Aaargh what a nightmare week!!!!
So much for all the anticipation of the first Blondie gig. Arrived at Universal to find Hard Rock Live showing Blondie and New Cars show as cancelled. Info from box office showed this as being due to Cars' guitarist Elliott Easton hving broken a collar bone in a road accident. Did explain that I wasn't there to see the Cars anyway but .... At that stage only Florida shows were definetly off.
Had to txt the news to Laura who was already in the air between NY and Orlando. Bet the airport was filled with a few choice words! Managed to get some (v expensive) internet time near Universal to check TicketMaster and Blondie.net which showed Charleston gig as also being cancelled.
Then had to spend some time revising plans with Laura to see what to do. Can'd trip down to Fort Lauderdale and Hollywood to spend extra time in Orlando. Cost us the price of the non-refundable Greyhound trip to Fort Lauderdale. Still went down to Clearwater as planned (not sure why now) for one night and then came straight back to Orlando the following morning. I bet not many people have done a one-night trip to Clearwater and not even gone down to the beach. Hotel did have a nice pool though (but then that's pretty much standard in FLorida anyway).
News gradually came through of more cancellations and postponed gigs. Did have our fingers crossed that Atlanta would still be played even if only Blondie were there but finally even that got can'd. Official announcement yesterday morning was that whole tour is off except for the Albright-Knox benefit gig next week. At least I'll get to see Blondie once while I'm here.
Still in Orlando. Decided there was no point moving on until we have to and that is for the flight from Atlanta to Buffalo next Tuesday. Gives us a bit more time to explore Orlando. Tan is also building quite nicely with all the glorious sunshine now that Alberto is out of here. Had a great day in Wet 'n' Wild yesterday. Nicely situated just over the road from the hotel we're in now (my fourth different hotel in Orlando in a week). Spent all afternoon and early evening in the park. Best slide vote? Well for me that would be Storm. Don't know whether you've ever come across those charity collecting things where you drop a coin in through a slot and it then runs round and round an inverted dome-shape until finally dropping in the collecting box. Well, storm is just like it but with humans playing the part of the coin. Drop down a steep slide to build up speed and then into the dome and round and round and round and round, until finally the slide spits you out into the pool below. In my case that ended up being a head-first plummet into the water.
Have spent a bit of time on Universal's City Walk - good bars and places to eat and also live music yesterday evening (band Orange Avenue doing a good selection of covers) - and all only a short walk up from the hotel. However, found a great Irish Bar late last night so think we'll head back there tonight. Obviously has beer, but also pool, and karaoke, and allows Laura to smoke in the bar instead of being forced outside.
Spaeking of Laura, she's off shopping today - loads of outlet shops in International Drive - which gives me a bit of time to post an update here. Also had a chance to watch a bit of the World Cup at last. Haven't really caught a lot of it so far - a few half matches here and there. Watched most of Ghana's win over Czech Republic just now. May head up to Universal this afternoon. NBA bar is showing USA vs Italy on 15ft big screen.
So much for all the anticipation of the first Blondie gig. Arrived at Universal to find Hard Rock Live showing Blondie and New Cars show as cancelled. Info from box office showed this as being due to Cars' guitarist Elliott Easton hving broken a collar bone in a road accident. Did explain that I wasn't there to see the Cars anyway but .... At that stage only Florida shows were definetly off.
Had to txt the news to Laura who was already in the air between NY and Orlando. Bet the airport was filled with a few choice words! Managed to get some (v expensive) internet time near Universal to check TicketMaster and Blondie.net which showed Charleston gig as also being cancelled.
Then had to spend some time revising plans with Laura to see what to do. Can'd trip down to Fort Lauderdale and Hollywood to spend extra time in Orlando. Cost us the price of the non-refundable Greyhound trip to Fort Lauderdale. Still went down to Clearwater as planned (not sure why now) for one night and then came straight back to Orlando the following morning. I bet not many people have done a one-night trip to Clearwater and not even gone down to the beach. Hotel did have a nice pool though (but then that's pretty much standard in FLorida anyway).
News gradually came through of more cancellations and postponed gigs. Did have our fingers crossed that Atlanta would still be played even if only Blondie were there but finally even that got can'd. Official announcement yesterday morning was that whole tour is off except for the Albright-Knox benefit gig next week. At least I'll get to see Blondie once while I'm here.
Still in Orlando. Decided there was no point moving on until we have to and that is for the flight from Atlanta to Buffalo next Tuesday. Gives us a bit more time to explore Orlando. Tan is also building quite nicely with all the glorious sunshine now that Alberto is out of here. Had a great day in Wet 'n' Wild yesterday. Nicely situated just over the road from the hotel we're in now (my fourth different hotel in Orlando in a week). Spent all afternoon and early evening in the park. Best slide vote? Well for me that would be Storm. Don't know whether you've ever come across those charity collecting things where you drop a coin in through a slot and it then runs round and round an inverted dome-shape until finally dropping in the collecting box. Well, storm is just like it but with humans playing the part of the coin. Drop down a steep slide to build up speed and then into the dome and round and round and round and round, until finally the slide spits you out into the pool below. In my case that ended up being a head-first plummet into the water.
Have spent a bit of time on Universal's City Walk - good bars and places to eat and also live music yesterday evening (band Orange Avenue doing a good selection of covers) - and all only a short walk up from the hotel. However, found a great Irish Bar late last night so think we'll head back there tonight. Obviously has beer, but also pool, and karaoke, and allows Laura to smoke in the bar instead of being forced outside.
Spaeking of Laura, she's off shopping today - loads of outlet shops in International Drive - which gives me a bit of time to post an update here. Also had a chance to watch a bit of the World Cup at last. Haven't really caught a lot of it so far - a few half matches here and there. Watched most of Ghana's win over Czech Republic just now. May head up to Universal this afternoon. NBA bar is showing USA vs Italy on 15ft big screen.
posted by Alan at 7:37 pm
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