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Jakes choice of parks today and he chose Sea World. As we set off there wasn't a cloud in the sky so we were in for another scorcher. We drove past Marriotts Cypress Harbour which we stayed in 4 years ago when we were last in Florida. Still looks a nice place. Happy days!
1st stop at Sea World was Manta. We were pretty sure Jake was too small to ride on this but we thought we'd check for size. As it turned out we were right. He missed out by 2 inches so there were a few tears. As we couldn't ride Manta or Kraken which has the same height restrictions we decided to head to the recently opened Antarctica, empire of the penguins. Wait time was 75 minutes, a little on the long side considering it was on just after 10am. It was a long hot wait with the sun beating down on us, only made bearable by the industrial fans mounted on posts to cool us down. When we reached the front of the line, the attendant kept asking the crowd to repeat temperatures that she seemed to think were important. Puzzling!
Once inside the 1st hall we were treated to a short film about penguins and their hostile environment. Then on to the next area which was a ride to simulate a young penguins 1st steps and its struggle to survive predators. Pretty good so far. Once you exit the ride you go in to a chamber which has the penguins in. Now I understand why the attendant was obsessed with temperature. It was a little on the chilly side to say the least. The penguin area was pretty impressive as you were up close with the penguins and only separated by a small 4 foot wall so you could more or less reach out and touch them. Don't think you'd be allowed to though :(
The next chamber was a big tank so you could see the penguins under water. Through the next set of doors and we were back outside. Seemed to be over too quickly but still rather impressive.
Time for a quick lunch and then off to turtle trek. On the way we stopped off at stingray lagoon to feed the stingrays. Jake was a bit wary of the stingrays taking the shrimps that we had bought out of his hands and just kept dropping them in front of the advancing stingrays causing the poor creatures confusion.
So, off to turtle trek, a 360 degree, 3D show mapping a turtles life and journey from hatchling, it's struggle to survive in the ocean, to its return to the beach it was born to give birth to its own young.
Off to Shamu stadium now. This is what we'd all been looking forward to all day. Lewis was keen to use the camcorder, Jake desperate to beckon Shamu.
The show started with the usual tribute to US,UK and coalition troops. Still a nice gesture. Then the killer whales started their show. Even though I've seen the orcas perform several times now, I still marvel at the tricks, jumps and soaking of the audience. Jake kept asking, "When's Shamu coming?" We were all by this time raring to beckon Shamu out to loud chants of SHAMU, SHAMU!!! But wait, the show finished! Where was Shamu? We were all a little disappointed. Had we missed something? Does Shamu no longer perform?
A little disheartened we decided to go on 1 last attraction and promptly headed off to wild arctic, a helicopter simulator exploring the arctic. The boys and Julie liked this but I felt a little motion sickness on it. Must be getting old!
Time to leave and get a cake at the bakery at the exit. Yum yum, we all enjoyed those. I decided to try a hat on at 1 of the stalls on the way out as I think I'd burned my head today. Not sure what I was doing, I either looked like an Australian, or I'm turning into my Dad.
Back to our pool to cool down and chill. When we arrived back at the apartment, a fire engine and paramedic truck were waiting outside. Julie was a little worried as she'd almost set fire to the apartment 2 nights ago.Then an elderly man was wheeled out on a stretcher so i think she felt a little happier. Not for the man, just that she hadn't burned the place down. A TV helicopter was circling the scene. Was this guy important? Had something serious happened or had they heard that I'd sped off from a toll booth without paying? We'll keep our eyes on the news channels an keep you informed.
No lightening to report tonight.
Day off from the parks tomorrow.
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