Disney World complex. Sadly, we were only able to wallow in our fortuitous accommodations for a few hours each evening as the next few days were to be a blur of parks, rides, roller coasters and bewilderment. In 5 days, we visited a total of 7 different parks, each uniquely themed and catering for children and adult alike. Disney World is often passed up as a children's fantasy land theme park and to some degree this is true. That said, perhaps one of the tragedies of our lives is losing the innocence of youth and there is no better way to rekindle this childlike wonderment than a few days spent at Disney World. From 8am until 9pm everyday we walked ourselves into a stupor, riding rollercoasters again and again until Sam literally vomited. We rode waterslides, sat through mindblowing virtual reality rides, watched shows, cabarets and magic. Everything in Disney World is catered for - every sensation accounted for. It is all man-made and the fake facade is certainly noticeable - particularly on the Safari Ride through the African savannah. Nevertheless, after a week of fantasy and honest fun, we were devastated to leave vowing to return again for 'just one more ride...I promise'

(Disclaimer - As most of the rides do not allow backpacks, we were without a camera for most parts of the day and so are without pictures of the majority of our days in the parks. )

Selection of Summer Bay Resort - our home in Disney World.

Stock standard lunch option.

Wheel chair races at Epcot waiting for the shuttle home.

Enough said.

Animal Kingdom center-point; The Tree of Life.

Although detailed, nothing is real. That baobab is fake and yes, those jeep tracks are cement molds. No detail is spared or overlooked in the quest for authenticity on this African Savannah Game Drive.

Nowhere is the U.S stereotype of obesity more apparent, and indeed catered for, than in Disney World. En route, directly to the front of the queue.

Mind shattering scale-sized Hogwarts Castle within the Harry Potter section of Universal Studios.

The Zip rocket coaster (left) allowed you to custom select your own music on the ride.

Rest and Recoup at Summer Bay resort

The Montu coaster at Busch Gardens

Without doubt our favourite ride; the gnarly Shakra coaster at Busch Gardens. Using 3 rows of 8 to suspend you over the sides of the track, it suspends you vertically for 10 seconds before a stomach churning direct free fall, spin and twist combo. You cannot do this ride more than twice without a rest. 

About to get very wet in Busch Gardens.

Busch Gardens newest and most impressive coaster. The Cheetah hunt is the longest and fastest of them all.

The famed Kumba coaster. This coaster is continually voted one of the worlds best by coaster enthusiasts. It hasn't changed in 15 years and doesn't need to.

Sea Worlds' Manta Coaster. This spectacular ride has you suspended face first, horizontally and flies you in and around water the entire ride.

Sam 'Manta'.

Still our favourite park of all; Tampa Bay's Busch Gardens with 8 roller-coasters and dozens more thrill rides, this is the quintessential adult theme park.

Little Germany at Epcot

Disney is not all just mindless fun. A fascinating real time tour at the Biotechnology lab at Epcot which explore new methods of Agriculture for the future.

All out special affects tour at Hollywood Studios.