Happy Birthday Jes!
So I've been back from the LA tour for about 3 days now. The trip overall was what I hoped it would be, a chance to get away from it all. I wasn't concerned with problems back in SF, which was refreshing. A recap of events:
DAY 1: Downtown Hollywood
We spent about an hour there, just moseying around at the typical tourist spots. I took a picture in front of the Chinese Theater and Kodak Theater. Being the girls we are, we got tons of shopping done. I bought tube socks from American Apparel that I've been wanting for a while. Stupid, I know, since there are AAs in SF as well. But it was there and I wanted it. We walked along the walk of fame and saw those costume people. Previously, on an episode of Rob & Big (they live in Hollywood) they bought a net gun and shot it at the guy that dresses up as Spiderman (LOL). We saw that guy! I wanted to take a picture with him, but I think they charge like $5 a picture, so no thanks. I just took a far away, stalker-esque picture of him. We also saw his buddy Venom, Captain Jack Sparrow, and a whole bunch of Marilyn Monroes. Outside the Kodak Theater, we also saw a bunch of cute breakdancers (the fact that they were half naked didn't hurt either :D) I'm pretty sure Joyce & Julie were crushing on a few of them HEHE. A few of us ended up buying some cheesy 'I heart LA' shirts and I bought a souvenir for Lorny. It was an Oscar's statue that said "Best Grandma" HAHAHA. I thought it would be funny. I really hope she doesn't read this because she doesn't have the present yet and that would totally kill the surprise! I will consider making this Friends-Only ;) We also went to see the LA Opera house and stop for a bathroom break. Afterwards we went to a plaza on the way to our hotel and we had Pho. Mmmm ;P
DAY 2: Universal Studios
We had a long night before this day so we were all kind of groggy on the way to Universal Studios. All of us fell asleep on the bus. The hotel we stayed in had a free Continental breakfast for us everyday and this was the only day we took advantage of it. I had a muffin and 1/4 of a bagel. Once we arrived, the tour guide gave us the option of following him or just going about by ourselves and meeting them up at a certain time. Obviously, we chose to wander ourselves. Did I mention that everyone else on this tour were either old, or came with families? We were the only people our age! But I suppose that made it all the more fun. The children didn't cry TOO much. The weather was beautiful! Sunny with no wind! Good thing I remembered to bring the sunblock ;) So at Universal Studios, we hit all the major rides/shows. Shrek 4D, Terminator 2: 3D, Mummy: The Ride, Jurrassic Park: The Ride, Fear Factor Live, Waterworld, Special Effects Stage, and the Studio Tour (where we saw War of the Worlds, Jaws, and Horton Hears a Who movie sets and where Heroes is shot!). I think my favorite show was Waterworld :) It was super fun to go the first time, but I have a feeling I'd be pretty bored if I decided to come back again. Afterwards we went to another plaza to eat. Once back at the hotel, we decided to sit by the pool. I didn't have my suit, but they convinced me to just jump in with my clothes on and we ended up swimming half an hour past the time the pool closes :) I'm sure I would've regretted it if I didn't swim. Afterwards, we showered and knocked out until the next morning.
DAY 3: Disneyland
This was probably the most grueling day of all. We spent a total of 13 hours at Disneyland, most of that time standing in line. We had a choice between California Adventures or Disneyland (or both), but we chose Disneyland in the end because there were more attractions. I had initially planned to go California Adventures because I wanted to go on the Tower of Terror & California Screamin' rides, but that was all that was and I figured we'd get bored, so Disneyland it was. We headed for Tomorrowland first and went on Astroblasters. Afterwards we got Fast Passes for Space Mountain which had a monstrous line (75 minute wait!) We continued on to Matterhorn, and a few other rides that I can't remember right now. We went paddling in "Davy Crockett's Canoes" and went on a POTC ride. Then came the doozy of the day. We went to Splash Mountain and decided to wait in line because the Fast Pass return time was around 9 and that was went the fireworks were going to be. So we waited. And waited. After about 80 minutes, we finally went on the ride and I got soaked (I was in the first seat of the log). We waited anxiously for our picture and THEY DELETED IT. They said that a crude gesture was made and that it was "hard to tell" so they had to get rid of it. MY GOD. We were pretty PO'd, since we just waited freaking 80 minutes on a ride to get the picture and they didn't have it! The guy was really nice about it and gave us a pass to go back up and we go to ride it again. I know the first picture would probably have looked nicer, but I was just glad that we got a picture at all this time. After more wandering in the scorching heat and souvenir shopping, we had dinner and then got ready for the fireworks show. It was really pretty! I didn't get to stay for the fireworks show when I went to Disneyland in Hong Kong, so this was my first time seeing the show. I got some pretty good recordings of it :) After standing around in line all day, we went home exhausted and swollen. I think everyone's feet were swollen and my busted up knees were pretty swollen too (as was my left shoulder from my tote bag). After showers, we were dead asleep.
