Benin

Day 7 – GardalandSo here it was, the final park of the trip, and one I was particularly looking forward to, both for Raptor and to see how an Italian Merlin park would look/run after Heide Park earlier in the year...After yet another diverted journey to the park we arrived just on time, and able to see this...Yep, another opening ceremony to the park... I have no idea why we don’t seem to do this over here, as they are pretty enjoyable and make the park’s opening so much more of an event rather than just opening the tensa barriers/gates/turnstiles/whatever... Gets everyone more excited for the day and what lies ahead... God our entertainments are rubbish aren’t they?We entered the park, and naturally headed to the brand new B&M hotness...RaptorProbably my most anticipated ride of this year, Raptor certainly ticks the boxes on looks, mainly as it manages to look massive, yet actually be one of the more compact B&Ms in the world... Because of this, the ride’s plaza is full of places to watch and look at the ride, making it a great double bill for Merlin creating really old style Tussauds ride (Krake is very much the same)... Watching the various near misses and inversions is brilliant, but we couldn’t do that for too long, there was a 1 minute queue to do...1 minute later, we reached the left hand side and the front row... The station certainly looks the part, very industrial and the barbed wire queue fences really lend to the atmosphere of government research stuff... Feels a lot roomier to in comparison to Saw’s queue, but different ideals behind them make the difference here...Back to the ride, it’s so simple to sit in and dispatch, before long we were ascending the short but quick lift hill into the first drop, and it was then the ride decided to show off it’s true self...The first drop is insanely fun and good... As in the overbanked turn afterwards... And the inline after that... Indeed the entire ride completely fulfils the fun and good category perfectly, with great smoothness and flow between each element without the need for a high level of intensity... The interaction with water and theming work damn near perfectly, and the lack of pure intensity helps the ride be a big yet undemanding ride to those who aren’t keen on rides... Back row in addition also provides insane airtime on the first drop and beyond, even some slight B&M rattle as well, but it barely detracts from the ride...The positions are weird at first, but they do provide a very interesting experience, the comfy restraints (bar the vest which for some reason tightens mid-ride, however, this is only noticeable on the brake run) are brilliant, and the spray of water onto the ride is just brilliant interaction in an extremely hot country...Comparisons to Air are fair game here, because they both are good quality rides without the need to use excessive force on the riders... The re-rideability of Raptor is immense, especially with no queue, so we did it twice more and enjoyed it just as much, so damn good... 9/10After that, we looked at the rest of the ride list, and decided for the lesser of evils...Blue TornadoThe day the lesser of evils was a Vekoma SLC is the day the world ended... However, this was run extremely efficiently with barely any stacking at all, so the queue moved very quickly... John sat this one out but I would probably say it’s one of the better SLCs I’ve been on... Certainly better than Limit...If these weren’t rough we’d probably love them... That’s what I get from them... Shame the pain ruins them...6/10Across the pathway, was another Vekoma, this time an extended Mine Train...MammutOpening the same year as Tripsdrill’s Mammut, this was another ride which had excellent platforming going on... It helps that it’s just lap bars, but still, with 3 trains on you can’t faff about, and once again the queue moved excessively quickly...The ride itself I was fearful of due to Volante at Rainbow, however this was a rather smooth and enjoyable coaster, with some decent theming surrounding it, and whilst the 3rd lift section was kind of pointless, it didn’t detract from the ride and had the best drop on it... Solid family ride and probably the 2nd best coaster in the park...7/10And again across the pathway (themed areas, who needs them?), we saw a rather awkward prize for a Merlin park...Awkward Mickey... Anyways, after that was our first water ride of the day...Jungle RapidsMerlin are fixated with snakes I’ve decided... So many Cobra heads surround the ride’s entrance and queue you’d think Nick Varney loves them... But I digress...Another nicely themed and entertaining Rapids... These were probably the most consistently good rides throughout the trip, as they all used theming, effects and splashes to a great effect, and never got us so drenched we wouldn’t enjoy it... This one is particular probably had the best consistent theming, including inside the volcano which was the focal point of the ride...Why can’t we have rapids like these?8/10Continuing the water ride theme, we headed off into a secluded corner of the park, and found...Fuga de AtlantideIs it a coaster people ask, and it’s an interesting question what with the two cable lift hills and track drops, and when places like RCDB count Atlantica Supersplash, why not this?Because it’s dull is why I don’t want to count it... Petty maybe, but deal with it...First off the ride is beautifully themed and landscaped, however, whilst the two drops are fun due to just a seatbelt (a surprise on an Intamin), it’s what’s in between that counts, and well, there’s nothing in between...There’s absolutely no story or anything to look at whilst moseying through the two drops... The single animatronic is dying a horrible death and there’s no story to keep you entertained whilst doing through this well themed area... Missed a trick here this ride did... Which is a shame considering the look of it...Plus, can’t take bags in the queue, and there’s barely any lockers... Leaving them in the open? The Brit inside me disapproved greatly...5/10More walking followed, and we reached another random space themed area, home of...Space VertigoLittle baby Intamin drop tower with some really old school space theming... Was quite cool actually in a 90s sort of way... Another garden centre queueline too...It also cemented my belief that smaller drop towers often work better than bigger ones... Much more impact between start and finish as you miss out the entire terminal velocity for several seconds... Good fun...7/10After this lunch was called as we were rather peckish, so we headed towards the English Village section of the park for some piratical munchies, but we were distracted on the way by...Just a random show happening outside... I think it was timed but still, it was something that they didn’t need to do or have... Chessie should start having random shows dotted around the park, next to Chips Ahoy, on the Mexicana balconies, the list could go on... More parks need to do this just because it’s a good distraction and gives areas a lot more life and atmosphere, as proven by a massive crowd appearing by the end of the show itself...

