Life is like a box of Chocolates

Following an uneventful sleep (no more suspected Ghosts) we departed in search of Universal Studios – with huge thanks to family friends of Soph (Nik and Ang) who bought us queue jump tickets (how smug I was going to feel pushing in front of the paupers with regular tickets ha). Arriving about 20 minutes before the gates opened we were in a queue behind hundreds of Chinese tourists – obviously led by people using light sabres so they knew who to follow – no offence but only Chinese people would do this.

Anyhow, once through the gates we went on the tour of the studios including a King Kong ride. We couldn’t believe how big the behind-the-scenes area was. Travelling past

Wisteria Lane

as well as parts of the Jurassic Park set they showed us a number of the tricks of the trade. Along with the tour around Universal, there were a number of different exhibitions and rides ranging from Shrek (in 4D) and The Simpsons to Terminator 3D and Waterworld – a spectacular outdoor show. After watching an animal show (from our reserved seats since we had Queue jump privileges – thought I’d mention that again) we headed to the special effects stage which showed how certain features have been brought into the entertainment industry over time.

Once the gates closed around 6ish we headed to our final stop in the States – Hollywood! Arriving at the hotel in a rougher part of Hollywood, we managed to park the car in one of the smaller underground car parks you’ll see. Once checked in we decided to chill out while I tried to get on with the slowest internet in the world to check the football results. Deciding to watch some rubbish on TV (ending with a real life murder hunt) we retired for the night…or so we hoped. With a room not too dissimilar to that from ‘The Hostel’ we heard a creepy knock at the door. Obviously having just watched the type of programme we had, we both just lay there whispering, if not shaking with fear.

We did manage to make it through the night, as we woke up with the aim of heading down

Hollywood Boulevard

and visiting Madame Tussaurds. The start of the Boulevard begins with The Beatles and Elvis Presley stars (quite apt really), and after taking a few typical touristy photos along the way, we were immediately bombarded with people asking us if we wanted to go on tours around Beverley Hills; Obviously so we could get depressed looking at homes no-one in their right mind would ever be able to afford – we opted out of each individual request, and believe me, there were quite a few.

After taking a few photos of the infamous Hollywood sign and hand and footprints of famous people (makes no sense really, I’m sure Karl Pilkington would have a few things to say about that) we went to Madame Tussauds. The tour started with a few snaps with Mr Obama and then upstairs to see Miss Aniston looking on disapprovingly at Angelina and Brad. After hearing a number of screams from around a corner, Soph was sure there must have been a real celebrity in person, but oh no, Zach Efron, yeh, I hate him. Obviously not my happiest at this point we carried on through where Soph waited for a bus with Forest Gump who had a lot to say for himself, something about a box of chocolates I think. Finally we entered an awards room where for the third time in the day Soph got Morgan Freeman and Denzel Washington the wrong way round (racist).

With a few hours to go before our flight, we decided to take the van for a spin (not a wheel spin this time) around Beverley Hills. Passing Simon Cowells rather lush pad we found David Beckhams house…well his driveway, no view of the house which leaves all to the imagination. We then decided to see Mr Beverley Hills himself, none other than Eddy Murphy’s house, thinking Beckham was rather safety and paparazzi conscious, Eddy had a security checkpoint to go along with his driveway.

Having been thoroughly depressed after passing through Beverley Hills (where such likes as Avril Lavigne live, really?!) we headed for LAX. But obviously we had to drop the van off in none other than Inglewood. An area not known for its clean criminal record, but thankfully it was a whistle stop tour. Taking the shuttle bus to the airport we eventually reached our final stint in the Northern Hemisphere for 6 months or so. Rarotonga here we come!