DAY 4: Santa Barbara & Solvang
So we were technically stopped in Santa Barbara for like 20 minutes and after lining up for the bathroom there wasn't even enough time to stop down at the beach >:[ but the view was beautiful from the bus nonetheless. The palm trees and breeze were welcomed after days of heat in LA. After Santa Barbara, we set off for Solvang, a small Danish town. This village was SO RANDOM. I don't think anyone was really interested in the town, we just wanted a bathroom break. I mean, the tour guide just showed people inside to buy little Danish pastries (and I don't think anyone even bought anything). We just wandered around and marveled at the number of candle shops that one can have in a town. We headed off to another plaza for lunch where there was a buffet. Becky, Slyvia, and I opted for Foods Co. food instead and got some food there. I kind of regret not going to the buffet though, they had frozen yogurt! :) Then after this, we finally headed home. I was picked up by my Uncle John downtown, in front of Macy's.
*My camera's timestamp is a day ahead :\
The trip itself was great fun, although we ran into a few disgruntled & perverted people. At one of the many plazas we went to for food, a man ran a stop sign as we were crossing and I said "Wow, he didn't even stop." This man, having a fat ass ego, decided to stop the car, back up and say, "What did you say?" WHO THE HELL DOES THAT? I mean jeez, you're the one that ran the stop sign, you don't have a right to be mad at us. Have you never heard of the "right of way?" Some people. Also, when we were in front of the LA Opera House, we asked an elderly man to take a picture of our group in front of the geyser fountain thing. He proceeded to say, "Would you like me take a video of you guys playing in the water?" Now I can't say for sure whether or not he meant it that way, but in context, it was just creepy. Also, second day before Universal Studios, we asked our tour guide to take a group picture of us in front of the hotel. Afterwards, the bus driver (fucking creep) proceeded to ask us if we were in high school and how old we were. Why do you need to know you fucking creep, shut up and drive the bus. Later on, on the last day he asked us again if we were juniors or seniors in high school. Ugh, get the fuck out.
I'm kind of glad to be home, but I do miss the LA weather a lot. This trip will always be in my memory and I hope the summer trip is even better!
DAY 1: Downtown Hollywood
We spent about an hour there, just moseying around at the typical tourist spots. I took a picture in front of the Chinese Theater and Kodak Theater. Being the girls we are, we got tons of shopping done. I bought tube socks from American Apparel that I've been wanting for a while. Stupid, I know, since there are AAs in SF as well. But it was there and I wanted it. We walked along the walk of fame and saw those costume people. Previously, on an episode of Rob & Big (they live in Hollywood) they bought a net gun and shot it at the guy that dresses up as Spiderman (LOL). We saw that guy! I wanted to take a picture with him, but I think they charge like $5 a picture, so no thanks. I just took a far away, stalker-esque picture of him. We also saw his buddy Venom, Captain Jack Sparrow, and a whole bunch of Marilyn Monroes. Outside the Kodak Theater, we also saw a bunch of cute breakdancers (the fact that they were half naked didn't hurt either :D) I'm pretty sure Joyce & Julie were crushing on a few of them HEHE. A few of us ended up buying some cheesy 'I heart LA' shirts and I bought a souvenir for Lorny. It was an Oscar's statue that said "Best Grandma" HAHAHA. I thought it would be funny. I really hope she doesn't read this because she doesn't have the present yet and that would totally kill the surprise! I will consider making this Friends-Only ;) We also went to see the LA Opera house and stop for a bathroom break. Afterwards we went to a plaza on the way to our hotel and we had Pho. Mmmm ;P
DAY 2: Universal Studios
We had a long night before this day so we were all kind of groggy on the way to Universal Studios. All of us fell asleep on the bus. The hotel we stayed in had a free Continental breakfast for us everyday and this was the only day we took advantage of it. I had a muffin and 1/4 of a bagel. Once we arrived, the tour guide gave us the option of following him or just going about by ourselves and meeting them up at a certain time. Obviously, we chose to wander ourselves. Did I mention that everyone else on this tour were either old, or came with families? We were the only people our age! But I suppose that made it all the more fun. The children didn't cry TOO much. The weather was beautiful! Sunny with no wind! Good thing I remembered to bring the sunblock ;) So at Universal Studios, we hit all the major rides/shows. Shrek 4D, Terminator 2: 3D, Mummy: The Ride, Jurrassic Park: The Ride, Fear Factor Live, Waterworld, Special Effects Stage, and the Studio Tour (where we saw War of the Worlds, Jaws, and Horton Hears a Who movie sets and where Heroes is shot!). I think my favorite show was Waterworld :) It was super fun to go the first time, but I have a feeling I'd be pretty bored if I decided to come back again. Afterwards we went to another plaza to eat. Once back at the hotel, we decided to sit by the pool. I didn't have my suit, but they convinced me to just jump in with my clothes on and we ended up swimming half an hour past the time the pool closes :) I'm sure I would've regretted it if I didn't swim. Afterwards, we showered and knocked out until the next morning.
