Anyway, our adventure started at Universal Studios in Orlando on Thursday where I had some disappointment at Hogwarts (I will discuss at a later date, I'm certain) and got a little sunburnt.... That's what happens when you forget the sunscreen!
We stayed over that evening at Quality Inn by the Florida Mall (FANTASTIC deal through hotels.com) and spent a few hours on Friday exploring the mall. I am a mall-fiend and if it were just me, I would have flitted from mall to mall across the state during the entirety of the four days. D not so much... He was quite pleased with the free sample selection in the food court and the unmentionable department at my favorite former employer Torrid!
The rest of our trip was spent at an amazing B & B called the Riverdale Inn in Jacksonville--where we had never been before (adventure, remember?). We stayed in the Bishopgate room on the third floor of a turn of the century mansion and it was wonderful! The entire B & B experience was also new to me and I loved the made-to-order breakfasts, the art museum next door, the fantastic hospitality, and how everything closes down at 9pm. We were both sad to say goodbye on Sunday!
Of course, the trip ended with a four hour drive back to the west coast of Florida (gladly interrupted by lunch at Cracker Barrel in Palm Coast) with the company of a fascinating book on cd. 21 by Bed Mezrich is the book that the 2008 film was based on--and according to D, much more in depth. Proves my theory again that the book is always better than the movie!
