The Magic Kingdom

Friday afternoon, I decided to become again a little child and dedicated my time to have fun in the Disney park: the Magic Kingdom!! Disney parks have something like 4 theme parks: the Magic Kingdom, the Animal Kingdom, the Epcot park and I forgot the last one.

The most famous ride, Space Mountain, helped me to explore the mysteries of the universe. I also made the Pirats of Carribeas where I had the chance to meet my dear Captain Jack Sparrow. Thanks to the 3D technology, I enjoyed a fancy concert with the maestro Mickey Mouse.

I tried to warn Snow White against the Witch but she did not listen to me! I have to reveal this terrible secret: Snow White is stubborn!!!! I am not sure she deserves the Charming Prince....

I finished the day by Disney Downtown which is a kind of city and took a nice refreshing cocktail in Planet Hollywood:) All the cocktaims were named after a movie: mine was Pineapple Express, there was also Iron Man....Terminator...;

Welcome to Miami

Welcome to MIAMI:)

Our 1st stop was Palm Beach which is a beautiful seaside resort on the way to Miami. I was so happy to find back the ocean. Afterward, we arrived to Miami Beach where our hostel was located. On Saturday morning, we woke early to visit Miami downtown: the Metromover, which is a kind of metro in the air, allowed us to have an overview of the city. There are great buildings: the Freedom Tower, The Herald Magazine building. We went on Calle Ocho in Little Havana (the Cuban neighborhood) to eat delicious Cuban food in Versailles (there was nothing of French in this restaurant!!) and ice cream in an heladeria. The afternoon was dedicated to South Miami, its Art Deco district, the Espanola way and the Beach. The Beach was incredibly crowded because of the Spring Break. After such a day (I got my nose and my neck burt by the sun), Miami nightclubs and bars were waiting for us. We had a great time in the Cleveland and then in Tequila Chicas where I got una riquisima strawberry Margarita.


Saturday morning: Miami sleeps!! The Design district in North Miami was quite abandoned and the Little Haiti was quite a scarying place with its Botanica shops. Coconut Groves and its peaceful port was a welcoming place to rest. Finally, it was time to go back to Orlando, nonetheless we stopped again by Palm Beach to eat in a nice restaurant on the seaside.

Well, guys, I'm sorry that there is no pictures of me in bikini but I hope you will enjoy the other pictures!

American cultures

Because of the rain, this week-end has been quite a cultural one. I went to both museums: Cornell Fine Arts museum which belongs to Rollins Campus and to Charles Hosmer Museum. The Cornell museum was supposed to contain American art pieces but there were a lot of French sculptures (for my greatest pleasure). Nonetheless, there was an amazing collection of restored posters. The posters were used for propaganda during the last century : for instance, among my pictures you will see the famous poster of Uncle Sam "We want you". Posters were both USA and URSS ones: each country tried to use its cultural roots to deliver a message. A good example is a picture of a navy guy on a bomb who seems to be a cowboy making rodeo indeed. The museum also has a funny collection of miniature watch keys. But I really think that the most important pieces of the museum are the pictures of Native American chiefs and the traditional clothes they were wearing such as the wedding dress and mocassins. There is also a blanket from the Mayflower (yes, yes that's the awfull piece of tissue!). I had already visited the Morse museum: I believe that it is the first thing I did with my roomate when we arrived in Florida. This museum totally worthes it!!!! It is about Louis Comfort Tiffany art nouveau pieces such as lamps or glasses: they are extremely refined and beautiful. A very impressive part of the museum is the rebuilt Chapel which had been created for the Colombus fair in1893. The glasses are wonderful and we really have the impression to see paintings. Sophie, I'm pretty sure that you would have been delighted to see this museum: that's why I put some pictures of postcards I bought there. Going on my American cultural travel: I also discovered another aspect of the American culture. I experienced the WingHouse restaurant where the waitresses wear very hot clothes as you can see: I've taken a picture of all the guys with the waitress and another one with the girls. I didn't try the chicken wings which are the specialties of the chef (hahhaha) but the others seemed to enjoy. However, I have to say that crepes still remain the best food in the world and that recently we converted many people and I have to confess that they're better crepes-makers than me!! Shame on me!!!!

Hair musical

That's my last day in New York and it's gonna be the culmination of my NY stay: I 'm gonna see the musical Hair. I'm so excited: broadway is so magic!! The musical was quite shocking because of teh very sexual dance and performance but the rock music was excellent. The musical also showed the contradictions of the hyppie movement: youg people were very individualist and at the same time wanted peace for the world. They also criticized the money system but were people from wealthy background and lived thanks to their family support. they also criticized their country and their families but hyppies were just trying to create a new family with their friends. The funniest part was that a group of retired persons was attending the show and actors played with them, simulating sex positions and so forth. I don't think that the old people appreciated it.

At the end of the show, I went back to the hostel and joined the Argentinian guys to go to the airport. It was quite complicated but happily enough we did it: gracias amigos, son barbaros!

Upper Manhattan

On Tuesday, I walked along the mythic 5th avenue. Like Audrey Hepburn, I admired Tiffany's store but it didn't impress me that much. I saw the Plaza Hotel and the Trump Tower. Then, I went to Central Park which was totally under the snow. After reaching the Jackie Kennedy reservoir I went to the Metropolitum museum. In Central Park, John Lennon was murdered in Central Park strawberries field. I spent 5 hours in the MET: I was so lost! The museum is extremely huge and is organized in many world parts: the European, American, Asian, African, Oceanian ones. I almost saw everything: I was so impressed by the quality and quantity of their collections. But at the same time, I had the impression that there has been a pillage from other countries and that the museum was a kind of storage! Nonetheless, I really liked the museum because there was so much to admire and I spent my time breathless!

Statue of Liberty

Monday, my trip led me to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. After a long check-in control process I took the ferry for The Statue. Nowadays, because of terrorism, nobody is allowed to go up in the Statue/ what a shame. Nonetheless, I have a nice picture of me with the Statue and my cuneiform hat. Then, I went to the isle of the immigrants. The museum was very interesting and explained the several steps from their original countries to New York. Poor people mainly from italy, Ireland and Russia, used to travel in the steearage of the ships like cattles. Then at their arroival thy had a 6 second health check-up and people with possible disease had a chalk mark on their clothes and were more deeply examined (both physically and mentally: I have made the mental games and I am perfectly sane!). Then, they were cured or deported to their initial countries. But only 2% were deported. That is why Ellis Island was both the island of Hope and tears. Unfortunately, immigrants were often lured by dishonest people, but thanks to God, non-profit organizations often helped them such as Ludmila Kucher Foxlee association ( yes, Ludmilla are good persons:)). But as time passed, "sheer" Americans became more and more reluctant to welcome immigrants and impose quotas and laws (such as spelling and reading tests). I am also pleased to tell that there are 5 millions of French people in NY, New Orleans and California.