DAY 3: Disneyland
This was probably the most grueling day of all. We spent a total of 13 hours at Disneyland, most of that time standing in line. We had a choice between California Adventures or Disneyland (or both), but we chose Disneyland in the end because there were more attractions. I had initially planned to go California Adventures because I wanted to go on the Tower of Terror & California Screamin' rides, but that was all that was and I figured we'd get bored, so Disneyland it was. We headed for Tomorrowland first and went on Astroblasters. Afterwards we got Fast Passes for Space Mountain which had a monstrous line (75 minute wait!) We continued on to Matterhorn, and a few other rides that I can't remember right now. We went paddling in "Davy Crockett's Canoes" and went on a POTC ride. Then came the doozy of the day. We went to Splash Mountain and decided to wait in line because the Fast Pass return time was around 9 and that was went the fireworks were going to be. So we waited. And waited. After about 80 minutes, we finally went on the ride and I got soaked (I was in the first seat of the log). We waited anxiously for our picture and THEY DELETED IT. They said that a crude gesture was made and that it was "hard to tell" so they had to get rid of it. MY GOD. We were pretty PO'd, since we just waited freaking 80 minutes on a ride to get the picture and they didn't have it! The guy was really nice about it and gave us a pass to go back up and we go to ride it again. I know the first picture would probably have looked nicer, but I was just glad that we got a picture at all this time. After more wandering in the scorching heat and souvenir shopping, we had dinner and then got ready for the fireworks show. It was really pretty! I didn't get to stay for the fireworks show when I went to Disneyland in Hong Kong, so this was my first time seeing the show. I got some pretty good recordings of it :) After standing around in line all day, we went home exhausted and swollen. I think everyone's feet were swollen and my busted up knees were pretty swollen too (as was my left shoulder from my tote bag). After showers, we were dead asleep.
DAY 4: Santa Barbara & Solvang
So we were technically stopped in Santa Barbara for like 20 minutes and after lining up for the bathroom there wasn't even enough time to stop down at the beach >:[ but the view was beautiful from the bus nonetheless. The palm trees and breeze were welcomed after days of heat in LA. After Santa Barbara, we set off for Solvang, a small Danish town. This village was SO RANDOM. I don't think anyone was really interested in the town, we just wanted a bathroom break. I mean, the tour guide just showed people inside to buy little Danish pastries (and I don't think anyone even bought anything). We just wandered around and marveled at the number of candle shops that one can have in a town. We headed off to another plaza for lunch where there was a buffet. Becky, Slyvia, and I opted for Foods Co. food instead and got some food there. I kind of regret not going to the buffet though, they had frozen yogurt! :) Then after this, we finally headed home. I was picked up by my Uncle John downtown, in front of Macy's.
*My camera's timestamp is a day ahead :\
The trip itself was great fun, although we ran into a few disgruntled & perverted people. At one of the many plazas we went to for food, a man ran a stop sign as we were crossing and I said "Wow, he didn't even stop." This man, having a fat ass ego, decided to stop the car, back up and say, "What did you say?" WHO THE HELL DOES THAT? I mean jeez, you're the one that ran the stop sign, you don't have a right to be mad at us. Have you never heard of the "right of way?" Some people. Also, when we were in front of the LA Opera House, we asked an elderly man to take a picture of our group in front of the geyser fountain thing. He proceeded to say, "Would you like me take a video of you guys playing in the water?" Now I can't say for sure whether or not he meant it that way, but in context, it was just creepy. Also, second day before Universal Studios, we asked our tour guide to take a group picture of us in front of the hotel. Afterwards, the bus driver (fucking creep) proceeded to ask us if we were in high school and how old we were. Why do you need to know you fucking creep, shut up and drive the bus. Later on, on the last day he asked us again if we were juniors or seniors in high school. Ugh, get the fuck out.
I'm kind of glad to be home, but I do miss the LA weather a lot. This trip will always be in my memory and I hope the summer trip is even better!