Universal Studios

Today, an early start so we could get to spend as long as possible at Universal Studios as we could.  We had bought tickets online, so were able to go in 1hr before opening time, so at 9am, we were ready for the fun to begin!

We headed straight for the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, and were able to do two rides in quick succession: Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey (a 4D motion simulator type ride that took us soaring above the castle grounds) and Flight of the Hippogriff (a roller coaster).  Pita did both of those with us!  Then, time to share a couple of glasses of Butterbeer (quite a sweet fizzy drink, with whipped cream on top) and after both boys had bought themselves a wand and looked around some of the shops in the Wizarding World, there was time for one more ride (the Simpsons Ride, a virtual roller coaster ride with the Simpson family through Springfield - Pita sat that ride out) then down the verrrryyyyy looooong stairway to the lower lot, where Eric & Robin immediately did the Revenge of the Mummy ride, another roller coaster type ride.  Karl got to meet Megatron and Optimus Prime from Transformers.  Back to the Upper Lot, and we went to a show, Universal's Animal Actors, where cats, dogs, birds, owls, rats, Guinea pigs, a pig, pigeons, showed off their acting talents, with the help of their trainers.  We all laughed and enjoyed that show.

Owl similar to those starring in Harry Potter films

Next was a chance to join Gru, his daughters and the mischievous Minions on a 3D ride where we were recruited to be minions!  Even Pita enjoyed the ride.  Next was the Studio Tour, a tour through the backlots of Universal Studios.  Loved the special effects (3D screens and spray and heat and shaking etc) for the different places (a subway station used in scenes in Bones and where we were in an earthquake; Skull Island and King Kong (created by Peter Jackson and Weta Workshops); and the Fast & Furious set, where we raced along freeways dodging missiles and flying vehicles).  Plus, Bruce from Jaws (filming in the original movie was delayed over 200 days as the mechanical shark kept breaking, the instant rain and flood, the set from Desperate Housewives, the Bates Motel, ...  The boys had been rather hesitant about going for a tour around the backlots, but with all the action happening, I think they did enjoy it.

Movies have to buy and ship in dirt for old town scenes

This street gets flooded

Part of the cul de sac from Desperate Housewives

Scene from War of the Worlds

Finally, back up to the Wizarding World for a look around and a chance to go to Ollivanders, and see a wand choose a wizard, as well as listening to the Frog Choir, a small group of Hogwarts students and their croaking frogs.

Then, departure at 6pm, so that we could get to the car rental place and to the airport in time to grab some dinner and check in for our flights to Detroit and on to Boston.  Security was very thorough - body scan for all of us except Robin, but we are through and waiting to board.

East Coast, here we come!

Exploring Los Angeles - Day 2

Today we were up a little bit earlier, bags packed and ready to hit the highway!

First stop today was La Brea Tar Pits and the associated Page Museum.  Pita went there by herself, as we had been there on our last visit.  We had thoroughly enjoyed it, and mum had been told by friends that it was worth a visit, and I believe she rates it positively.  Eric, Karl, Robin & I walked around the streets near the tar pits, and just soaked up the atmosphere.  The tar pits are on La Brea Boulevard, a busy 3-4 lane each way road, with offices and museums all along that stretch.  We walked one block over - residential apartments and single storey houses.  We did explore a sculpture garden associated with the LA County Museum and also looked inside the foyer of the Automotive Museum, before meeting back up with mum and walking through the tar pits to the car.  Still smells of asphalt, same as our last visit, but not as much coming up around the grounds, probably as it is colder now than when we were last here.  We talked to a lady who was sorting through findings from a tar pit, and she said she had found a metatarsal from a bird, a small beetle and some twigs that morning.

Eric with Rodin's statue, Eve

From there, we headed to another mission, via a lookout of the house that was used in the Ironman movie where Tony Stark lived.

Mansion which was used in Iron Man film

Mission San Fernando, Rey De Espana, named in honour of King Ferdinand III of Spain in 1797, is also home to the Bib Hope Memorial Garden.  He died in 2003, and he and his 2nd wife are now buried there, in a lovely quiet garden area.  As for the Mission itself, the convento is the largest freestanding Adobe in California, and was originally a hospital for travellers.  It has 21 Roman arches  along its exterior corridor, and 4 foot adobe walls.  The old mission church has even thicker walls - 7 feet at the base and tapering to 5 feet at the top!  It was quite cool in LA today, but with such thick walls, the buildings were quite warm.

Library inside the convento

Karl & Robin by statue of Fray Fermin Francisco De Lasuen
who established Mission San Fernando

Then it was on to see a historic site near our accommodation - a Cold War Nike Missile launch site.  Unfortunately, there was not a lot of it to see - in fact, we saw nothing.

After dinner, it was back to the apartment for sandwich making, washing, relaxing and bed.

Exploring Los Angeles - Day 1

Today was rather a late start.  Karl and Robin slept until about 9:30am, with Pita surfacing only a little before that.  I had already had my shower, made sandwich packs for everyone (cheese and sliced turkey) and Eric had been for a run around the neighbourhood.

