What happened afterwards…
So, what happened after my awesome time in Flagstaff…
It was a sad goodbye, the morning of the 8th of September, 2012. Checking out of the common house, closing the door behind me, memories coming back from all the awesome moments and people I met the past two months. I had rented a one-way rental car (thanks, Budget, for waiving the underage fee for us ACE volunteers!) and was about to drive down to Phoenix to catch my plane onwards. But not before saying final goodbyes!
When I finally managed to leave, I drove the scenic route from Flagstaff to Phoenix…
But, I was also looking forward to something most awesome… A trip to Orlando, Florida! After all the hard work and sweat, I thought I’d deserved some straight-up childish fun and booked myself a spontaneous 4-day outing before heading back home to Belgium. So, this is why I ended up taking a small jet from Phoenix to LA, and the redeye flight into Orlando, to finally get to Disney World!
Disney World, of course, is as awesome as their marketing makes it out to be. No, really, I’m serious! I never, ever got bored during my four days there. There’s always new things to see, explore, details you’ve missed previously, and entertainment to keep you, well, entertained. My absolute favorite was a cover band they called “Mulch, Sweat and Shears”, playing in the Hollywood Studios park. They played 45-minute sets with a varying setlist. If I recall correctly, I’ve seen about 5 of their shows during the four days!
Oh, and one more thing: I also went dolphin-swimming! This is something I’ve always wanted to do, a dream come true. It happened at a place called “Discovery Cove” (also in Orlando, a short cab ride away). Yes, I know, it’s morally difficult to defend the exploitation of these creatures living in captivity, but I must admit that thought disappeared from my mind once I was actually there…
In summary, this whole trip has been a blast, and what I’d call a once-in-a-lifetime and life-changing experience. I’d do it all again in a heartbeat! (But maybe after filling up my bank account again…)
Adios!
Steven