Lou's Year In Review: 2007

Is it time for the Europe trip yet!?!?

Seriously.

 

Lou you've hit your stride, the last update was the best so far!

^It really was, but only because of the turtles

 

(Thanks for taking this picture and the previous one three times by the way Jon! )

 

I swear i am only inept at picture taking when using your camera. I push the button once and it takes a dozen photos... I just don't get it.

 

Oh, and you're welcome.

I miss Spain.

^Sounds like "burst mode"--great for taking coaster pictures, though.

 

I second Elissa's question! I'm really looking forward to checking these European parks out.

^ It does sound like burst mode, but in actual fact it was just the retardedness of my old camera, if you held the button for too long, it'd do this weird improvised burst mode thing where it somehow took three pictures simultaneously. I used to automatically adjust and have perfect timing cos I was used to it, but anybody else using my camera usually had duplicate results.

 

Glad you noticed the prize Jon, and Orangeosaur definitely enjoyed that luxurious hotel, hence why he was out on a counter instead of in a bag!

 

Thanks for contributing that picture Kyle!

 

I can't wait for Europe either, going through this stuff has REALLY made me get itchy feet for it!!

 

Oh, and this comment from Matt?

Lou you've hit your stride, the last update was the best so far!

...Just proves my point that I should stick to my random people pictures and not bother taking coaster photos at all, as it's the updates with loads of stupid antics that get the best feedback. Thanks guys!

 

Gonna do Mini-Europe today, won't take long as it'll just be Klotten, a paragraph or seven about Tripsdrill, Holiday Park and Toverland, and then Phantasialand.

Oh (my) sweet Lou!!! I wanna see you on Turbulencia!!! Do you have any pics of this incredible coaster with you on board??? Ciao from Italy!!!

^ Bruno!!

 

No, I didn't ride Turbulencia!! I meant to write about that in my post but I forgot!! They would let us ride it only early in the morning before anybody else was riding, but I was with a group who wanted to go and ride Tarantula, and I didn't want to miss out on that, so I didn't get to ride Turbulencia! Sorry!!

Lou, I think Turbulencia is Bruno's pet name for his .........*ahem*

 

Great report Lou! I don't know how I'm going to survive this year doing a TPR trip w/o you!

 

And I totally forgot about the Tazmanian Devil rapids ride, I think that had to be one of the best rapids ever. I think it's the only one I've ever ridden twice, back to back.

 

Can't wait to see what I missed out on since I was one of those "proper" people who left the party early.

Onto Mini-Europe!!

 

Klotten!!

 

At 5am the next morning, it was time for the add-on crew to fly to Germany and meet up with the Mini-Europe trippers. We all met up at the airport, quick round of introductions (and Jow hugging and simultaneously insulting me, a first meeting that will probably match the entire rest of our friendship ), then drove off to Klotten. The park seemed to struggle with the idea of lunch coupons, so Robb and Elissa made a TPR first, and handed out cash!! Everybody else recieved theirs in the palm of their hand, but Robb just HAD to give me mine in a different way.

 

 

"Tonight is my stag do, and I shall be behaving... like a stag. Awooooooogha, awoooooooogha." (Bonus points for identifying the quote. )

 

 

Currywurst and chips for lunch. Mmmmmm!!

 

 

This is a goat pissing. I'm not sure why I photographed it, but here we are.

 

 

Me at the top of the well-documented and amazingly awesome self-operated boat-jump. I must admit I was somewhat intimidated by this, though it was great fun!!

 

 

See, I'm definitely enjoying it!! (Thanks Hector for playing photographer!)

 

 

Aaaaaaaand that's all the pictures I took until Phantasialand.

 

 

Klotten was one of those awesome places that you would never find anywhere but Europe... Well, maybe Japan. The self-operated spinning car wheel things were amazing, with Chris and I arguing over whether to flip backwards or forwards. Petting the deer was fun ("RUN FROM CHRIS, SAVE YOURSELVES!!!!"), and Klotti coaster was FANTASTIC!!! Seriously, that coaster packs a serious punch, airtime galore. Elissa had told me it was great, but I think we were all surprised, and I probably had more re-rides on this than anything else on the trip so far. Despite all that though, Klotten is definitely a half-day park, there really isn't all that much to do. But the place is cracking entertainment, what with the goat shows featuring dogs, and all that good stuff. Well worth a visit, and with a coaster that pushed the ever-advancing Gerstlauer further and further up my list.

 

 

I'll take this moment as a good time to direct anybody who missed them originally towards Robb's and Hanno's reports from Tripsdrill, Holiday Park and Toverland, seeing as I'm failing at having pictures from them. Shameless advertising!!