So, 11am, we headed off and went to Hollywood Boulevard and the Walk of Fame.  We saw a number of stars of people we know and many more of people we do not know!  Whilst walking along, we were approached by a salesman for a tour company, and Lo and behold, we end up in a limo doing a tour along Sunset Boulevard, through Beverly Hills and past a number of houses (read mansions) owned by stars (Charlie Chaplin, Elvis Presley, David and Victoria Beckham, Lucille Ball, Justin Beiber, ...), along Rodeo Drive (and none of us were tempted to go and shop there).  We stopped for a photo at the Beverly Hills sign, which was built 102 yrs ago when there were only 5 or 6 houses there!  We also had photos taken outside the house that was in the movie Hocus Pocus.  Whilst the cost of the tour was a little more than we were comfortable with, it was an experience and it did mean that Eric could look around and not have to drive.

Gene Autry - only person to have a star awarded for all 5 categories 

Balcony of the room where Michael Jackson died

House used in Hocus Pocus

Following on from that, we drove up to Griffiths Park and past the Observatory, where Pita and I leapt out and took photos of the Hollywood sign (each letter is as tall as a 3 storey building, and it originally said Hollywoodland and was built as advertising to sell land when this area was oil rich).

Then, down the hill again and over to see another Mission (continuing our theme from our last USA trip 4 yrs ago), San Gabriel Arcangel, which was established in 1771.  It had thousands of acres of land, and was credited with providing a quarter of the grain and stock for the California missions.  It had a 6-bell campanario, and the largest bell can be heard 8 miles away and weighs a ton!

By then, it was about 5:30pm, and starting to get dark, so we decided to go to Santa Monica and see the pier in the dark and grab some dinner.  The pier was initially built as a cover for the sewer that lead into the sea, but that sewer has now gone from there.  We got tacos, etc from a van on the side of the road - tasty, but not overly substantial - then headed back to our apartment to do a load of washing, make lunches and get ready for bed.  Still no feedback from the accommodation providers as to how they think 5 of us can sleep in beds for 4.  We are coping.

We traveled part  of Route 66 on our last USA trip - this is at the pier

A long day to LA

It is 10pm on Wednesday, and we are in Los Angeles.  We left Auckland at 11pm on Wednesday, in 1 hours' time!  It has been a long day, and the end to our long day has been a slight stuff up with our accommodation.  Because we have 5 of us staying together (Eric, Karl, Robin, Pita & I), we have deliberately looked for places with at least 2 beds and a sofa bed or a trundle bed.  We only have one bed and one sofa bed.  Despite numerous phone calls by Eric to every phone number he can find for this place, there has been no response, so Karl was initially set up on a seat cushion and two spare pillows on the floor.  Luckily we found lots of sheets etc. Plus, we have 2 towels for the 5 of us, and no tea towel (ever the Scout, I did bring a tea towel!).

However, just before we crashed for the night, the maintenance man, whom Eric had rung for a plumbing issue which no-one wants to dwell on, arrived.  Eric had since resolved the plumbing issue, but we talked to him about the bedding.  He said he would see what he could do, and get back to us in 30mins. His 30 mins was a bit longer than ours, but he did arrive back after we had all hopped into bed (my side of the bed creaks each time I roll over!), so Karl ended up with a small mattress as well as the seat cushion, plus a duvet - still no extra towels!

We are staying in Van Nuys, so got to drive along 405 on the way here, and saw where the fires had scorched the hillsides just a few weeks ago.

We had dinner at a nearby Wendy's, and went to a Walmart so now have breakfast, lunch and snack supplies (including some fruit and baby carrots, so some healthy options).

 Before we left Auckland, going through security at the gate, Karl was taken aside for special testing. It was randomly assigned to his seat, and was testing for explosives.  Because he was underage, I stayed with him, although it was just to the side of where we all went through.

As for Marjo, she did fly with us, then she stayed at the airport to confirm her ongoing flight to the east coast first thing Thursday morning.  She then stayed at a hostel closer to the airport, but we hope to see her later in our travels.

It can only get better, I am sure!

USA, here we come - again

You know you look at cheap deals that come through, and say "Wouldn't that be nice?". Well, we clicked on the link, and now, tonight, we are sitting at the airport, waiting for my mum to arrive from Christchurch, and then we will go through Security and Customs to join Eric's mum, who is ahead of us.  Yes, 6 of us travelling to Los Angeles together.  Although, once we get there, our numbers diminish, as Eric's mum, Marjo, will overnight near the airport then get an early flight to go to Maryland to see her sister.  The rest of us have 4 days planned in and around LA, including a day at Universal Studios.  

We are leaving temperatures of mid-high 20s (Celsius) plus high humidity, and going to a US winter. Looks like reasonable weather in LA (although, they have just had really bad fires then severe mud slides with loss of life in both cases), but the east coast will be colder (even dipping into the minuses).

Mum has arrived, courtesy of my aunt, who picked her up from domestic and brought her over here.

It is all go from here!