Orlando, Florida... Stream of consciousness composed in an authentic English pub!
Today is my day off and it's my brother's 27th birthday (whoa... am I actually getting old?)! I had my first tradeshow experience yesterday. Nicole figured since the work of the roadtrip will continue after the show, Spring and I have each been given a day off. I slept in and woke up the stuffiest I'd been since the morning after my karaoke performance in Nashville, TN. I watched the end of
"Elizabethtown", did laundry here at the hotel, ran a 5K on the treadmill, continued doing laundry, watched "The Client", and escaped the comforts of the large bed to explore the surrounding shops. I purchased a smoothie, a "Fabio" Florida postcard as a joke, and an IPod car charger for a negotiated discount. I walked past the Pirate Golf Adventure and discovered a run down "Mercado" celebrating "A Festival of Shopping & Food". I noticed that the festival was hidden amidst shops that were either defunct or closed down, but I kept exploring for a hidden jewel. Around the corner where people collected in the sunshine of the outdoor smoking area, I spotted The Cricketers Arms. One step in the place whisked me back to my 3 month adventure in England last summer. There are cask beers from the same brewery I enjoyed throughout my travels.
Manchester United just scored against AC Milan- The place is crazed with fans! Where Am I?? Really?! I turned to chat with a fellow at the bar and I realized the majority of the accents filling the chatter of the pub were of the UK variety. The score is tied at 2 and every little goal attempt forces arms into the air, nails into the mouth, and/or curses toward the tele. The place is dark due to the drawn shades and dark wooden beams. The decor holds true to the pub's name, the mural on the back of the wall celebrates the farming homeland thousands of miles away, and the ambiance makes me feel nostalgic and welcome.
Orlando is a different place. It's apparent the local economy survives on purely tourism. Everything that is visible to the driving passer-by seems to have been built to seduce the curious to stop and tour/explore/purchase whatever it is they have to sell. The architecture is interesting and new... the location is a giant city playground for adults. It seems to have changed quite a bit since I was first here as a fifth grader.
Manchester is taking a penalty kick. Again, they've missed. I can't believe they have my favorite English meal- The Ploughman's Lunch! This pub is unbelievable!
I need to get back to the hotel to finish the laundry. The $2/30 min dryer isn't effective the 1st time around.
There's an industry event at Universal Studios this evening. JPMA is a huge production. BabyLegs was probably the most successful booth yesterday. Nicole met with people from boutiques in New Mexico to corporations as large as Target Online. It's incredible to observe the process and the growing success.
The truck is with Nicole's husband, Joel, who is changing the oil and making adjustments to our fuel pumping system. We have a new itinerary that will unfortunately bypass New Orleans and Austin, but the new driving schedule was created to keep Spring's and my sleeping needs in the mission's best interest. This could mean an extra day in San Diego, but I'll reveal our new path as soon as it's revealed to me. It's possible we won't return to Seattle until May 11th. Our meeting regarding this schedule is this evening.
I still have so many stories to share about adventures from Kansas City, MO to Athens, GA!
Thank you again for all of your support. Keep emailing, calling, and reading!!
Manchester just scored with 30 seconds remaining! Time for a Ploughman's to go and some sun by the pool!!
Happy Birthday Nathan!! I love you buddy and I'll be sure to not send you an alligator head from the Bargain Bin across the street.
~Erinn
"Elizabethtown", did laundry here at the hotel, ran a 5K on the treadmill, continued doing laundry, watched "The Client", and escaped the comforts of the large bed to explore the surrounding shops. I purchased a smoothie, a "Fabio" Florida postcard as a joke, and an IPod car charger for a negotiated discount. I walked past the Pirate Golf Adventure and discovered a run down "Mercado" celebrating "A Festival of Shopping & Food". I noticed that the festival was hidden amidst shops that were either defunct or closed down, but I kept exploring for a hidden jewel. Around the corner where people collected in the sunshine of the outdoor smoking area, I spotted The Cricketers Arms. One step in the place whisked me back to my 3 month adventure in England last summer. There are cask beers from the same brewery I enjoyed throughout my travels.
Manchester United just scored against AC Milan- The place is crazed with fans! Where Am I?? Really?! I turned to chat with a fellow at the bar and I realized the majority of the accents filling the chatter of the pub were of the UK variety. The score is tied at 2 and every little goal attempt forces arms into the air, nails into the mouth, and/or curses toward the tele. The place is dark due to the drawn shades and dark wooden beams. The decor holds true to the pub's name, the mural on the back of the wall celebrates the farming homeland thousands of miles away, and the ambiance makes me feel nostalgic and welcome.
Orlando is a different place. It's apparent the local economy survives on purely tourism. Everything that is visible to the driving passer-by seems to have been built to seduce the curious to stop and tour/explore/purchase whatever it is they have to sell. The architecture is interesting and new... the location is a giant city playground for adults. It seems to have changed quite a bit since I was first here as a fifth grader.
Manchester is taking a penalty kick. Again, they've missed. I can't believe they have my favorite English meal- The Ploughman's Lunch! This pub is unbelievable!
I need to get back to the hotel to finish the laundry. The $2/30 min dryer isn't effective the 1st time around.
There's an industry event at Universal Studios this evening. JPMA is a huge production. BabyLegs was probably the most successful booth yesterday. Nicole met with people from boutiques in New Mexico to corporations as large as Target Online. It's incredible to observe the process and the growing success.
The truck is with Nicole's husband, Joel, who is changing the oil and making adjustments to our fuel pumping system. We have a new itinerary that will unfortunately bypass New Orleans and Austin, but the new driving schedule was created to keep Spring's and my sleeping needs in the mission's best interest. This could mean an extra day in San Diego, but I'll reveal our new path as soon as it's revealed to me. It's possible we won't return to Seattle until May 11th. Our meeting regarding this schedule is this evening.
I still have so many stories to share about adventures from Kansas City, MO to Athens, GA!
Thank you again for all of your support. Keep emailing, calling, and reading!!
Manchester just scored with 30 seconds remaining! Time for a Ploughman's to go and some sun by the pool!!
Happy Birthday Nathan!! I love you buddy and I'll be sure to not send you an alligator head from the Bargain Bin across the street.
~Erinn
posted by erinn at 1:55 PM
1 Comments:
Hello Erinn - from Cornwall and Devon - I discoverd your blog when I looked up the lovely people at The Cinnamon Girl coffee house in Falmouth !! (My daughter is at Uni there 2nd year Textile Design Major and reg visitor to the Cafe. Are you a writer too/environment warrior? If so we'd like to follow your blog or add you as a friend to our MySpace (www.myspace.com/inspirangels) - please drop by there to say hello and update us on your adventures (glad you liked the hostel!!)
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