Thursday, February 22, 2018

DISNEYWORLD 2018

By
Gypsy Rhapsody
(a 1977 Airstream that dreams of Disney)

DisneyWorld is a magical place.
It is full of happy people.
Smiles are a must.!!
Vannie and Dave decided that it was time to
take #1 grandson, Cooper, to check the place out.
Cooper will be 13 in May...
so Happy Birthday, Coop...
just a little early.

Now, I did not fit into their Disney plans.
They were going to fly to Orlando
and do the Magic Kingdom, Animal Kingdom,
and Epcot...one park per day.  Cooper was out
of school for the Mardi Gras Holidays, so
it was a perfect time to go.

I did a little "boo-hoo"...but finally pulled my big girl panties up
and made the best of the situation.


Bet you didn't know I was personal friends with the mouse himself.
Yep...check out this picture.  One day he just showed up out of the blue.
People and mice really love Airstreams...Hee Hee


Day 1
Magic Kingdom
This was their busiest day.
Coop wanted to ride everything...
from the Teacups to Space Mountain.


Heading down Mainstreet Disney...
They had arrived in the park early because of a special breakfast.
That was spot-on advice from their travel agent.
(More about her at the end of my blog)


"Be Our Guest" breakfast...
Food was great and so was the service.
Vannie said it was a little pricey, but well worth it.

"Take off your hat, T-Pop"
Cooper said that he and Vannie both said those words to Dave,
but Dave thought he knew better...
but did he?...Nope.  Notice his hat flying away at the top left of the car.
That was Cooper's first roller coaster ride...He LOVED it.!!!


Vannie said that everyone has to experience "It's a Small World".
30 years ago when V and D took Ashley and Emilie,
the ride had a malfunction, and they were stuck in there
for what seemed like hours.  The song played over and over again...
so the memory is always fresh.

It's a world of laughter
A world of tears
It's a world of hopes
And a world of fears
There's so much that we share
That it's time we're aware
It's a small world after all.

There is just one moon
And one golden sun
And a smile means
Friendship to every one
Though the mountains divide
And the oceans are wide
It's a small world after all.

There's a good message here...wish we could all live by these words.


Space Mountain
Roller Coaster in the Dark
Yikes.!!!
Fast Passes are the way to go...(Travel Agent advice)
Vannie said you could get 3 fast passes a day on the Disney app on your phone...
and then get more after those were used.
It eliminated the long lines for the most popular rides.


The Mad Teacup Ride


Coop loved making the cups spin around faster and faster.
Dave said Vannie was green when that ride was finished.


Dumbo the Flying Elephant
Aerial Carousel-style ride
Based on the 1941 film, Dumbo


Swiss Family Treehouse
The ultimate treehouse
6 stories tall
Vannie said it had all the comforts of home,
including running water.!!!
Kind of sounds like life in an Airstream...


Jungle Cruise
This cruise is a high adventure and hilarious
riverboat tour. Dave said the boat captain told some
pretty cheesy jokes...but, hey, he works for a mouse...
so cheesy is the way to go.   


V and D said that Disney knows how to put on a parade.
The floats are colorful and creative...
Here's my friend in all his glory.


...and his best friend...Minnie..


The Stilt walkers were great...
V and D said it reminded them of Festival International de Louisiane
in Lafayette the last weekend in April. 


There was a "festival of arts" going on in all the parks.
This was a huge painting of Donald in the Magic Kingdom.


Dave wasn't going to be outdone by Donald's painting.
Gotta love him.!!!


Day #2
Animal Kingdom


The 3 amigos didn't get in to the park early on this day.
You can tell by the crowds.
Vannie said there were cheerleaders all over the place,
and they were moving around in herds...just like the animals.
Notice the large tree in the background.
That is the Tree of Life.
It is a 145 foot sculpture of a baobab tree. 
It features 325 carvings of existing and extinct
animal species on its trunk and surrounding roots.


The Tree of Life Awakenings
Nighttime media shows


Beautiful


Spectacular


Kilimanjaro Safari
D, V, and C saw real-live exotic animals in their natural habitats.


What a cool pic!!!
Can you find the lion???


Mama and Baby


This looks like a painting.


It's all about the gorilla.!!!


Peep-Eye
(Just never know when I might pop in the scene.)


Mount Everest - Legend of the Forbidden Mountain
This ride is themed around the Yeti protecting the
Forbidden Mountain next to Mt. Everest.
It is one of the most expensive roller coasters in the world.
It is reported to have cost $100 million.
Vannie said, "So that's why I turned green."


Everyone agreed this was the best ride in DisneyWorld.
You got to fly on the back of a mountain banshee
during an exhilarating 3D ride.
Thank goodness their travel agent was able to
get them fast passes, because there was a
four hour wait for this ride most of the day.


Photo opp in the gift shop...


Animal Kingdom at night.


Drummers


Singers


More Stilt Walkers


Hey...Who's hungry???
Cooper said the food was better in Animal Kingdom than Magic Kingdom
This is a cheese burger dumpling.


He said it was really yummy.!!!


Day #3
Epcot


Check out this photo bomb...LOL LOL


Colortopia at the Innovations Pavillion
"Color Our World" features color shadows and a magic paintbrush.