 

 

Robb's Mini-Europe Trip 2007 Tripsdrill Mini Update

Hanno's Mini-Europe Tripsdrill Pics

 

Robb's Mini-Europe 2007 Trip Holiday Park Mini-Update

Hanno's Mini-Europe Trip Holiday Park Pics

 

Robb's Mini-Europe Trip 2007 Toverland Mini-Update

Hanno's Mini-Europe Toverland Pics

 

 

 

As for my opinions, these shouldn't be quite as lengthy as my Spain thoughts.

 

Tripsdrill: I felt quite ill this morning and missed out on quite a lot of stuff. The coaster was really really fun, though Klotti coaster definitely beat it. The park had a family coaster too, but I sat it out because of fear of vomiting. This park is also the place where a cock bruised my boob. That's a sentence not many people can say! They had some really cool little things like many of the European parks, like the bikes with the up-and-down seats, and the figures that come to the window when you climb the ladder, or the spitting animatronic. Inside the windmill building is a great slide, and Tripsdrill has one of my favourite drop towers, which is really messed up and needs to be a total surprise to everybody who rides it. I'm really looking forward to getting back to this back next year, as I feel like I wasn't there at all last time, my head was all fuzzy.

 

 

Holiday Park: Home of..... Expedition GeForce!! Was it worth the hype?? The problem I always have with really highly rated coasters is that general I think it's just TOO much pressure upon them. I don't think there's any way EGF could have been as good as I was expecting it to be. However, it's still an *incredible* coaster. Well, the first half is. After the trims.... Blah. The second half is still a damn good ride, better than a good 75% of the coasters out there I would guess, but it just doesn't compare to that first drop, which really was best described by Dave Lawrence as "a religious experience". I won't go on for too long about this as I think I've made my point. EGF good, trims bad.

Other than that, I didn't do an awful lot at this park. We all sort of wandered aimlessly, rode the Corkscrew (it rearranged my clothing and damaged my earlobe) and some other random rides, the Starflyer (which surprisingly didn't frighten me, and I really loved it!), then sat around chilling out and having a couple of drinks and some pretty good pizza before ERT. It was a pleasant afternoon, nice and relaxing, and again, a great park, but not worth a full day. Thank God for Robb and Elissa knowing how to schedule.

 

 

Toverland: I love love LOVE this park. Booster Bike was meh, but Troy shot straight into my top five woodies (not that I've ridden that many anyway), and I just fell in love with the park. We were treated wonderfully, the park management giving us our own room to use as a bar and for relaxation throughout the day, providing dinner and cool souvenirs, and just generally being welcoming and nice people. I totally failed at getting to the top of the triangle (I was soooooo scared of killing a random child!!!!!), and I didn't bother attempting the rope course on this visit, but maybe next year. I also got to ride a GCI Woodie in the front seat with a GCI Guy , which I guess not everybody can say! Even now I'm singing that stupid catchy music. Awesome park I can't wait to get back to, and it'll be exciting to see KidTums there when she's a bit older!!

 

 

Phantasialand!

I loved Phantasialand, a really nice park, and Ling Bao is an AMAZING hotel, with GREAT bars!! The night we arrived we all had a bit of a drunken one up in the Dragon Bar, which was really really great. We were devastated when it wasn't open the second night!!

I'm bored of reviewing at this point so I'll make this quick.

 

Black Mamba is vastly overrated, and right near the bottom of my list of B&Ms. It's not bad, not at all, but I really don't get what all the fuss is about. The theming is amazing, the view from the front row is damn cool, but the ride itself... blah.

 

Winjas, on the other hand, whoo!!! I knew nothing about its many surprises, which made it all the more awesome. I don't remember whether it was Fear or Force that I preferred, but I know I was with the majority... Fear, was it??

 

The Michael Jackson ride was fun but nothing special, and I actually really liked Temple of the Night Hawk! It got soooo much sh!t, but honestly, I thought it was kinda cool! There's something that I find very entertaining about randomly speeding around in the dark with no idea which direction you're heading in, and being attacked at seemingly arbitrary points by giant holographic birds. Classic comedy.

 

Other rides... Secret hidden drop tower complete with scare actor at the entrance, one of the wettest rapids rides ever (don't even bother with a poncho, it does no good when there's a 45 degree drop!), the Hollywood Movie ride, which I swear to God EVERYBODY must ride before they die, and Talocan, a floorless top spin with fire and mist which is quite possibly my favourite flat ride of all time ever in history. And yes that much emphasis was required. Amazing ride.

 

The other highlight from Phantasialand was definitely the food! I'm amazed that I didn't put on about two stone at this park, I was constantly snacking. Churros, ice cream, chocolate dipper fruit skewers.... Yum.

 

I know I'm forgetting about a dozen major things from this place, please all feel free to remind me.

 

 

Alright, back to pictures:

 

 

This place has the creepiest mascots ever. This one kept growling at me and sounded really perverted. I couldn't tell whether it was the member of staff inside that was making the noise, or whether there was a voicebox built into the costume. Either way, damn creepy.

 

Ed's doing that forced "I'm actually really scared" smile.

