Crazy Rides and Hot Shopping

I think I've contracted a syndrome. The "I can't get back into work and real life after holidays" syndrome. My eyes have felt heavy lidded for days and it's hard to get motivated. So, in order to just avoid reality, let's talk holidays again today. Just humor me, 'k?

For the first time ever, we didn't have nice hot days on everyday of our holiday. In fact the day we went to the waterpark was the only nice day we had. I had been watching the weather on the net so that we could plan the days we wanted to go the waterpark and the amusement park. I wanted a hot day for the waterpark and a warm day for the amusement park. We never got to go to the amusement park. It was not to be because other than the one day it was dreary and cold and raining on and off all day every day for the rest of our holidays.

Even though we didn't get to the amusement park we still had two white knuckle, hair raising rides. One was getting to the waterpark. We had to get out of the big city by a certain time in the a.m. in order to get to the waterpark early enough to even get a parking spot. It was a two hour trip once out of the big city. So this put us smack dab in the middle of morning rush hour on the insane freeway that skirts the outside of the big city. They are nuts on there. Coming from a smaller city we are just not used to driving like that. I watch the big city news programs every morning and watch the traffic updates of this main traffic artery. The city is going through growing pains because it's growing too fast and the infrastructure cannot handle the population. I thank God each morning when I watch the traffic report that I don't have to live in the big city and deal with a free way that was meant for x number of cars per day that has exceeded that by the many, many thousands. There is usually a major accicent every day. And now here we were. Small city drivers in the big city morning rush hour. Where speed limit and the two second, row-your-boat following rule does not apply. These guys are bumper to bumper going about 110-120 kms per hour(70-75 miles per hour). And I am not exaggerating when I say bumper to bumper. With huge semi-trucks thrown in the mix. And you don't know where exactly you're going. And heaven help you if you are not in the flow. You will be cut off. You could end up exiting where you did not want to exit or totally missing your exit all together.

When the freeway finally turns into the highway outside of the city the traffic hardly lets up at all. This highway connects the two main cities in my province and is crazy busy. All the time. Needless to say many prayers under my breath and a couple that were right out loud found their way to my lips that morning. And all of you from huge metroplexes are probably rolling your eyeballs at me right now. That's ok. I'll let you. We probably had a few rolled at us that morning. And I proudly wear my flashing "tourist" sign across my forehead.

Our other crazy ride came on the way back from said waterpark. Remember it's a two hour drive. Here is a picture of the lovely sky around noon of our day. Beautiful.

Yes, that is Tia shooting down the Kami Kazi. By late afternoon this is what we were looking at leaving the park when we could finally drag that kid off the slides.

Still pretty in it's own way. But let me tell you it put us smack into the biggest lightening rain storm I've ever been in. On the way home. On the highway. Full of semi's and other traffic. Who will not slow down! It rained so hard at one point we could not see the big truck in front of us. The windsheild wipers couldn't go fast enough. They were like some kind of pendulum on steroids. Did people slow down at all? No way. They were still driving around 120 kms (74.5 miles per hour). So no amusement park rides but 2 scarey rides, all the same, in one day.

Needless to say, the next day I craved, desired, had to have shopping therapy somewhere nice and safe. So off to the big malls we go. First downtown, where they have a huge shopping centers all connected up by walkways over the city streets. We got to relax and walk through a thoroughly beautiful peaceful garden located on the roof of the centre. 2.5 acres of beautiful, lush flora and fauna, fountains, birds, turtles, fish, lots of places to sit and relax. And it's free to walk through. Ahh, starting to feel better already.

In said shopping center is lots of designer stores, because it caters to all the big oil money folk and I came away with a great summer jacket at a steal of a deal. Regular $159.99. I paid $45.00. Yay! And finally the cute little number that totally brought my blood pressure down from the drive the day before? Voila.

Chocolate brown and red leather with brown plaid interior. Yes, my clothes may scream middle aged mom, but my purse is too cute! Destressing complete.