Day 0
I hurriedly try to clean up my room and complete everything I've accidentally on purpose left until the last minute. My sister comes by to sit on my suitcase - it zips closed. I rush to the store, buy a good chunk of 80/20 ground beef, and start preparing burgers with all the fixings for my family. We have dinner, then I hug my siblings goodbye. My parents endure the always hectic drive to LAX, where my flight leaves late. I get shuffled through a few different security lines, then find my way to my terminal. The flight is full, so I check my carry-on suitcase, which is barely within size regulations anyway. I get a window seat next to a nice older couple and try to sleep.
Day 1
I arrive in Orlando bright and early at around 7AM local time. I shuffle off the plane, along with the other weary travelers, pick up my luggage, and haggle with the rental car agency. I get out of the airport and order my first and last actual coffee from the nearest Starbucks (a peppermint mocha) in order to make sure that I am awake. I sit and drink my coffee for a bit and try to plan my day. I end up going to Downtown Winter Garden, where my hotel is located. This little strip is disgustingly cute - all semi-southern charm and still dressed up for Christmas. I walk the conveniently located bike path until I find an open bathroom. I go back to my car and decide to check out Walt Disney World, since I'm going to be working for the next few months. I find my way to Disney Springs, the East Coast equivalent of Downtown Disney, then park and wander for a while. I notice there's a ton of construction going on, both on the roads and in the resort areas. I head back to Winter Garden to check into my hotel - the Edgewater. It's a restored B+B that looks alternatively cute and charming or like some old hangman ghost is going to wander into my room at night, but the people running it seem nice. I chill out in my room, then go for a walk again, then turn in for the night.
Day 2
I'm up and ready to go early because my breakfast time is 8AM. I get pretty good fried eggs, sausage, and toast. The owner of the hotel is there and tells me stories about when he used to work as a costumer for Disney. After searching the Internet for cost effective things to do in Orlando area, I decide to go to Rollins College, which is supposed to have an amazing free art museum. It turns out that that art museum is closed to rotate out the collection. I wander the campus for a while, crash their library, and go up the (relatively short) tower there. I decide to return to earth. I walk their equivalent of University Drive, and find a local park with a sort of sculpture garden among the pseudo-high end shops. Some of the installations are strange, but the idea is pretty interesting. I've walked a few miles by this point, but I see signs for a "Morse Museum." Thinking this is probably some funky technology showcase, I follow the signs and end up at a beautiful building, and notice that student admission is only a dollar. I pay admission, and find that the museum is almost totally dedicated to Tiffany glass art, including tons of windows, an abundance of lamps, lots of pottery, and a full colored glass encrusted chapel. I head back to the hotel, then grab a pretty dang good pulled pork sandwich from a quick-service place from across the street (I swear the cashier dude was flirting). I go to Disney Springs again, this time for a pre-arranged pre-check-in meeting with some other interns. We end up eating at the bowling alley (go figure), and I meet a bunch of great people, most of whom I will probably never see again. I go back to the hotel, pack up, and set my alarm.
To Be Continued shortly....