Double post but meh...Woo for being on Towers' Facebook page

Dunno why you're agreeing with me Sidders, since I was disagreeing with you in my post...Jovial or not, there's certain topics where rather poor tasteless 'jokes' aren't a good idea...

This basically... Was a bit of a needless post... This sort of topic isn't one where silly comments about people being potentially confused belong, due to the very nature of the situation...

We peaked too early it seems...Thing is, the way in which Nemesis was built back then will NEVER be repeated... The sheer scale of the build is something unaffordable by today's prices, and it's just such an unique experience that will never be repeated...Unless someone decides to repeat it... I can dream...

Day 6 – Chilling in VeronaThe original plan for this trip was to do all 4 of the major Italian parks, including Movieworld Studios, right is effectively next door to Gardaland, however, we must have angered the Coaster Gods, as the opening times for the park changed for the worse, meaning it was shut midweek and we had very little alternative as to what to do...So we sat in our hotel room all day and chilled... I like days like this on holiday, as it allows everyone to either sleep/read/sit or just do whatever without any need for rushing or walking... We did venture out for extra supplies of food midway through the day, but aside from that didn’t do anything until the evening, where me, John and Mark hit the town to see what it was like...A rather depiction of Italian roads I feel... Random canoeing in the river is random... Looked fun though... And just what could lay beyond this rather dark and dingy hallway? Why it’s Juliet’s Balcony of course, from that rather popular play of Shakespearian standards... Dunno why Verona have claimed it, but they have... DEAL WITH IT! Meanwhile, in Verona... Most epic looking music venue ever! The Arena is slap bang in the middle of the city and has more restaurants than you can shake a stick at... And who was playing?George Michael... Hungry, we elected to eat at the weirdest theme/name for a restaurant in Italy... Even this place has Spider Crabs... And as John is demonstrating, the biggest menus I’ve seen in a long time...Talking of big things, here’s the drinks... Totally extraordinary... Unfortunately so much ice made it practically undrinkable after a while, but still, epic size is epic... Spag Bol, Italian style... Do try the Oreo and Kinder Ice Cream... It’s AMAZING <3 Unable to get into the concert, we wandered back towards the hotel, only to find... OMG I’M SO THERE!Next up – Gardaland...

OM NOM NOM!I cooked me some delicious chicken... Not to be modest or anything, but it's damn juicy perfection...

