Two cheapskates take on the World

[fizboBunny]

Great trip report. I am prone to motion sickness, but after reading your Busch Gardens review it had me wanting to go. The animal interaction looked awesome. The safari part looked similar to, but better than a place nearby me that you can feed giraffes The Global Wildlife Center.

If you are into animals there is a place in the panhandle of Florida (I think in Pensacola) where you can do one on one animal encounters. My sister went twice and got to play one on one with baby white tigers, but I don't think they always have tiger interactions.

But really, I thoroughly enjoyed your report, the writing and the pictures were both wonderful.

[pfalcioni]

Thanks for the kind words and thanks for the info on the Wildlife Center, that's definitely something we'll check out. It's frustrating, we were actually right nearby there during our first Florida vacation back in 2007. Wish I'd been smart enough to know about it then! We've got something similar on the Oregon Coast, last time we were there they had baby tigers we were petting. So much fun!!

[ellie]

hi Pam,

I'm amusing myself reading trip reports and Dennis had mentioned yours as a must read. We have two cat cams! due to our luckily stable on medication baby boy. I've been bitten by a squirrel I regularly fed... found out from my sister that they aren't a big worry... no squirrel-to-human cases of rabies transmission to date. Not that he was rabid. It was good to see pictures of you after so many posts.

[pfalcioni]

Thanks Ellie, and that's good to know about squirrels being relatively safe - Mike has a bad habit of getting up close and personal with wildlife. He's a nut (probably why the squirrels like him!)

[Bunny]

I started reading this thread this morning, got part way through and realized I had already read it when I first joined the board...but went ahead and read it again because I enjoyed it so much!!!

[pfalcioni]

Gosh Bunny, I do that with murder mystery novels! I'm halfway through and realize I've read the thing, but can't remember whodunit, so I keep reading anyway :)

[Micklessor]

I started reading this thread this morning, got part way through and realized I had already read it when I first joined the board...but went ahead and read it again because I enjoyed it so much!!!

I did the same thing! and enjoyed it the second time around just as much! Your experience at HM reminded me of when my husband and I were only 1 of two couples in the stretching room and we were instructed by the CM to lay down on the floor face up! It was so fun!

Can't wait for your next report...

[Bunny]

Re-reading about bringing cans of soup and various sundries has really piqued my interest. We're not super-picky and we can get by with meals mostly consisting of soup, Ramen, oatmeal and fruit. One or two "fancy" meals will do us just fine!

[ajj221]

Excited to see this as I am in the process of planning a long weekend with My mom and my 2 kids DS5 and DD3. DS5 is a huge animal lover. The current plan is for 1 day MK and 1 day Busch Gardens. We will be visiting family in the Tampa area but I don't know if they will come to the parks with us or not. I am glad to hear the Busch Gardens is a 1 day park if we eliminate the thrill rides and focus on the animals.

[pfalcioni]

You'll have a great time! We can't wait to go back and see all the exhibits we missed the first time!

[gorsh]

Pam, just found your TR! I read it all at once and I LOVED it!

You and your husband are totally adorable. I showed my 5yo son the picture of your garage and I thought he would be impressed with all the bikes, but instead he said, "WOAH, they have STAIRS in their garage?!? That's cool!" kids!

I can't believe Mike's shirt was stolen from BB. That is crazy! Who does that???
HM alone sounded awesome.
Your little bear you take around is so cute.
We love talking to CMs too, especially at the parks. Actually, I think my favorite is to talk to the kids at EP who come over for a year from their home country.
The lion roaring during your safari was awesome! We did a semi-private safari once at the San Diego Wild Animal Park and saw a lion roar there...it really is amazing to see in person.
Your Christmas card picture is AWESOME...yes, your parents will be proud :).
I didn't know about the dancing waters fountain in China. I love learning about new little things to check out, so thanks for sharing so many details!
I love how you decorated your garage and display areas in your home...I can see why you have to do Disney on the cheap!

[Bunny]

Oh yeah, I totally showed DH the picture of your garage and the bikes and he drooled for a good ten minutes or so! Every time he scanned the photo and picked up on a different bike, he'd point and yell! He's been riding motorcycles since he was a teen...he hopes that one day, I will, too!

[pfalcioni]

Thanks Kate! Our little bear is very well traveled - he's ridden in that backpack everywhere we go, even on the bikes! I know we're silly, but he makes us smile, and really that's all that matters (at least I hope it is!).

Bunny, If your DH would like a better view of some of the bikes, you can see them here http://falcioni.wordpress.com/mikes-bikes/ the slideshow at the top of the page should autoplay when you open it, or you can scroll the page for individual shots.

I love riding. There are no words to describe how much I love it, there is just something so zen about being alone in your own head, completely focused on the road, and working to carve perfect turns - when it happens, when you get the lean angle and speed just right - nirvana! It is just so, awesome, I don't know, like I said, I have no words.

If you do decide to learn, take the rider safety course, then if possible do some dirt bike riding - say a year's worth before you tackle the street. I can't say enough about how much better rider I am because of my experience riding dirt.

Girl brains seem to work differently than boy brains. Boy brains apparently handle unexpected things with a knee-jerk reaction, girl brains just freeze up. The average new streetbike rider does fine until something unexpected happens, then the boys have that knee-jerk reaction which can sometimes save them and girls freeze up and run into the problem before they can react. Dirt bike riding teaches you to expect the unexpected and react to it without freezing up. That's my personal, inexpert and totally made-up-from-my-own-experience theory - take it for what it's worth!

[diz4me]

Hi Pam!

Love your trip report - thanks for sharing. :) My husband Steve and I are about 35 days out from our first trip w/o the family and are super-excited!

OK, after seeing Mike's bike collection, I have to ask: Do either of you know Les Barker who owns Little Engine Service in Vancouver WA? He manufactures custom parts for racing bikes. He's my brother-in-law and I know he has friends in your area.

[pfalcioni]

I've talked to Les a few times on the phone at work, he knows my boss, Pete Fisher of Powroll pretty well.

[diz4me]

I've talked to Les a few times on the phone at work, he knows my boss, Pete Fisher of Powroll pretty well.

Small world.

[pfalcioni]

True, that.

[Roxie]

Great trip report & loved the info about Busch Gardens - we are including it this trip

[raraavis]

since i'm new to the forums, i only just read your trip report. loved it!