Gardaland

Not sure what I was thinking about a week ago when I received an e-mail from Masa asking if anyone would help him chaperone a trip to Gardaland for the middle schoolers. I think my thought process was that it would be fun to go to an amusement park and ride a couple of rides and hang out with my past students. I don't think I was thinking that I was going to throw a Halloween party the night before at my apartment and then wake up bright and early for a two hour bus ride to the park.

But it was great! The weather was beautiful. I was able to get another hour of sleep on the bus before the volume level woke me up. And we only had to check the kids in once throughout the entire day. During the rest of the time Masa and I were able to play.

Pumpkin Decorations that were scattered throughout the park

Then onto Atlantis. Which I didn't ride because I didn't have any desire to get wet. However, it looks like there is the threat of splashing, but that is not really the case. But I didn't really mind sitting and hanging out for a while.

Atlantis

Masa and Oglimare taking the plunge

Outside the Atlantis Entrance

We had time for one more ride and I made the mistake of pointing out a very impressive sign for Tunga. It looked cool so we walked through the entrance to find that it was a water ride that literally just floated down a river lined with many different scenes from a jungle. I was a little energetic so I decided to make it an adventure ride and took a couple of pictures along the way.

The ride was getting a little crazy

The Natives we had to protect ourselves from

King Kong

Watch out for that Gorilla

Truly a Knight in Shining Armour

Masa as my henchman

Fantasy Land

After check in, Masa and I took off for a couple more roller coasters. The first being just a typical experience. While the second called the Sequoia adventure was nothing like I had experienced before. It was a series of three loops in which the car you are riding in flips 180 degrees until you are completely upside down. Then it flips again so you are right side up before reaching the end of the track and another flip happens. Masa and I were in the very first car which was a true adventure. I was screaming during the first flip because I was perfectly perpendicular to the ground for a split second before flipping entirely upside down. An experience i have never had before. After that ride I was close to having enough.

The Sequoia Adventure

But I had the stomach for one more ride and it had to be the Blue Tornado. Then I was truly done. My stomach was churning and I had a splitting headache. So we went to our check-in point and grabbed a coffee before the kids started to arrive. With the last strolling in only 30 minutes late. Masa was none too pleased. Even with the ending having a little drama it was a good day with the kids and we captured the whole crew in a quality group shot!