Funnily enough I don't... Exactly the same for Katun and Raptor over in Italy... Able to sit there and just let the ride do what it does... I very rarely brace myself on rides unless I absolutely need to (another example recently, Sequoia Adventure), and I have never felt a need to do so on Nemesis... Next time I go to Towers I will do exactly that, sit down, and not hold on/loosen up/whatever else to be comfy and I will 100% predict that I will not come off with either a bashed head or a headache...In order to enjoy iSpeed, I had to place my hands on the sides of my neck on the restraint... THAT, is poor design... And is similar of basically every Intamin I've been on that corners with OTSRs... Awfully designed restraints...

Whenever I hear this about any coaster I automatically have an annoyance with it...Why should I NEED to brace myself throughout to prevent getting a head/neck/back/lifeache? That's not the design of a good coaster, and is why Intamin aren't particularly my fave ride manufacturers, as their restraint systems prevented Maverick and iSpeed being top 10 coasters...In short, if I have to brace myself to enjoy myself, what's the point?

Nah, the term for straights is 'breeders'... Get your info right

Merlin's coming after Blackpool first it seems... Source MeThat is insanely good value and rather surprising to say the least... Merlin to be in charge of Blackpool in the next few years?

^Redoing Vamp's station as well? Two birds one stone... Love it...P.S. Send some flames towards Trucks please...

Lol wut?Please post up the news story for that... Would make my week...

Well, at least Colossus isn't the roughest steel coaster I've been on..2nd roughest now... But, small victories...

^Shame the rest of the park is so awful (barring the dark rides)

Why don't our parks believe that rides (any of them) don't need repainting once they're open? Vampire, Fury, Oblivion to name a few.It's so noticeable how bad our parks are when you go abroad.

Why not invest into Animal Kingdom with anything other than that piece of over-rated tripe though?Potterland envy is what it is, but how a fake world fits into the rather realistic theming of the park (even DINOLAND is realistic) I don't get... I dislike this a lot... At least the other non-Disney IPs (Star Tours/Indy/Aerosmith) suit their parks and areas...This though... URGH... I'll use that meme if I want to because it's quite frankly a stupid idea... Where's Beastly Kingdom when you need it?

Well this was unexpected...

I liked that one of the options was to effectively redo the entire ride...Even with comparisons to the original, I don't want that back, onwards and upwards methinks because an attempt at re-creating the original will never be quite the same...Plus I got to say EVERYTHING was wrong with the new one... Result

Moved into Stoke, house is soooo roomy...This is gonna be a fab 3rd year...

Day 5 – More Mira and Driving to VeronaSo Mirabilandia do a rather epic deal atm, you get 2 days worth for the price of one, even if you really have to commit to it but getting a wristband, wearing it through the night and bringing it in the next day... But we did it for more Katuny goodness...Two more rides on Katun (including front row which had spited us the day before) followed a walk towards iSpeed and extended faff times in the arcade (Terminator 3 pinball ftw)... None of my opinions had changed on these 2 rides, but there was one new ride for the day...DeliriumHonestly, I have no idea what ride type this is or the manufacturer... The easiest way to describe it would be a massive tilted flying jumbos like ride... You could control your height (and get similarly high amounts of airtime) and the tilting aspect of the central arm provided an interesting experience... A bit uncomfortable on the seating but was still a good bit of fun...6/10After this we headed off to Reset to see if it was any better, and it wasn’t really... Oh well...So one last ride on Katun was to be done before some lunch and the trip up to Verona... Which one again involved a massive detour, I really disliked the directions and road-signs... Maybe next time a Sat-Nav can happen... But we eventually got there and were greeted by the strangest hotel on the trip...Indeed, it was probably preparing me for uni once more, as it had more in common with halls than a hotel, with 6 rooms including a massive upstairs empty room, a kitchen (lacking oven) and just essentially everything needed to live... It was quite cool, and it’s balcony was put to great use after a quick trip to the supermarket (and me and John’s long search for a Lidl)... Chat about rides and life happened amongst the drinking... I was later attacked by Mirabilandia duck, which kinda says it all really...

There WERE meant to be interesting developments before I went to Italy...I was expecting at least a lift hill when I came back... Least if Asterix is anything to go by this won't take long to build...

Can imagine so, plus Air doesn't have oil dripping off everywhere... That's the main issue for Colossus...You can always tell with UK construction topics when boredom sets in... Complaining about the colour... I can't wait for the inevitable trim picture to turn up and make everyone angry...

Releasing the inner Raptor...