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Adventure of a Lifetime

June - September 2018
Around the world in just over 80 days Read more
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  • TravelerAdventure of a Lifetime
    Day 4

    Touchdown #5, LA, California, USA

    July 3, 2018 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 22 °C

    LAX in Los Angeles, California, just a location to land the plane, not staying long, we need to find our ride and head to our destination.

    What brought us here?
    LAX is a hub for travelers visiting southern California. Back in 2011 we had the chance to see the sights in and around Los Angeles, so this time we are traveling south east of the city to experience a new adventure.

    What happened here?
    Flight landed on time and we successfully found our luggage. We put in a call to our shuttle service and headed outside to wait for their arrival. Quite a busy place, lots of people and vehicles on the move. We decided to let the cat (or mouse) out of the bag and tell the boys where we were going, up until now it had been a secret and we did not want the driver to slip up and ruin it for us. The boys reaction was very exciting. For now, they (and you) had to be patient for a short while longer. About 30 minutes later Nicole arrived and we were headed down the highway. Other than an instance of evasive maneuvers, the ride was smooth. It was a long day, we were all getting tired and Oliver might have dozed off for a short time. About 8:30 pm we arrived!

    DYK: For public health reasons, all garbage removed from international flights arriving at LAX is incinerated.    Read more

  • TravelerAdventure of a Lifetime
    Day 4

    Destination #2, Anaheim

    July 3, 2018 in the United States ⋅ 🌙 21 °C

    A place to hang our hats… or ears.

    Destination #2, Paradise Pier Hotel at Disneyland Resort California. Unpack the bags and get the sunscreen, we are here for a few days.

    What brought us here?
    A family vacation past the south western US does not seem complete without a visit to Disneyland. Our family trip to Florida’s Disney World a few years ago was an amazing experience and hopefully this Disney experience will be equally as exciting. So here we are at Disney’s Paradise Pier Hotel. Disneyland and California Adventure parks are just across the street.

    What happened here?
    We were welcomed to Disney Paradise Pier by Gisele, who assured us Tinkerbell had our room ready and waiting. We got checked in and Gisele was also able to get us our park tickets. We were all tired but excited to have arrived.

    Our 10th floor room had two beds and a convertible couch. Out our window we could see half the pool and pool deck. Should work for the next few days.

    We dropped our bags in our room and headed back down to the restaurant for some late dinner. After dinner we turned in… need to get our rest before tomorrow.

    DYK: Paradise Pier Hotel has a ‘casual beach’ theme. It was built in 1984, has almost 500 rooms and a rooftop pool area with a ‘roller coaster’ water slide called ‘California Streamin’”.    Read more

  • TravelerAdventure of a Lifetime
    Day 5

    The mouse’s west coast house.

    July 4, 2018 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 25 °C

    Ok Mickey, Minnie and Walt’s whole gang, we are ready to check out your west coast digs.

    What brought us here?
    Well, first it was the kids (sort of…), second it was Cars Land, and third it was us (because of the kids and Cars Land). Disney’s Cars movie felt like such a significant part of our lives as our boys were growing up, especially with Isaac. Lightning McQueen and Mater were staples around our house. We watched the movie, had the toys, watched the movie, had the Halloween costume, watched the movie, got more toys, watched the movie and loved it every time! The chance to visit Cars Land was something we could not pass up (hopefully the kids like it as much as Mommy and Daddy will).

    Mickey, Minnie, Goofy, Buzz, McQueen, from the classics to the modern we are here to see it all at Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure Park.

    What happened here?
    Our first day of park fun was spent at Disney California Adventure Park. Our alarm went off at 6 am to get us up and ready to head to the park for guest resort Magic Hour (resort guests get park access 1 hour before the park opens to the public at 8 am). Our first stop was the Fastpass station for Radiator Springs Racers. Once we had those in hand we enjoyed some breakfast at Flo’s V-8 Café. Sitting there, in this real-world of make-believe, it was quite an experience. We were literally in Radiator Springs! This was one of the moments we were waiting for. During the day we enjoyed numerous rides including Guardians of the Galaxy Mission Breakout, Pixar Pal-A-Round Ferris Wheel and Toy Story Midway Mania… but we all agreed our favourite was Radiator Springs Racers in Cars Land. We also got to see Mater, Groot, Captain America and Red (the fire engine from Cars).
    Late in the afternoon we headed back to the hotel for some pool time and the 4th of July Bar-b-q Extravaganza (food, music and fireworks.) Long, busy, exciting, tiring, hot, amazing day!

    DYK: Typically July 4th is the busiest day of the year at Disney Parks.    Read more

  • TravelerAdventure of a Lifetime
    Day 6

    Good Morning Mickey!

    July 5, 2018 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 29 °C

    On day 2 of our park fun we visited Disneyland Park. Another early start to take advantage of Magic Hour (it switches parks each day). This time our first destination was Tomorrowland and Fastpasses for Star Tours. Fastpasses in hand we found some breakfast. Once our bellies were full we rode Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage, a semi-submersible sub ride themed after the famous Disney clownfish. We also rode Star Tours, Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters, Autotopia, the Jungle Cruise, Tarzan’s Treehouse and Pirates of the Caribbean before stopping for some lunch. After lunch we rode the Disney Railroad all around the park and visited the Pirates Liar on Tom Sawyer Island. Our last ride was the Haunted Mansion.
    It was so hot, we decided to head back to the hotel for a break and to visit the pool.
    We got freshened up and returned to the park in time to take the train to New Orleans Station and check in for our 8 pm dinner reservations. We enjoyed our meal and sat through the Fantasmic Show. By the time we got back to the hotel everyone was exhausted again and we called it a night.

