Christmas Town at Busch Gardens December 12, 2014
Posted by nrhatch in Humor, Travel & Leisure.comments closed
Last weekend, we went to Busch Gardens in Tampa to enjoy the sights and sounds of Christmas Town.
First stop, Stanleyville Station to ride the Christmas Express. After boarding, it started to rain. At the conductor’s request, we debarked and huddled together in the station to watch rain drops plopping in puddles for 15 minutes until the conductor asked us to retrace our steps:
“A~L~L A~B~O~A~R~D!”
The rain slowed long enough for us to pull out of the station, seated on soggy rainswept seats.
We took the tracks less traveled . . . and saw behind the scenes hardware.
As we passed Nairobi, the rains came . . . offering passengers a soggy safari.
Can you hear My Fair Lady? “The rain on the plain stays mainly on the train.”
Giraffes craned long necks in our direction.
They stood high, but not dry, under tall palms.
I heard them chuckling at prisoners huddled in puddles on the Candy Cane Express.
After de-boarding, we decided to dry off inside. We opted to see a show ~ Opening Night Critters ~ featuring rescue dogs, cats, birds, plus a plucky pony, a shy skunk, and a prickly porcupine.
After the show, we saw other animals ~ elephants, Cape Buffalo, orangutans, and tigers.
And a kangaroo stationed outside of Walkabout Way.
Flocks of flamingos paraded around the grounds.
All decked out in their Christmas finery.
Amid beautiful floral arrangements.
We saw fields of poinsettias blanketing a zebra-drawn sleigh.
Inside the market place, we spied zebras, elephants, and giraffes for sale.
Ready to be adopted by collectors of all ages.
Before leaving, we walked through Christmas Village to watch wee ones enjoying a pint sized train.
As it circled round and round model trains completing smaller loops.
The trains defied all attempts to capture an unblurred image. The trees stood silent and still, awash in bright lights while displaying a spirit of cooperation.
Throughout the park, Christmas trees of all shapes and sizes offered scents of the season.
This one stood in a pool of white poinsettia.
And presiding over it all . . . the Big Man himself.
Urging visitors to “Bring Home The Coke.” HO~HO~HO!
Aah . . . that’s better!
Spirit Lights The Way 