Carpe Diem Feb 09 - Saturday 14th - Discovery Cove pt2

[Skywatcher]

Well after we'd had our fill of chasing the rays around the lagoon we get out at the far side and find ourselves infront of the aviary.

The aviary in discovery cove comprises several huge aviaries connected by wooden doors with a river running through the middle that you can swim through if you so choose. They are packed with every size and shape of bird imaginable and along the paths are carts with dishes of food for you to pick up and hold up for the birds to land on you and feed, which they do. Apparently in one of the rooms there is a tiny deer that you can feed as well but we didn't see that.

Needless to say the boys loved feeding the birds as much as we did from the hug great turkey sized ones all the way to little 'captain jack- the freckled mouse bird' who liked to sit on Matthews head - unfortunately we didn't have a camera and there was noone there to take pics when we were there

All this feeding of the birds had left us a little peckish ( I'm so sorry) and we had genuinely lost track of time, so we wander over to the restaurant to grab some grub.

Now although it was about 1 pm , due to the size of teh park and the restricted numbers there is always plenty of room and just like everything else in the park you never feel rushed or hassled. So we queued up for the briefest of times and took our trays out to a table in the shade. The boys had chicken nuggets and fries, Lisa had maccaroni cheese and stir fried vegetables and I had chicken jumblesale with a nice glass of Bud light. we ate at a sedentary pace whilst listening to the calypso band play close by. Matthew was the only one who applauded loudly after each song, I say 'each' but TBH they did all sound like the same one . This has 'got' to be the most relaxing park in the whole of florida

Thomas is rather quiet in the corner and looks tired and a bit flushed of cheek

'S'up mate are you ok?'

He focus' bleary eyes on us



And gives a huge 'wallace' smile

'This place is really cool' , high praise indeed I can tell you.

'Daddy?'

'Yes Thomas?'

'please, please,please,please,please can we go back to the reef'

'Yep'

'Oh, why.........hang on did you say yes?'

'Yep '



So after another interesting rest room stop ( its like trying to get a now damp De Graff Zeppelin out of and then into a flip top bin.) We head back to the reef to do another 50 or 60 laps and listen to Matthews commentary

'Ook a boo hish'

When we have all gone wrinkly and the backs of our legs are feeling a little pink ( as they do when you lie on your tummy swimming for hours) Matthew wants to go and enjoy a lolly and a dolphon shaped pretzel from the snack bar and Lisa takes him to get one and grab a drink of frozen lemonade whilst I go back to the ray pool with Thomas to feed them shrimp.

There are an awful lot of Brits here today, you can tell this not only by their accents but my the fact that most of them have gone mauve in the sunshine.

Well the announcement comes over the speakers that it is nearly park closing so we drag ourselves away to go and get dressed.

Reunited with the camera I grab a few snaps





On the way out we stop by the shop to buy the obligatory t-shirts for each of us - it is worth noting that you can buy swim shoes here ( the wetsuit ones) which are essential on the coral type flooring they have here, not only do they all sport the cool DC logo but they cost the same as the cheapo ones I bought in the UK - I think they were under $10 a pair - just so's you know.

Well utterly content and relaxed we walk out of the park - floating would be a better way of putting it infact

Tiffany car was waiting for us and the lady greeted us with a huge grin ' see' she says just looking at us ' told you didn't I.

When we arrived back at the WL it was absolutely heaving with people -I have never seen so many people outside roaring forks and there was a humugous queue outside whispering canyon as well. Assume its mainly the bank holiday + valentines.

Anyway still flaoting on air we go back to our room.

'Daddy'

'Yes Thomas?'

'I think today was the best day of my life'



Well I think he has a point , it certainly ranks up there with mine as well. We will look back on this in years to come as one of our truely great family days ever I have no doubt. Utter magic, completely relaxing and not 1 cross word all day.

Worth every single solitary cent

[foreverducky]

So sweet!

[Dizneyblonde]

Fantastic!

Made me so excited about doing it again in August!

[Mari]

'Daddy'

'Yes Thomas?'

'I think today was the best day of my life'



Well I think he has a point , it certainly ranks up there with mine as well. We will look back on this in years to come as one of our truely great family days ever I have no doubt. Utter magic, completely relaxing and not 1 cross word all day.

Worth every single solitary cent

Awwwwww-.... see now Im all teary eyed and I didnt even go!

[Isafari]

Awwwwww-.... see now Im all teary eyed and I didnt even go!

That got me too!

Great report Chris

[Tink]

Wow. Just woweee wow.

[tb2830]

absolutely fantastic chris

[Dawn]

[MystikPiglit]

'I think today was the best day of my life'

Well I think he has a point , it certainly ranks up there with mine as well. We will look back on this in years to come as one of our truely great family days ever I have no doubt. Utter magic, completely relaxing and not 1 cross word all day.

Awww...how wonderful to hear that. Those are the memories dreams are made of.

[Skywatcher]

wot?