    DYK: Disneyland Park opened in July 1955. The park was designed and built under the direct supervisor of Walt Disney. Disney California Adventure Park opened in 2001.    Read more

  • TravelerAdventure of a Lifetime
    Day 7

    More Cars, and beer!

    July 6, 2018 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 36 °C

    Day 3 of our Disneyland Park fun had us revisit California Adventure Park. Once again we headed straight to Cars Land to get Fastpasses for Radiator Springs Racers. We then made a beeline for The Collectors Store at Guardians of the Galaxy. We were on the hunt for Groot. We left with one Groot and new shirts for Corey, Isaac and Oliver. Corey could not convince anyone to go on the Guardians ride again. We headed over to Flo’s V-8 Café in Cars Land for some breakfast. We rode Radiator Springs Racers and Goofy’s Sky School. I rode the Incredicoaster and Soarin’ Around the World. We again decided to end our park fun and head back to the hotel. Enroute we stopped for lunch at Splitsville in Downtown Disney. After some time at the pool we got ready and took a cab to the Anaheim Brewery. Jen and Corey enjoyed some beers. We had dinner next door at Umami Burger. After dinner our waitress Amanda arranged a Lyft to take us back to Disney California Adventure Park where we watched the Paint the Night Parade. After the parade we explored the lights of Cars Land before once again heading back to our hotel. Another busy fun-filled day.Read more

  • TravelerAdventure of a Lifetime
    Day 8

    The time warp begins… LAX departure

    July 7, 2018 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 30 °C

    WARNING: The next few days are a bit funky, try to keep up!

    Beginning of today’s story:
    Sequential time: July 7, 2018, 8 am
    Local California time: July 7, 2018, 8 am
    Time at home: July 7, 2018, 11 am

    Our day started in Disney Paradise Pier hotel with room service breakfast. We were more than pleasantly surprised with way more food than we expected. After breakfast we got some laundry going and Corey and the boys headed out to the pool, Jen joined us a short time later after flipping clothes in to the dryer. It was another warm day in California and the pool was very refreshing. Following our pool time fun we returned to the room to deal with laundry, get showered and dressed and get checked out. We had some lunch and killed some time while waiting for our 6:30 pm shuttle to LAX. We found out our flight had been bumped up an hour, so we got some food and a short time later we were boarding our plane.

    End of today’s story:
    Sequential time: July 7, 2018, 9:20 pm
    Local California time: July 7, 2018, 9:20 pm
    Time at home: July 8, 2018, 12:20 am    Read more

  • TravelerAdventure of a Lifetime
    1
    Day 9

    Touchdown #6, Auckland, New Zealand

    July 8, 2018 in New Zealand ⋅ ☁️ 12 °C

    Auckland, New Zealand, just a stop-over
    Beginning of today’s story:
    Sequential time: July 8, 2018, about 10 am
    Local Auckland time: July 9, 2018, about 5 am
    Time at home: July 8, 2018, about 1 pm

    After almost 13 hours of flying, and crossing the International Date Line, we arrive in Auckland, New Zealand 2 days later (local time). During the flight we enjoyed some food, movies and of course the interactive map (Corey’s favourite show!). We chill out in the airport, grab some food and await our next flight.

    End of today’s story:
    Sequential time: July 8, 2018, about 2 pm
    Local Auckland time: July 9, 2018, about 9 am
    Time at home: July 8, 2018, about 5 pm

    DYK: New Zealand is considered the last habitable land mass on Earth to be settled by humankind.    Read more

  • TravelerAdventure of a Lifetime
    Day 9

    Touchdown #7, Papeete, Tahiti

    July 8, 2018 in French Polynesia ⋅ 🌬 28 °C

    Papeete, Tahiti, French Polynesia, Faa’a International Airport
    After departing Auckland, flying across the International Date Line again we touchdown in Papeete, Tahiti a day earlier (we have flown back in time and now it is really July 8th, 2018). Regardless of what day it is we are getting excited because we are almost there... one more flight until our next destination.

    DYK: Papeete is the capital of French Polynesia and located on the island of Tahiti. Tahiti is part of the Society Islands, one of 5 island groups that make up French Polynesia. French Polynesia is an ‘overseas country’ financially assisted by France.    Read more

  • TravelerAdventure of a Lifetime
    Day 9

    Touchdown #8, Bora Bora

    July 8, 2018 in French Polynesia ⋅ ⛅ 25 °C

    Welcome to Bora Bora, checking this off the bucket list.

    What brought us here?
    It might sound a little selfish, but this visit was on Corey’s bucket list, and Jen did not argue. Knowing our trip took us in this direction, it seemed to be the perfect opportunity to visit and check this off the list. Touted as the most beautiful island in the world, who wouldn’t want to spend some time relaxing here.

    DYK: The Tahitian alphabet is made up of 13 letters; the vowels a, e, i, o, u and the consonants f, h, m, n, p, r, t and v. Noticed that there is no b? Bora Bora is actually pronounced “Pora Pora”. It means “first-born”, but early visitors heard it as Bora Bora and it stuck.    Read more

  • TravelerAdventure of a Lifetime
    Day 9

    Destination #3, Bora Bora

    July 8, 2018 in French Polynesia ⋅ ⛅ 25 °C

    Our home in Bora Bora is the Intercontinental Bora Bora and Thalasso Spa. It is located on Motu Piti Aau. A ‘motu’ is a small island or islet and there are about 11 distinct motus that surround the centre island of Bora Bora. Our boat from the airport delivered us to the dock where staff where waiting with golf carts to drive us to reception. They provided some sweet tea and a washcloth while we waited to complete our check in. While we were there they delivered our bags to our villa. When we arrived the beds were ready and we were tired.
    Our over-water villa features a glass floor beneath the coffee table, a covered patio and sundeck. Once we were done exploring the villa, we finally got settled in for our first night in Bora Bora.    Read more

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