Monthly Archives: January 2008

Jill has been telling everyone that I am the one that wanted to come to Walt Disney World. And it’s essentially true. I haven’t been here since I was 12 and only went to the Magic Kingdom at that time. The time before that I got lost at Epcot when I was 3. So it’s been awhile.

We stayed at the economical “All Star Music” Resort on Disney property. Our first day we went to visit the Magic Kingdom where I tried to attain “Galactic Hero” status by scoring 999,999 points on Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin. Unfortunately, my shooting prowess was no match for the Evil Emperor Zurg, where he stopped me cold with 752,300 points that promoted me from Space Cadet to the second highest rank of “Cosmic Commando. The Hall of Presidents in Liberty Square was probably my favorite attraction at the Magic Kingdom behind Buzz Lightyear…

Another honorable mention was Epcot, where I didn’t manage to get lost this time. Epcot has the “World Showcase” where they have areas set up for many countries (no, this isn’t our trip around the world). They had an exhibit where you could try all of the Coke products from around the world. The drink “Beverly” from Italy is by far the most disgusting drink in the world -it tops straight hard liquor. Jill tried it in Atlanta at the Coca-Cola museum and found how disgusting it was. And low and behold, Epcot had the same exhibit, and Jill thought for some reason that Beverly was going to somehow taste better. Enjoy the video below.

In any event, we are headed to the Miami area, the Florida Keys, and the Everglades. On Friday night, we head to our first “real” destination, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

An excerpt from The Alchemist:

A certain shepherd sent his son to learn about the secret of happiness from the wisest man in the world. The wise man listened attentively to the boy’s explanation of why he had come, but told him he didn’t have time just then to explain the secret of happiness. He suggested that the boy look around the palace and return in two hours. “Meanwhile, I want you to do something,” said the wise man, handing the boy a teaspoon that held two drops of oil. “As you wander around, carry this spoon with you without allowing the oil to spill.” The boy began climbing and descending the many stairways of the palace, keeping his eyes fixed on the spoon. After two hours, he returned to the room where the wise man was. “Well,” asked the wise man, “did you see the Persian tapestries that are hanging in my dining hall? Did you see the garden that it took the master gardener ten years to create? Did you notice the beautiful parchments in my library?” The boy was embarrassed, and confessed that he had observed nothing. His only concern had been not to spill the oil that the wise man had entrusted to him. “Then go back and observe the marvels of my world”, said the wise man. Relieved, the boy picked up the spoon and returned to his exploration of the palace, this time observing all of the works of art on the ceilings and the walls. He saw the gardens, the mountains all around him, the beauty of the flowers, and the taste with which everything had been selected. Upon returning to the wise man, he related in detail everything he had seen. “But where are the drops of oil I entrusted to you?” asked the wise man. Looking down at the spoon he held, the boy saw that the oil was gone. “Well, there is only one piece of advice I can give you”, said the wisest of wise men. “The secret to happiness is to see all the marvels of the world, and never to forget the drops of oil on the spoon.” The shepherd said nothing. He had understood the story: a shepherd may like to travel, but he should never forget his sheep.

After about six months of planning destinations, transportation, vaccinations, etc., the countdown is at last, just a single day. As I finish up the final details, I am overwhelmed with excitement mixed with a little apprehension. Have I overlooked something important? How am I going to lug around all of my belongings in a single bag for eight months? How are Matt and I going to put up with each other for that long? This is a once-in-a-lifetime trip, with the chance to see world-class museums, architecture, and learn about fascinating cultures. This doesn’t come without sacrifices though; when we get back, we will both unemployed and homeless… Hopefully it is worth it…