Day 4 - Universal Studios

I just wanted to mention something that occurred yesterday before I forget again!

We decided to go to Venice Beach as that is something that I really wanted to see. We were going to go earlier in the week however got side tracked with other things. I am stuffed if I know why I been thinking the place was a paradise....I am guessing it is from one of the many movies that I have seen it featured in. Good lord...how wrong I was.

Venice Beach is seedy at best. It is obviously one of the poorer suburbs of LA and I am sure would have a crime rate higher than most. Whilst we were walking along the footpath the lines the beach (which I couldn’t see mind you) I actually witnessed a white man and dark man make an “exchange” – a clear plastic bag containing marijuana. It was apparent that marijuana was prevalent as the place reeked of it...and I saw one man quite openly smoke it.

Along the footpath there were countless T Shirt shops – all containing the same products – and a variety of locals some of which were clearly homeless or not “quite there”.

 

“Muscle Beach” was empty however I had no trouble in picturing multiple male body builders using the equipment and have no doubt that the only thing bigger than their muscles would be their egos. Several indigenous men were trying to offload DVDs to passers-by, although I have no idea what the DVDs would have contained. Clearly they wanted to exchange them for money however. I was not comfortable in the area despite it being daylight and me being with the Bear and was very keen to get back to our car. As we were walking back, a rather tall Negro approached the Bear and me to try to push another DVD at us, and it was at that point that my fear overtook me. We couldn’t get past him without either pushing him out of the road...or resorting to another measure. I figured the second option was probably the best one given that I hoped to come out of this scenario with a pulse. So....I looked up at him and looked him directly in the eye....I summons all of my courage knowing I was doing this for my safety and that of the Bears.....and said.... “Ick shpreeekkiiinnnnn zee doitch?” The dude said “Ahh from Germany” to which I nodded. Then with a wave of his hand he backed off....and we made a beeline for our car.

So it was off to Universal Studios today. We had to go on 3 or 4 different freeways to get there, although it wasn’t as traumatic as when we went to Warner Brothers. Either I am getting used to it...or....someone has listened to my prayers and has euthanized a part of my brain.

Driving up through the gates of Universal felt familiar as Movie World has a slightly similar entrance. That is around about where the familiarities stop. We went to purchase our tickets where the dude behind the counter did the up-sell of the century (normal ticket to ‘front of line” tickets) and went and lined up awaiting the park to be opened. First lesson learned: most of the Americans are considerate people however the Chinese are just blatantly rude. They simply pushed in and didn’t mind how/where or why they did it. Second lesson: You will always recognise an Aussie in a crowd as they will be the ones wearing thongs. Third lesson: You can always guarantee that ANY line no matter where you are in the world, will have at least one “bush pig”.

The gates open and I needed to make a beeline for the loos. As I am doing so, bush pig comes screaming out of the rest rooms stating that there is no toilet paper or tissue. I found that hard to believe given that the park had only just opened. The Bear stated that he would go in and get some from the mens toilet...however I said that I didn’t need that as I would go in and check the toilet paper status myself and would come out and get some should I need to. However my chivalrous Bear went in anyway and came out with toilet tissue stuffed in his pocket. As I was not keen to make a loo paper exchange in public I said again that I would check it out. As it turned out, the ladies bathroom had at least 2 rolls per cubicle. I have absolutely no idea what the bush pig was yelling about.

We walked further into the park only to be stopped with the masses (including the nips and the bush pig) and were told by an employee that the part wasn’t open yet (could have fooled me given that....we were there!) and that we had to wait until we “heard the director yell action!” 15 minutes later after being stood on, pocked at, pushed about etc by the nips....and yes...bush pig again....we heard the “action” so were finally inside the park.

 The studio tour was really, really good however the tour guide looked like a cross between Jim Neighbours and a squashed pie. It was hard not to look at him instead of the attractions. Anyway we went past things like where “Back To The Future” and “Jaws” were set, as well as the street that is shown in “Desperate Housewives” complete with every house. Unfortunately we were not given the opportunity to take many photos however I at least got a few good ones to bring home. It was awesome to think that we were in place that had been graced by the absolute greats of Hollywood.  We experienced “rides” such as that when an earthquake was simulated in an underground subway...and a 3D effect with dinosaurs in a jungle as well as being rolled down a mountainside by King Kong.

We saw the Blues Brothers Show, The Water World Show and the Animal Actors Show all of which were good. I would definitely go back to Universal Studios again.

After we left the park, we walked up a nearly “strip mall” and saw the biggest/tallest candy store that I have ever seen and other amazing shops and things to do. We spotted a “Bubba Gump” (from the Forrest Gump movie fame) and decided we would have dinner there. Dead set they have the most fantastic set up and even more wonderful staff. The food was great and affordable, the atmosphere superb and if I had a spare million dollars I would start a chain in Australia. It was great!

Coming home on the relevant freeways was a nightmare. We didn’t think that we would experience the traffic from hell however common sense should have prevailed. Friday Night + L.A = nightmare traffic. It took us more than an hour to drive back to the hotel.

It was such a long day, and I am so terribly tired, my diary note today will be quite pathetic. Sorry people....I will put my humorous thinking cap back on tomorrow. 