Local traditions and culture in Orlando

I had seen machines that do souvenir coins in other places before so this was not a new thing for me to see. It is a custom for Liz to get pressed pennies from every Disney location when she visits. She's been doing this since she was a child and has a nice collection from all of her trips.

A souvenir penny is $51 cents (two quarters and one penny). A souvenir quarter is $1.25 (5 quarters).

I had never heard of such a thing as "Pin Trading". Liz had told me that it's a Disney custom and has become an obsession for some die hard Disney enthusiasts.

In every Disney Park and the Market place there are pins and lanyards for sale. You start by buying a lanyard and a few pins. As you walk through the parks you can trade one of your pins for any staff members pin that you like. Certain pins are staff only issue so they are off limits (staf will normally explain that to guests). It's a fun activity for kids and adults alike. Liz used to be a pin nut but has resigned herself to just buy souveniers instead of doing the pin trading thing.

There are some really cool pins in the Parks that display certain locations, attractions, characters and celevrations occuring in the park.

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All the Disney Parks and properties sell the Mickey Premium Ice cream bars and other Mickey themed ice cream treats. I had never eaten one before but Liz assured me that I had to have one. It's a good sized bar of vanila ice cream covered in a chocolate shell and shaped like Mickey's head. It was so good we actually had two in one day.

The Mickey's Premium Ice Cream Bar is only $2.50 each so it's delicious and affordable.

Mickey's Cookies n Cream Sandwich is $2.50 as well.

For only $12.49 (each) we were able to purchase a refillable mug at our resort. This enabled us to have free refills of coffee, iced tea, soda and hot chocolate for the duration of our stay. The mugs can only be used at the resorts but are worth it. We are both big drinkers of iced tea and that can add up at the end of the day.

**The mugs also make a nice re0usuable souvenier of your trip.**

BEST PLACE TO RID YOURSELF OF DEMONS
The Labyrinth at the First Unitarian Church of Orlando
1901 E. Robinson St., (407) 898-3621
www.fuconet.org

The goal is to gain a greater awareness of the self and one's spiritual side.

When visiting southern FL, southern CA, or even West TX you mite want to brusch up on your'e spainish, because 3/4 of the pop's in theese area's speak only espanol. you wouldn't want to aciendly insult anyone, or find your'e self in spot and no one speaks english.

BEST SPANISH

Café Aragon

2415 Aloma Ave., Winter Park, (407) 671-
2222,

www.cafearagon.com

OK, it might be best by near-default, but just because Café Aragon's menu is somewhat unique in town doesn't diminish the fact that said menu is a joy every time we eat there. The staff practically insists that you spend at least an hour with your dinner; not with slow service, but with a friendly atmosphere that's conducive to relaxed consumption of a substantial meal. Perfectly cooked meats and a variety of seafood preparations provide something for almost anybody.

BEST SEAFOOD

High Tide Harry's

925 N. Semoran Blvd., (407) 273-4422,

www.hightideharrys.com

We're very aware of the fact that there are prettier, more elegant (and more expensive) seafood establishments in Orlando. But we also know there's not a lot of class to be had when it comes to ripping into crab legs by the pound or plateloads of oysters. And Harry's serves up enormously generous portions of very fresh seafood cooked just about any way you'd want it. Couple that with a not-too-shabby beer selection (at good prices) and a supercasual atmosphere and you'll never drive to the beach just to get dinner again. Oh, wait, are we the only people who do that?