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BradnDad2014
We awoke (well I did), to a complete "white out"...
I've pondered the reason for both LA and San Francisco being soo hazy. As I mentioned in the first post, we watched the fog come off the hills around SF and completely cover the bay area in a matter of hours which was pretty cool. With LA being fairly flat, I suspected Smog..
Apparently not the case. A local tells me it is due to cold Pacific Ocean waters and high city temperatures causing an inversion and almost permanent haze.. It really only clears up for short periods, sometimes not at all, throughout the height of summer. The Beach Boys lied..... :)
Today we took off to the tourist mecca that is Universal Studios. It is only a few miles from us and doesn't open until 9.30am, so we had plenty of time. Tickets range from $84.00 to $349.00 per person for admittance, we took the $84.00 option.... I laughed out loud when the gate attendant informed me it was $16.00 to park in the carpark or $40.00 !! to park near the entrance. We took the $16.00 option... He warned us it would be at least a 10 minute walk, but we figured we were up to it :) I wonder if anyone takes the $40.00 option?
This place was really good fun, taking advice from a lady at the ATM, we headed to the studio tour first. Jumping aboard a series of carriages pulled by an open bus / train type thingy, we headed off around the studio lots of Universal Pictures. There is a small village area that was once the home of movie moguls and starlets. They would live here while working on set in the early days of motion pictures. Can you imagine the shena****ns that would have gone on there in the day !!
The towns facades and props were brilliant. It's incredible how they can change the look of a town with a few signs (different languages) and minor changes. The same town scenes are used in soo many different movies it is only when you see the movies running side by side that you can make the connection.
Midway through the trip, we entered a darkened tunnel, completely unaware of what to expect, we were blown away by a 3D avalanche of on our senses! Creating a scene involving a myriad of Dinosaurs attacking the train and King Kong swinging in to save us. It was simply incredible, even down to being splattered with water as King Kong squished the dinosaurs guts !!
Followed by a ride through the props for Jaws, War of the Worlds aeroplane crash scene, the Bates Motel from Psycho and the subway collapse from the movie Earthquake (brilliant with water effects and flames). Returning later in the day for a repeat performance, Brad and I agreed, this part of the tour alone was worth the entrance price.
From there we headed to the 3D "ride" from Despicable Me. Hard to call it a ride as you don't actually move... Again we were totally blown away by the 3D effects. You would swear you were on an incredible roller coaster ride! Off to the Simpsons ride for more of the same.
We strolled around the park for most of the day, people watching and running into movie characters.
Before we knew it, 3.30pm had arrived and we were off home.
After putting our feet up for a few hours, we headed off to Hollywood boulevard and caught Captain America Winter Soldier at a cinema followed by dinner at Hooters. We only went because it was all the boneless chicken wings you can eat for 10 bucks night... Honest Mum..
Home about 10.30pm, we were shattered and still had to get ready to leave in the morning....
I've pondered the reason for both LA and San Francisco being soo hazy. As I mentioned in the first post, we watched the fog come off the hills around SF and completely cover the bay area in a matter of hours which was pretty cool. With LA being fairly flat, I suspected Smog..
Apparently not the case. A local tells me it is due to cold Pacific Ocean waters and high city temperatures causing an inversion and almost permanent haze.. It really only clears up for short periods, sometimes not at all, throughout the height of summer. The Beach Boys lied..... :)
Today we took off to the tourist mecca that is Universal Studios. It is only a few miles from us and doesn't open until 9.30am, so we had plenty of time. Tickets range from $84.00 to $349.00 per person for admittance, we took the $84.00 option.... I laughed out loud when the gate attendant informed me it was $16.00 to park in the carpark or $40.00 !! to park near the entrance. We took the $16.00 option... He warned us it would be at least a 10 minute walk, but we figured we were up to it :) I wonder if anyone takes the $40.00 option?
This place was really good fun, taking advice from a lady at the ATM, we headed to the studio tour first. Jumping aboard a series of carriages pulled by an open bus / train type thingy, we headed off around the studio lots of Universal Pictures. There is a small village area that was once the home of movie moguls and starlets. They would live here while working on set in the early days of motion pictures. Can you imagine the shena****ns that would have gone on there in the day !!
The towns facades and props were brilliant. It's incredible how they can change the look of a town with a few signs (different languages) and minor changes. The same town scenes are used in soo many different movies it is only when you see the movies running side by side that you can make the connection.
Midway through the trip, we entered a darkened tunnel, completely unaware of what to expect, we were blown away by a 3D avalanche of on our senses! Creating a scene involving a myriad of Dinosaurs attacking the train and King Kong swinging in to save us. It was simply incredible, even down to being splattered with water as King Kong squished the dinosaurs guts !!
Followed by a ride through the props for Jaws, War of the Worlds aeroplane crash scene, the Bates Motel from Psycho and the subway collapse from the movie Earthquake (brilliant with water effects and flames). Returning later in the day for a repeat performance, Brad and I agreed, this part of the tour alone was worth the entrance price.
From there we headed to the 3D "ride" from Despicable Me. Hard to call it a ride as you don't actually move... Again we were totally blown away by the 3D effects. You would swear you were on an incredible roller coaster ride! Off to the Simpsons ride for more of the same.
We strolled around the park for most of the day, people watching and running into movie characters.
Before we knew it, 3.30pm had arrived and we were off home.
After putting our feet up for a few hours, we headed off to Hollywood boulevard and caught Captain America Winter Soldier at a cinema followed by dinner at Hooters. We only went because it was all the boneless chicken wings you can eat for 10 bucks night... Honest Mum..
Home about 10.30pm, we were shattered and still had to get ready to leave in the morning....
- comments
Mum Good to see you guys having a wonderful time!
Rob Definitely the Town Hall from Back to the Future!