3D:LA
Going to Universal Studios has always been a big reason for me to go to LA. Being a big film-head, its always been somewhere I've wanted to go. I wasn't let down.
The attractions were really good, especially the Shrek 4:D and the Terminator 2 3:D, Backdraft and even the Animal Planet Live! Shrek was probably the best with its 'fourth' dimension of water sprays when donkey sneezed, jolting chairs in time with the action and air blasts on the back of my legs when there were 3D spiders on screen! Also because it was Shrek it was really funny, and stuff like the princess doing the Matrix flying kicks, where time stops and the camera rotates 360 degrees, look extra good in 3D!
Terminator 2 3:D is actually better than Terminator 3 on pretty much all levels (not just because an Arnie-a-like rides around on a Harley in front of the screen shooting robots!
The backlot tour was good, but there wasn't much going on as it was Labour, sorry, Labor Day. There was a Special FX demo in three sections which showed how they make Sound, Make Up and Blue screen effects. Its nothing I didn't know or hadn't seen before, but they did it really well.
This is the Back to the Future set on the Backlot tours. To the left are where the set has been painted and added too for the up coming Dr Zeuss 'The Cat in the Hat' film with Mike Myers.
(I did take loads more pics, but didn't notice 'DISK FULL' coming up on the camera, so I don't have any more...)
One thing that was a bit weird though was the escalator ride between the two levels of the park. There were three long escalators which, intermixed with playing sound clips, informed people (with accompanying pictures on the wall) how to correctly use the escalator. 'Always hold on.' 'Do not let children sit on the Escalator' 'Always face forwards when travelling on the escalator' JUST FUCK OFF! I KNOW HOW TO FUCKING USE ONE!
***
Next day, I was back on my own as Rob went up north somewhere. I found myself in reception looking for something to do, when the guy behind the counter asked me if he could help at all. I said "Yes. Give me something good to do for the day that's as cheap as possible."
"How about the free bus to Venice Beach?"
"Sold"
As we drove towards the beach, the sun disappeared. Low grey cloud just hung there. It didn't roll in or move along the beach, it just sat there.
I hooked up with a couple of girls from the bus, Kath(lene) and Cath(rine) which was good as I only had to remember one of their names. We had a bit of lunch just near muscle beach which, in the greyness felt more like Southend than Baywatch.
Its strange when you go to a place and its almost the same as how you expect it, but not quite. It had the Baywatch lifeguard towers, the outdoor gyms (empty), a few skaters and roller-bladers going along the front, but it didn't have the buzz we were expecting.
Then we realised it was the Tuesday afternoon after the 'Labor' day weekend. Everyone was probably at work! It was a reminder that LA is in fact a real place, not just a set in movie!
Oh and the water looked really fucking gross. It was all brown and murky!
We walked along Venice Beach into Santa Monica, then caught a bus into Downtown L.A. I've heard lots about L.A having no real center, just little sub-cities all over the place. I like the idea of it, of an autonomous city, but its not true.
As we drove into downtown, it felt like I was back in a major city. Tall buildings, souvenir shops, restaurants, this is the heart of LA! I think it's that LA is made up of lots of different sub-cites (Hollywood, Santa Monica, Pasadena) that all grew, until they became one megacity with lots of different hubs. From what I've seen though, Downtown is the main one.
We thought we'd have a coffee in Starbucks and decided what to do next. Its sounds like an easy thing to do, but to our disbelief, there seemed to be no coffee shops (apart from a couple of little crappy hole-in-the-wall ones) let alone a 'Starbucks' anywhere!
After about 45mins of walking, we finally found one on Bunker Hill, right at the heart of the city! Even then it only had a little sign above the doorway saying 'Starbucks.' I thought this place was the home of capitalism and mega-corporations? Have I been mislead all these years?
Once we'd had coffee and I managed to sweet talk them into letting me use their loo, ("well we can't really since 9/11" they said... - What was I going to do? Fly a 767 out of my arse?) we decided to head to the Universal City entertainment district (next door to the Studios) to see the area by night. We walked from Bunker Hill to the Grand Union station as the sun was going down. It was a nice walk, especially ending up at such an impressive station!
The waiting area at Grand Union Station. Pisses all over Liverpool Street.
Universal City by night.
After browsing through some of the cool film/toy/gadget shops, we went back to Hollywood. We went into a McDonalds for a quick snack before heading back to the hostel. Wherever I've been in the world, I've always felt guilty about eating in McDonalds, as there's gotta be local cuisine I'm missing out on. I'm in America now though, this is the local cuisine! And what locals they are! Just behind us was an old couple, we heard the old man complaining "I didn't want Apple Pie, I wanted blueberry pie. The Apple pie is Made in China. I don't want it if its made in China!" We smiled at each other. It was quite a cute, unbelievable thing to say from someone either deep and ignorantly racist or completely oblivious to modern refrigeration and food distribution techniques.
What wasn't so cute was the redneck looking guy sitting on the table next to us, loudly talking into his hands, half mumbling, half praying. I managed to catch....bless...Dear Lord...Arian...McDonalds...
?!?
***
Next day, I was planning on heading to the California Science Centre. I assumed I'd go on my own as most people yawn at science stuff. It turned out Cathrine did Environmental Biology at Plymouth and Kath did A Level Physics before studying law!
The Exposition Centre houses the huge Exposition Rose Garden, the Natural History Museum, (below) the Science Centre (below that) and the Air and Space Gallery. Unfortunately the Air and Space Gallery was closed, which is a shame, as from the looks of the rest of it, it would've been amazing.
The place was a testiment to what can be achieved when the expectations of Hollywood are applied to Science and Learning. In the right hands education really can be spectacular!
From the 100ft talking woman, with various organs showing (explaining Homeostasis), to the 'Build an Earthquake proof building' stuff, to this 'See an operation' exhibit. It was a really good day out.
In a dark room, the countdown starts on this dummy's chest. (the one laying down)
An operation is projected from inside, onto the body. From cutting open to sewing up, a complete operation is performed right in front of your eyes! Eeuurrgghhh, cooooooooool.
A fire alarm went off while we were in the building. As I left the building, I saw they had an SR-71 Blackbird on a stick next door to the building site next door. What ever they're building, I bet it'll be good!
Cath had to catch her bus, so we finished the day in Rockett Burger in the Babylon Centre in Hollywood.
This is Kath, me and Cath.
***
Miles away in this pic is the Hollywood sign. Its strange seeing it for real after seeing it so much in the movies and on TV. I keep expecting to look away, then pan out as the Bank Explodes! Tracking shot as the van pulls away, guns blazing. A squad car takes a hit and crashes into a post as the following cars skids and crashes into his partner. The Police helicopter overhead takes a hit!
...But it doesn't happen. Everynow and then a siren goes past. People dress up as characters to sell souvenirs. Most people just wander by.
The sun goes down, the lights come on, the nutters come out. (Maybe they were there all day but they didn't seem as scary then?) LA carries on. All the millions of people all doing their own thing.
I wasn't expecting to enjoy L.A. Especially after spending so long in quiet places. You know what though? I actually feel more comfortable here than I did in some of them. I must have spent too long in London, I actually quite like this place.