Fun-filled mishaps...

Living in a new place is full of learning experiences, both good and bad. Scott and I have found many new places to eat and lots of things to do, but sometimes our ventures become mishaps that I'm sure we'll laugh about years later (because we already do!).  


For example, our first excursion to a local Mexican restaurant was a disaster (thanks mostly to me!).  I had looked at the local newspaper for restaurant suggestions and decided we would try, what the city had voted, as the number one Mexican restaurant.


Scott's cheese steak was GREY!! It looked, and tasted, like it had been cooked in the microwave (which we're pretty sure is what happened).  It was disappointing, but we ended our night at a local ice cream shop and it was great!! - waffle cones and custard ice cream!


So yesterday was another "learning experience" as we ventured out to "Trader's World."  We drive by it every time we come from Cincinnati or head back from visiting in VA and we've always said we should go there.  From the outside, it is very campy and festive with a jungle theme of giraffes, hippos, and palm trees adorning the entrance and exterior.  In my mind at least, I was looking forward to browsing antiques, retro clothing, hopefully finding some cheap eccentric pot to put on our balcony.  Instead, we found more than 11 buildings of stuff you would find in a store, but that's been used, or maybe even stolen (I mean, they were selling the new Iron Man movie on DVD...come on...).  I will say one thing, there was plenty of stuff to look at - in Scott's words, "It looks like they just took anything they could find, and threw it up on the walls."  To give you an idea:

{The grand entrance to Trader's World}

{I didn't get a picture of the giant hippo...they had actually placed it in an above-ground pool - Scott and I guessed it was so that it wouldn't dry out :p }

{Inside one of the buildings...notice the Elvis painting}

 One positive to our trip was that they did have several vendors with old collectors' items like Star Wars figurines and Colts memorabilia for Scott to enjoy. I enjoyed going around and making funny faces at all the interesting smells and the 40s music playing over the speakers (that didn't fit in with the atmosphere at all!!!).  There was also a bong vendor, and I couldn't help but laugh at the children saying, "Mommy, look this one is really pretty!"


It was definitely an experience, and one we'll always remember.  To finish off our day of browsing, we headed over to the outlet malls to get  "a good fill of capitalism" (Scott again) to wash away the contamination of the flea market (ok, I'm exaggerating a bit here, but we did feel the need to use my hand sanitizer several times during the course of our visit).  


Even though this trip proved to be a disappointment, we were glad we went.  And now when we drive by we can look over and remember our day at Trader's World...    : )