“The weather looked a bit cloudy, threatening rain, but it was pleasantly warm. Near perfect conditions for a family visit to the Theme Park which had recently opened nearby. The TV ads promised a perfect day out and thrills galore, and the place looked so spectacular we just couldn’t resist.
The bus that took us to the Theme Park was huge, with room for a couple of hundred people on board. And not all crammed in like sardines either; everyone got a seat, there was plenty of leg room and air conditioning kept us all cool. We scythed through the traffic, and in no time at all arrived at our destination.
A sign above the gate said Welcome to Mystique Park, Even I was excited, and my kids were buzzing. I bought the tickets – a bit steep for the whole family, but all the rides are free once you’re in. The great metal gates swung open and in we swarmed, carried along by the enthusiasm of the crowd. And what a sight met our eyes! The place was fantastic! Rides galore, shops, souvenirs and all the facilities you could possibly wish for.
A huge roller coaster – The Whirlwind – dominated the skyline, and we followed the signs straight there, hoping to be the first in the line. Somehow a few others had beaten us to it, but we weren’t made to wait for long. We climbed aboard and pulled down the safety rail, me and the wife in front, the two kids behind. Phew, what a ride! Loops, curls, corkscrews and so fast. The g-force was, to quote the kids, ‘Heavy’. They wanted a second go immediately, but I said we should try a few of the other rides first, and bought them ‘I Rode The Whirlwind’ t-shirts from a nearby souvenir stand to keep them happy.
A few rides later, I was getting hungry and the kids were ravenous. There was a burger stand handy, so I treated the family to burgers and fries. We ate them by a fountain in the picnic area, in the cool shade of the trees. Bliss. The food was good, but the salty fries soon had us all thirsty, so it was out with the wallet again for a few colas and the inevitable ice creams.
