Sleep in and sunshine

After being on the go for 2 weeks solid it was nice to have a rest day. Although I was up at 8am the girls didn't stir till 10.30. I'd put up the do not disturb sign on the door so we could have a restful morning. We'd made some loose plans to enjoy the sunshine and lay by the pool. After seeing how easy catching the shuttle bus was we decided to head back down to CityWalk for lunch. We chat about our day ahead and I show the girls the app for Universal Studios. It has all the rides and shows we will experience. They seem pretty excited.

We grab some lunch so I decided to go to a Chinese food chain called Panda Express. I'd remembered it from a previous trip to the USA back in 2001 when I was a young married woman. I recall really enjoying a dish of theirs Orange Chicken. So that's what I got. I felt I was reminiscing happier times as today would have been my 19th wedding anniversary. Days like today are tough but the girls kept me smiling all day. Including hanging ten on a surfboard out the front of the Billabong shop there. 

We decided to also do dessert so hunted down the frozen yoghurt joint and enjoyed a refreshing treat. It was a beautiful day so we jumped back on the bus and headed back with plans to have a dip and hang by the pool. 

As we pull in I am amazed by the hotel's commitment to the theme with a couple of old school Chevvys out the front. 

We decided to check out the pool on the other side of the hotel because it had a lazy river. Basically a big circle that takes you around with its current. Just float. The girls pick a tube each and off we go. I'm impressed by the commitment to safety. Lifeguards are everywhere and the sign on the back of their chair alerts you to the fact that if you need to speak to them they might not make eye contact because they need to watch the pool. When they changeover it's a well choreographed transition to make sure there are still eyes on the pool while the other gets off the chair. 

After a dip I find the pool bar serves cider on tap so ordered a nice big cold cider and sat in the sunshine. It's hard to think that a week ago we were layered up in snow jackets and hoodies. The staff working around the pool are fascinated by us Aussies and ask us lots of questions about our country. They are confused by the car license system "Why are there so many levels?", and jealous of the legal drinking age. 

Tomorrow will be a big day on the knee so I thought I'd rest while the girls decided to enjoy the games room. Which was actually more like Intencity than a hotel games room. 

Off the girls trot for a good hour and a half. I meet up with them before watching them play with their prize loot including ping pong guns. Now off to grab some dinner to take back into our room so we can chill out. 

I had a closer look at the provided toiletries and realise even those are in the theme of the era. Amazing! 

Early night. Love it.