Here's Coop using his magic paintbrush to create a work of art.


Color us Happy.!!!


These workers found out it was V and D's anniversary
and Cooper's birthday...so a FREE cupcake and a song was in order.


Living With the Land
A combined dark ride and greenhouse tour...
The focus of the ride is on agriculture,
especially new technology to make
agriculture more efficient and environmentally friendly.


Hello...Dat's You.!!!
United Kingdom Pavilion


T-Pop, is that really the Eiffel Tower?


Tokyo Restaurant
Japanese Pavilion
The team had reservations at this restaurant for their last night.
Cooper was a whiz at eating with chopsticks.


V and D said the steak was out of this world.


Spaceship Earth
Geodesic sphere 160 feet in diameter


The dark ride inside the sphere demonstrates
how advancements in human communication have
helped to create the future one step at a time.


After the ride there are various activities to explore.
Notice the 2nd picture from the left...It's Dave,
and the 3rd pic from left is Cooper and Vannie.


Can't complete a trip with Coop without a bunny ears pic...


The End
But don't let the Magic stop...
Keep believing...

V and D's Wonderful Travel Agent
Susie Bryan
Destination Specialist
512.699.1460
shickey@austin.rr.com
(Free Services)

Susie does Disney trips, Europe Cruises, and more...
Give her a call...Vannie said it will get rid of your anxiety
and will make your trip really a magical experience.
Give her a call...You'll be happy you did.!!! 








Friday, February 9, 2018

HOUSE SITTING IN THE MOUNTAINS

By
Gypsy Rhapsody
(a 1977 Airstream sitting in Texas while her owners
enjoy the mountains of New Mexico...not fair)



Yes, Vannie and Dave headed to New Mexico
for a housesitting gig for the last 2 weeks of January.
They left me high and dry in Hillsboro...
just me and Minnie G hanging out together.
We love each other and love being in Hillsboro
with all our Airstream buddies... BUT...
we love New Mexico, too...BUT...
we were not invited. Boo Hoo.
We had to have a mini pity party, but quickly
regrouped when we saw the pictures of V and D.
They were having such a fun relaxing time,
we couldn't stay mad for all.

Part of their assignment was two dogs...
Annabelle and Chui.  Vannie and Dave are not
doggie people, but these 2 dogs won them over in no time flat.


This was Annabelle's and Chui's favorite spot.
They would sit and watch out this window like it was TV's Animal Kingdom.
Sometimes they would see a rabbit or a bird or even a coyote.
The barking would start. They would both run outside
and bark and bark and bark.  Then they would return and
set up watch again...and the whole scenario would repeat.


Dave enjoying his morning coffee with his companions...
As you can see, there was also a cat...Sydney.


Someone loves the camera...


...and the birds were always a welcomed sight out the kitchen window...


Molly L. Rankin...do you know the names of these tweeters?


...and then the snow arrived...
4 inches
Vannie said it was beautiful...so relaxing to be able to stay
snuggled inside...fire going in the fireplace...soup simmering on the stove...nice!




...but then...somebody wanted to go out to play...


Annabelle enjoying her TV...


Chui loved being right in the middle of things.



A and C were making sure Dave was doing his exercises just right...



Vannie is gathering clean snow


...for "Madge Burns" Snow Ice Cream.


YUM!!!!


Walking in the snow is the mostest fun!!!


This was one of their walking destinations...
a cross/meditation area at the top of the world.


Footprints in the snow..






REALLY...is that BIG FOOT's print...


A visit to Chimayo, NM was a must...
It was close by and such a beautiful day to explore.
The church and the "holy dirt" is a bucket list stop.
V and D had been before, but this is one place that multiple visits
are never too many.


Prayers for so many people...


This small book/souvenir shop on the church grounds had the
most interesting sign...Santos, Woodcarving, and Popsicles???


Chimayo at night...


Magical...


The morning sunrise was always in beautiful shades of
 pink, blues, yellows, and oranges.


...from our backporch...


...and bedroom window...
What an early morning sight...!!!


Santa Fe...which was only 30 minutes from them...has the neatest capital.
V and D were treated to a special tour by a new good friend, Jeanette.



The building was fantastic and filled with art, art, and more art.
All New Mexico artists...


...just of few of V and D's favorites...




This one was especially wonderful...
for obvious reasons...look closely and you will see.


Vannie and Dave got to experience the full moon/blue moon/ellipse
while lying in their bed...
Vannie said she lifted this picture off of FB...just too perfect. 


Jay Brady...master pottery teacher.
Vannie just had to get her hands in that clay.
Jay was so patient...it's harder than you would think.


But...she did it...


A CUP...the handle was attached later.


...and Annabelle watched the whole thing.


Cousin Kathryn was right next door...
What a Bonus!!!!


We loved every minute.!!!


They made a short side trip on their way back to Texas.
Rio Rancho...
Vera, Helen, Loretta, Carmen, V and D
ate at a Cajun Restaurant in New Mexico...and it was delicious.!!!


...and you thought I was just sitting around twiddling my wheels...
Never.!!!

(I have to give credit to Vannie's FB friend, Frank Dibona
for creating fantastic art incorporating Airstreams)