I'll be damned if after all that's happened, you can convince me to go back to your arms with some cheap words promising that you've "changed". No matter what you have, you've got nothing I want.

Now on to my second day in Washington D.C. . The weather was just perfect for walking around. The sky was blindingly sunny and not a single cloud in sight. On day 2, we visited :

-The United States Capitol
-Library of Congress
-Supreme Court of the United States
-Smithsonian Institution
-National Gallery of Art ( photography not allowed  )
-National Geographic Museum
-Southwest Waterfront Fireworks Festival
 

Waffle breakfast



Cute squirrel near the Capitol



The United States Capitol



The inside of the Capitol building was majestic !! This is the ceiling of the dome.















Library of Congress



inside Library of Congress






inside Library of Congress
I wonder what it feels like to read here...






The Supreme Court (could not enter inside)



Smithsonian Institution
We caught a flash mob pillow fight here... There were people and pillows and dust everywhere. Very chaotic



National Geographic Museum
Titanic: 100 Year Obsession exhibition



Had dinner at a restaurant called Lincoln
I got the pot roast which was terribly greasy. Note the thick layer of pure satuated fat floating on top. Yuck!



Southwest Waterfront
No picture of the fireworks ... Once you've seen Wishes at Magic Kingdom, it becomes difficult to enjoy other inferior displays of fireworks lol.

We did have to rush through the day in order to see as much as possible. Even so, there are many amazing museums and galleries in Washington ( all free of charge) that we didn't get a chance to go. There's also a huge zoo that I would've loved to visit. Ah well, maybe next time. Washington D.C. was definitely a city that was rich in culture and offers many things to see.



Went to Pizza Hut on my way back to Toronto, didn't expect much but this turned out to be the best, freshest, most perfect pizza I've had in my life I am planning on visiting a few Pizza Hut branches in Toronto in order to find this magically delicious pizza

No it doesn't feel like "black waves" to me. 
It's more like sand in your heart, rough and fine grains, weighing it down incessantly and not letting in any light. And you're constantly aware that when the sand fills up to the top, it's all over.

Alright I have a confession to make... Soon after I came back from Orlando, I embarked on another journey to Washington D.C . I had four days off from work for Easter (purely coincidental and a very pleasant surprise when I looked at my April schedule ) and I could not pass up the perfect opportunity to visit a new place. I initially wanted to go somewhere close such as Niagara falls and Buffalo but somehow somewhere along the planning process the trip developed into a four-day road trip to Washington D.C... We spent the first and last days driving on the road, so about 2 full days were actually spent in Washington D.C. Although we weren't able to see the cherry blossoms in full bloom, the weather in Washington D.C. was beautiful and most attractions were free of charge!

During day 1 in Washington, we visited

-Lincoln Memorial (Reflecting Pool was under contruction )
-Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial
-Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial
-Jefferson Memorial
-Washington Monument
-White House
-National Archives (Photography not permitted inside)
-Chinatown


Yummy breakfast delivered to my room



Lincoln Memorial



Lincoln Memorial



Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial



Franklin Roosevelt Memorial



Nice park near Roosevelt Memorial



Jefferson Memorial



Jefferson Memorial



Washington Monument



White House
Why does it look blue in this picture ??



The National Archives
This building houses the original documents of the Constitution, the Bill of Rights, and the Declaration of Independence from the 1700's. The parchments seemed very fragile and the ink was faint, but it was very humbling just to be able to see these documents that changed history forever. So much passion had gone into them in defence of liberty of Americans. I think every visitor walked out of the National Archives with new appreciation and knowledge of American history and human rights. Photography was not allowed inside, but a visit is highly recommended



Chinatown



We had dinner here
I still can't figure out the name of this place. "Fresh Noodle Made on the Spot"
doesnt sound like a restaurant name to me...



Fresh noodles with beef tenders and hot & sour soup (which was way too spicy for my taste)



Fresh noodles with BBQ pork, was delicious and very filling



Lastly, dessert at Haagen-Dazs

On the very last day of my Orlando vacation, we decided to visit Seaworld . But before we could head off to Seaworld, I had to make a trip to Disney's lost & found near Magic Kingdom. I had lost my phone at Hollywood Studios which was very devastating because my wallet just got stolen and I definitely did not want to spend another few hundred dollars replacing the phone. But luckily someone picked it up and returned it to the lost and found for me. I think in Toronto, if I ever lose my phone it would most likely never be seen again, so although my bejeweled phone case is slightly chipped, I'm very thankful to be able to retrieve it.

Starting the day right with a healthy omelet breakfast at my resort.




Flamingoes
If anyone's ever been to a chicken farm and can recall their distinct smell, flamingoes give off the exact same odour .









Turtles



Alligator
They are supposed to be highly abundant in Florida and there's pretty much at least one residing in every pond.



