Tampa

Winter quarters (rehearsals) are over, as is the first week of shows and we have finally moved. It isn’t that Tampa wasn’t nice and all but the move was well over due, we had been in one place for far too long. We also didn’t really see that much of the place either considering how long we stayed there. Just the same old bits day in day out and we got to know those bits quite well.

The train yard wasn’t in the best part of town and I’m pretty sure that is probably the norm, so not a lot of exploring went on there. Though I did find some pretty shiny stones along the track, ye sad I know. Oh shiny things. The closest store was about 20 minutes walk away, maybe quicker without dragging a seven year old with you.

Once we got into the building ‘St Pete’s Forum’ we did manage to get out a bit and it seemed OK there. On a day off we went to the Aquarium which was a 10 minute walk away and managed to get the circus bus there and back. We also went to Busch Gardens which was really good with lots to do. I’m sure Willow would have liked to go back more than once, even if she was seriously un-impressed about height restrictions on certain rides. My favourite bit was the safari ride due to the great guide we had.

So we left Tampa on our first ‘Train run’. I use to read the blog of a musician on the blue unit who said the train runs where the best bit of life on the show and even though we are restricted to running up and down the corridors due to our room being fairly big I have to admit I know where he was coming from. I still need to get my train legs but it was really great fun. Looking out the vestibule watching a world go by that so few people get to see and communicating to others out the top door who are doing the same. At times I felt like the dog with his head stuck out the car window. It was just a short one this week and we where near the front of the train which apparently the smoothest ride. I wonder when we will be at the back getting the worst of the sway and if I will need to put my seabands on.

So we have now arrived in Orlando for the next week of adventures, I wonder where we will visit this week.