Once I was finished exploring and visiting the Smithsonians in Washington DC I took an overnight bus with Greyhound (that is an experience in itself) to Knoxville TN, to sample life in the more conservative and religious Middle America with a local, Amber, who I had met in NZ. While in Knoxville we would attended my first American High School capping, witness a Piñata bashing at a birthday party and hike in the Smoky Mountains. Thanks again Amber for showing me around and for putting up with me!

From Tennessee I headed to Orlando FL, on another overnight bus.  While in Orlando I would stay at a hostel/Hotel which had its own pool which was a pleasant surprise! I did drag myself away from pool to visit one of the many theme parks and resorts near Orlando, after all it is considered the "Theme Park Capital of the World".  There certainly are enough parks to keep you entertained for weeks on end! They aren’t cheap, but when in Rome…

I chose one of the five Disney theme parks at the Walt Disney World Resort called the Epcot Theme Park which had a ‘world’ theme.  The Disney Resort in Orlando is the largest and most visited theme park in the world and when you see it, that’s not hard to believe as it’s massive.  Out the front you’ll see the large silver Globe, aMonorail, Nemo, the Pluto hedge. Don’t miss the opportunity to be photographed with Minnie; she was apparently star-struck when she met me...  Make sure you give yourself plenty of time, i.e. arrive early as I needed a full 12 hours to get around everything at just this one park!

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