This is a sea lion show called Clyde and Seamore Take Pirate Island
(unfortunately it was not very well-rehearsed and there was a lot of glitches and overall not very enjoyable )



Dolphin Cove



You can view them from above water or underwater. You can also feed the dolphins during designated feeding times for a very reasonable fee but the line-up was very long.












Seahorse at Manta Aquarium






Very plant-like but also a seahorse !!



cute little shrimp



Stingrays



I swear in every aquarium I've visited there's a completely immobile shark idling at the bottom of a tank just like this one






One of my favourite pictures of the trip



Sea lion chillaxing at Pacific Point Reserve






Awwww so sweet



Shamu brownie sundae



One Ocean show
Seeing Shamu was the highlight of the day. The stadium was large but the seats filled up very fast non the less so do arrive early. 













Overall Seaworld was not overcrowded and I especially loved the adorable dolphins and killer whales. However, a few exhibits were closed, the shows were a bit cheesy. I think I preferred the Disney parks a bit more. After Seaworld, we went to Orlando Premium Outlets for some shopping. I got a new wallet ( to replace my old one which was stolen ) and a pair of shoes for work.

And that concludes all my blog posts on my Orlando vacation. I had the time of my life and looking at the pictures, I can't help but to wish I can go back. Lastly, if anyone is interested in visiting Orlando, I recommend a book called "The Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World". A new edition is published every year and I was able to obtain a lot of useful tips from it .

I got the somewhat uplifting news,
but no need to make me feel special when I am not.

Orlando Walt Disney World Epcot
In addition to the Flower & Garden Festival, I loved the highly innovative rides at Epcot. My absolute favourite was Soarin, a simulated gliding flight over the most magnificent landscapes in State of California. It really feels like flying and it is a ride that people of all ages are able to fully enjoy .


beautiful garden



Bambi's Butterfly House
part of Flower & Garden Festival



Bambi's Butterfly House



Cuttlefish at The Sea Base and Caribbean Coral Reef Aquarium
Orlando Walt Disney World Epcot


Clownfish



Duffy the Disney Bear He's the cutest, awesomest Disney character ever!!
Orlando Walt Disney World Epcot






Cute Easter stuff at Japan Pavillion Mitsukoshi department store . They have tons of adorable goods imported from Japan, such as Hello Kitty goods, Totoro plush, kokeshi dolls, manga poster cards, floral wallets / make-up pouches, kimonos etc. I spent at least an hour in there wishing I could buy them all. There is also an authentic Japanese restaurant at the Pavillion called Teppan Edo which has pretty rave reviews. Orlando Walt Disney World Epcot



Sexy Hawaiian Hello Kitty & Florida license plate Hello Kitty which I could not resist but to take home with me . I also got a cute Hello Kitty key cap  ( I almost want to start a personal Hello Kitty collection now). If you live in a Disney resort, they will deliver your purchase to your hotel so you won't have to carry it with you all day. Orlando Walt Disney World Epcot



Kaki Gori at Japan Pavillion



Marie from the Aristocats



Mickey

Orlando Walt Disney World Epcot
Lastly we had dinner at Les Chefs de France, an elegant, highly rated restaurant in Frence Pavillion. The food was great, the service was excellent, and the decor was lovely. I accidentally knocked down a full glass of milk which spread all over my table and even to the table next to us, but everyone was very helpful and non-condemning which made it slightly less embarrassing . And thank goodness it did not spill on our cameras.

onion soup
was ok



lobster bisque



pasta
This was delicious. I am probably highly uneducated in Frech cuisine but this pasta tasted a lot like the Chinese noodle that I often eat at home...



Salmon



Bon Appétit from Chef Remy
Orlando Walt Disney World Epcot


Strawberry dessert
The colour in this picture looks a bit weird for some reason... but this was excellent. The strawberry cake wash rich and creamy and the sorbet was very refreshing.



Creme brulee
I don't order creme brulee much because I find the taste is very "preditable". But this was delicious! The portion was big for dessert but we still wished it was bigger .



Spaceship Earth Pavilion
Orlando Walt Disney World Epcot

On day 5 we went to Epcot, a theme park that celebrates international cultures and technological innovation. The park features pavillions representing various countries in an effort to showcase the essence of their cultures, which was fascinating to see. Overall I had a fantastic time at Epcot and it was one of my favourite parks of the trip . Orlando Walt Disney World Epcot
We luckily caught the Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival, a springtime-only festival that features displays of dazzling Disney character topiaries and beautiful botanical gardens. I am super excited to present to you photos of some of the amazing character topiaries . Orlando Walt Disney World Epcot



Mickey and Minnie



Donald and Daisy



Peter Pan, Captain Hook, and the gator



Cinderella



Sleeping Beauty


Beauty and the Beast


Bambi and friends



Lady and the Tramp in front of Italy Pavillion
I loved this one



The Seven Dwarfs
There is actually 7 of them plus Snow White but they won't all fit in 1 picture...



