| You've probably seen the newspaper feature | | | | camera bring a good supply and if you have digital |
| "Ripley's Believe It or Not" but you may not know | | | | equipment make sure your memory and batteries |
| that Robert Ripley toured the world collecting | | | | are ready for a lot of shots. |
| oddities, reporting on them and eventually set up 27 | | | | On the walls you will find many photos, pictures and |
| museums spread out in ten different countries. One | | | | artifacts and the building is divided into thematic |
| of these museums is in Orlando, and it is well worth a | | | | sections. A "dinosaur" section has life-size Komodo |
| visit if you have a taste for the odd and the unusual. | | | | dragon fossil and a video that explains how this |
| The museum is located along Orlando's famous | | | | creature lives. |
| International Drive in a building that appears to be | | | | There are sections with artifacts from Africa, Egypt, |
| sinking into the ground. According to the owners of | | | | China and Japan, a strange creatures section and a |
| the museum, the building is sinking into one of | | | | ghoulish vampire/ horror area where you can, among |
| Florida's infamous sink holes. | | | | other things, learn everything you would want to |
| You can visit the museum any day of the year and | | | | know about head hunters. This section may not be |
| take a self-guided tour through all the strange | | | | so appropriate for younger kids. |
| artifacts and exhibits. The Ripley website says that it | | | | The "artwork" in this museum always tends to the |
| takes about two hours to see everything, but if you | | | | unusual and yes, unbelievable side. For example there |
| are exceptionally curious and want to read all the | | | | is a picture of Mona Lisa which is not an oil painting, |
| explanations for the items on display then it can take | | | | but a collage made out of various shades of toasted |
| a bit longer. | | | | bread and you can find an Abraham Lincoln collage |
| If you visit the Odditorium's website you can watch | | | | composed of pennies of various shades. |
| a video of Ripley's "ghost" inviting you to see all the | | | | Besides your photos of the oddities, you can also |
| "unbelievable things" he collected. He explains that in | | | | bring home books and souvenirs from the museum's |
| his travels to hundreds of countries he met "women | | | | gift shop. |
| with necks 15 inches long" and a man with a "horn | | | | Unlike the many of the other tourist attractions in |
| growing out of the top his head" and that he | | | | Orlando there is no café in this facility, and |
| collected many artifacts and works of art which are | | | | there are not even any toilets! So if you are bringing |
| on display in the museum. He bids you to come in | | | | youngsters make sure that you prepare in advance. |
| and "ask yourself whether you believe it or not." | | | | Here is the address and contact information: 8201 |
| So, what will you find there? | | | | International Drive |
| When you come in you will find a life-size horse, but | | | | Orlando, Florida 32819, general information: (407) |
| it is only a statue of a horse, made completely from | | | | 363-4418 |
| horseshoes! If you have your camera you will want | | | | The current cost of tickets is $18.95 plus tax for |
| to start clicking at all the strange exhibits, so make | | | | adults and $11.95 plus tax for children 4-12. |
| sure your equipment is ready. If you have a film | | | | |