The Most Magical Place on Earth Deserves a Better Title Than This: Part II

If you're having Quidditch problems I feel bad for you son, I got 99 problems but a Snitch ain't one.

There's no other purpose for that in this post other than I just really wanted to lead off with it. Cause you can't tell me that's not a good pun.

Anyway, the last time we talked I told you all about part one of my Harry Potter adventure in Diagon Alley. So now I'm gonna try and tell you all about part two: Hogsmeade.

From the moment we stepped off the Hogwarts Express and entered Hogsmeade Mosby and I knew it was going to be just as magical and awesome and fantastic as Diagon Alley. And it was. However, don't let the above photo fool you - despite the snow on the rooftops it was still really warm. And humid. And I'm from Arizona and we don't do humidity. But maybe it's winter year-round in Hogsmeade?

While Hogsmeade and Diagon Alley have different shops for the most part, the main difference in the two is that in Hogsmeade you'll find the mecca of all things Harry Potter: Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry

The castle is actually the main ride in Hogsmeade, and while you wait in line, it winds you through the castle, and the pictures on the walls move and talk and float between frames, and you meet Harry and Ron and Hermione in the Observatory and it's just a good time all around. Although, if I were describing Mosby's and my trip to Harry Potter world, "just a good time all around" would probably be the understatement of the year.

Besides the castle ride there's a couple other small roller coasters to ride within Hogsmeade; one being The Flight of the Hippogriff.

Mosby and I rode this one over and over because the line was never more than 15 minutes long and quite frankly, it's a hoot. The first time we rode it I just laughed and laughed because I dunno, fun things do that to me...uncontrollable laughter. Plus, on the way to the ride you can make a pit stop at Hagrid's cottage and say hello.

The other cool thing about Hogsmeade is there's a small stage where they have shows every so often throughout the day. We were fortunate enough to catch the introductions of the gentleman from the Durmstrang Institute and the ladies from the Beauxbatons Academy of Magic for the Tri-Wizard Tournament (cough, book #4, cough cough).

The food in Hogsmeade is at none other than the Three Broomsticks. And just like the Leaky Cauldron, it was nothing but impressive.

More important than the food however (or maybe not, I do get really cranky when I'm hungry), are the drinks. And Hogsmeade knows how to do drinks. Just because you're on vacation doesn't mean you don't need a Happy Hour. So we Happy Hour'd (that's a verb now, I just made it up) at the Hogs Head just like Harry and Ron and Hermione.

If I lived in Hogsmeade all the time, the Hogs Head would be my spot. It's where all the cool kids witches and wizards go and well, if I were a witch at Hogwarts I'd like to think I'd be one of the cool ones.

After the Hogs Head we decided to cruise up and down Hogsmeade one more time to make sure we didn't miss anything.

One of those "things" being some dessert from Honeydukes. Like maybe some Bertie Bott's Every Flavour Beans? You know, the candy with flavors like Sardine, and mashed potatoes, and phlegm? 

Fortunately I didn't get any of the aforementioned flavors. Fortunately.

When we were finished at Hogsmeade we took the train back to Diagon Alley in London...

...and not until our second day at the parks did we notice something just outside of Diagon Alley...

Grimmauld Place! Headquarters of the Order of the Phoenix (cough, book #5, cough)!

Eventually our two days at the parks came to end. But we made sure to see and do everything in both Hogsmeade and Diagon Alley two and three times over; like laugh hysterically on The Flight of the Hipogriff, fly all over Hogwarts on my Nimbus 2000 via the ride in the castle, and escape from Gringotts bank on the back of a fire breathing dragon...with no seatbelt. I feel like these posts really don't even do it all justice. It truly takes you to another, more magical world! We stayed until the park closed on our last day and watched the sunset both in Orlando Florida, and on our time at Harry Potter world.

 And a fantastic time it was.

Sunday was Harry Potter recovery day. So after the late service at Mosby's church we nursed our Harry Potter hangovers with some blood orange mimosas and Sunday brunch.

After that, the jeans came off, the sweatpants came on, the hair went up, and we stayed horizontal as long as we possibly could as we watched (you guessed it) Harry Potter movies all afternoon. They tell you when you're super hungover to drink beer the next morning right?? So this is kind of the same thing except with Harry Potter instead of actual alcohol.

After another solid morning of sleeping in, and one more round of sushi for lunch on Monday, it was time for me to fly back home to AZ Monday night. I hate when the thing you've been looking forward to for months and months finally comes to an end, but alas, so is life. Flying across the country to hang out with someone I met on the internet is something I never ever ever pictured myself doing, and I know it's really weird and creepy for outsiders looking in; but this is hands down, the absolute best thing about blogging: meeting people and building relationships that will last a life time! Next time, see you in AZ Mosby!