 

 

In the bar on the last night, Hector and I get a little posey, and a little sad. We have to say goodbye tomorrow!!

 

 

Ed is being groomed. Teehee!

 

 

 

At this point of the evening, my camera disappeared for about an hour... I kept spotting Robb with it, but had no idea what he was doing. Turns out he was making a "gift" for me, and also created a game, which I guess we can play in the next post. The little present, which he dubbed the "Buffet of Robb Expressions", which I acronymise here to BORE, is included here for your enjoyment.

 

 

The following morning, heading over to the park for Winjas ERT. Mmmmmm, Morgan. I mean, mmmmm, Winjas.

 

 

Me with the GCI Guys , who I totally expected to be there really only in a professional capacity, but who both totally became part of the bar crew, telling stories and downing vodka with the rest of us.

 

 

Waaahhhhh. I miss you Hector!!!

 

 

I stood chatting with Carl while a load of the boys re-rode Talocan. Some of the expressions are priceless.

 

 

Dave looks unconscious, and Larry's commitment to keeping his legs completely straight is AWESOME!!

 

 

Helping Daddy babysit for a few minutes. It frightens me to think that the next time I see Kristen she'll be way too big to hold this way!!! Growing up soooo fast already.

 

 

After his recent abuse, I may name him Unhot Fuzz. Me with Only-Slightly-Less-Cool Rich.

 

 

It's been a good ten minutes since we ate the chocolate fruit skewers, and probably even twenty minutes since the churros, so Robb resorts to gnawing on KidTums for a while.

 

 

Dave and I wanted a picture together, and Elissa correctly pointed out that the giant sign shouting GAMBLING! somehow seemed right. I don't know why it's funny, but it is.

 

 

Me, Zamperla guy, Zamperla hat.... which I lost. But Bruno very kindly sent me a care package with a replacement hat and bunch of other stuff. Thanks Bruno!!!

 

 

At Dusseldorf Airport, Hector and I take a brief nap together (LOL and awwww) in between me being pathetic and tearing up saying my goodbyes.

 

 

I'm not sure who took this or why it was taken, but I find it quite funny that Hector looks, well, dead.

 

 

We're so gangsta in our hats. That's how we roll. And so the trip ends!!!

 

Jow (ParkTrips) and I waved them all off onto their planes, and then wandered off into Dusseldorf for the night, before heading home the next day. We were dismayed to find the amazing fair that was in town, but didn't open for another two days. *sigh* I won't talk about that too much though, Jow might cry.

 

I really did have a fantastic trip, thanks to everybody I got to spend time with, you were all great fun and I have a ton of happy memories. Please enjoy the B.O.R.E. video, and bear with me, the "Guess Who" game that Robb created is about to follow...

Buffet.mov

The Buffet Of Robb Expressions (B.O.R.E.), as taken by Robb.

And, for those of you who were on the Mini-Europe trip, I present, courtesy once again of Mr Alvey...:

 

Guess That Crotch!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Do I need to arrange a points system?!

 

I will tell you that all but one are male, there are a mixture of Spain trippers and just-Mini-Europe trippers, and all ARE TPR members (Robb did take a picture of the waiter's crotch, but I apparently accidentally deleted it). Oh, and I don't even know who a couple of them are, or at least, which way around to match them up.

 

Have fun!

 

Next up, skipping ahead two months to Chicago....

I'm frightened that I think I can point out a good chunk of those crotches.

 

Would that make me a crotch connisuer?

AWESOME! This is incredibly cool Lou! I love the captions and all the hilarious pics. Good stuff, can't wait for more! Wish I could've seen you when you were out here.

---Brent

Lou... I WAS enjoying the thread until the last part...

 

 

I'm just a wee bit confused by that "video". I'm not going to take a gander at those crotches because that's not my cup of tea, except for the one that is obviously Lou! Wait, does that make it seem like I looked at them all?

http://www.themeparkreview.com/lou/Spain/lou/P1010665.jpg

 

I know who that one is......

^ Robb?

http://www.themeparkreview.com/lou/Spain/lou/P1010655.jpg

 

That one is quite disturbing... I didn't think male shorts were allowed to be that short!

^ His shorts really weren't that short at all, and neither were contender number 9's... I think it's just an optical illusion because they're sitting and Robb took the pictures standing over them.

Guess That Crotch is disturbing. I did not need to see those (except the one female one, ).

I know who six of them are, including my roomy (with jeans on thanks to Liz finally arriving for mini Europe)

 

And just because shorts go above the knee does not make them scary or disturbing. I can never find shorts short enough for my liking, they usually end up being coulots grr.

I'm going to take a gander at those crotches because that's my cup of tea.

 

Whatever floats your boat man.

I CAN GUESS OVER HALF THOSE CROTCHES!

 

I think!

I know Everyone's crotch!... uh... I'm not sure if I should be proud...