Lightning Mcqeen and Mater in front of the Japan Pavillion



Fire-breathing dragon in front of China Pavillion
Not a Disney character I think, but definitely one fierce dragon



Woody and Buzz



Last but not least, Lotso
Very adorable but did not smell like strawberries

The Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival this year is open from March 7th to May 20th. Orlando Walt Disney World Epcot

Sorry I've been MIA again ... was a bit busy.
Orlando Walt Disney World Hollywood Studios
On day 4 we went to Hollywood Studios. I would say it might have been my least favourite Disney park. It was extremely busy on the day we went and I wasn't crazy about of some of their signature attractions, such as Lights, Motors, Action, Beauty and the Beast , and Indiana Jones. Plus I was not feeling the "Hollywood movie set" theme. I also spent a great amount of time lining up for The Great Movie Ride, and just when I finally got on, the ride failed to start and had to close down temporarily for reparation. I went back in a few hours and lined up all over again which took up a lot of my time . However, I loved the Star Tours ride, a thrilling 3-D flight with Star Wars characters. I also thought Fantasmic!, the nighttime firework and water show was outstanding.
Orlando Walt Disney World Hollywood Studios


You have no idea how hard it was to take this picture without people in the foreground



Ran into Darth Vader
Orlando Walt Disney World Hollywood Studios


The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror
I was too chicken to go on this ... maybe next time




Orlando Walt Disney World Hollywood Studios
We had a delicious lunch at Mama Melrose's Ristorante Italiano. We've been to quite a few awesome restaurants in Disney World, but I would say in terms of taste, Mama Melrose's is the winner. The service was slow, but the food was divine!!! I definitely highly, highly recomend it  




Clam Oreganata
was delicious, of course


Wood-grilled Tuna
This was amazing. The Tuna was very fresh and the risotto was perfect



Charred Strip Steak
was excellent



Dessert
I was already stuffed by this point but the dessert was so tempting . I don't remember what kind of cake these were but they were perfect as well. Everything was so good Orlando Walt Disney World Hollywood Studios



Mickey



Winnie the Pooh






Lights, Motors, Action! Extreme Stunt Show Orlando Walt Disney World Hollywood Studios


Lightning Mcqueen and Mater
Orlando Walt Disney World Hollywood Studios


Wizard of Oz from the Great Movie Ride



Little Mermaid
She's my favourite Disney Princess because her story is not about going from ragged to wealthy, but rather from sheltered to independent.
Orlando Walt Disney World Hollywood Studios


The huge crowd waiting for Fantasmic! to start



It's hard to convey by words or graphic how amazing the show was. Many different elements such as water, fire, light, and fireworks are harmonized with the background music to create a very holistic experience. I have not seen anything like it anywhere else.






Sorcerer Mickey Hat Orlando Walt Disney World Hollywood Studios



like my hat?



Simple dinner at our resort's foodcourt: beef sandwitch, chips, and grapes

After Discovery Cove, we went to Magic Kingdom to complete some rides we missed on Day 1, such as Haunted Mansion and Pirates of the Caribbean. The wait times were much shorter in the evening which was a big relief. Then we had an interesting dinner at Cinderella's Round Table, the restaurant inside Cinderella's Castle. Orlando Walt Disney World Magic Kingdom


The castle was beautiful inside



Got my picture taken with Cinderella. I have to say it was a highly awkward experience. First of all, most of the guests accompanied little girls who idolize Cinderella. It was rare to see young adults and I felt like I didn't fit in with the atmosphere nor belonged to the predominant demographic . Second of all, Cinderella looked gorgeous from head to toe and her every gesture was well-practiced and very princess-like. She literally looked like a classic royalty who just walked out of a movie. I felt like such an ugly duckling in comparison lol. Orlando Walt Disney World Magic Kingdom



Cinderella telling stories  Orlando Walt Disney World Magic Kingdom
This is what I mean when I say the guests are mostly little girls






Shrimp cocktail



Steak



View from my table



Seafood pasta
This was so excessively salty it gave me a headache



Dessert trio
I can't rave about the food here since although it was edible, it was very mediocre and overpriced. But you do get to take pictures with Cinderella at the entrance, and while dining, Snow White, Belle, Ariel, and Sleeping Beauty will greet each table and allow for pictures. Plus, the privilege of entering and dining in the castle is a strong selling point. I just think I would've enjoyed the experience more if I was ... um... 15-20 years younger  .
P.S. Reservation is required months in advance (we waited for 45 minutes even with a reservation )



Tinker Bell   Orlando Walt Disney World Magic Kingdom